CTSL1 (Cathepsin L1) antibody is a specialized immunoglobulin designed to target the lysosomal cysteine protease Cathepsin L1 (CTSL1), a key enzyme involved in protein degradation, autophagy, and cellular homeostasis. These antibodies are widely used in research to study CTSL1’s role in pathologies such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and viral infections (e.g., SARS-CoV-2). They are available in polyclonal or monoclonal forms, with varying specificities and applications.
CTSL1 antibodies are employed in diverse experimental techniques, including:
Antigen Retrieval: For IHC, TE buffer (pH 9.0) or citrate buffer (pH 6.0) is recommended .
Tissue Validation: Tested in human skin, liver (HepG2), ovarian cancer, and cardiac tissues .
CTSL1 antibodies have elucidated CTSL1’s role in tumor invasion and metastasis:
Ovarian Cancer: CTSL1 promotes autophagy, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and chemoresistance via interactions with lncRNAs (e.g., lnc-CTSLP8) .
Pancreatic Cancer: Elevated CTSL1 correlates with invasion and metastasis, serving as a biomarker .
CTSL1 antibodies demonstrated that lysosomal CTSL1 attenuates cardiac hypertrophy by facilitating autophagy and proteasomal degradation. AAV9-mediated CTSL1 transfer rescued hypertrophic phenotypes in Ctsl−/− mice .
CTSL1 antibodies revealed CTSL1’s role in viral entry:
Mechanism: CTSL1 cleaves the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, enhancing virus-host cell fusion .
Therapeutic Target: CTSL1 inhibitors (e.g., E64d, amantadine) reduce pseudovirus infection in vitro and in vivo .
Selection requires evaluation of antibody specificity, reactivity across species, and validation data. For example, Proteintech’s 10938-1-AP antibody detects human and rat CTSL1 at 36–39 kDa and 29 kDa isoforms . Researchers should:
Verify immunogen alignment: Ensure the antibody’s immunogen (e.g., CTSL fusion protein Ag1373 ) matches the target epitope.
Assess species compatibility: Antibodies like United States Biological’s Mouse Anti-Cathepsin L (reactivity: Hu, Ms, Rt ) are suitable for cross-species studies.
Review validation data: Prioritize antibodies with peer-reviewed publications (e.g., 10938-1-AP has 6 WB, 4 IHC, and 2 IF publications ).
Specificity validation involves:
Antigen retrieval optimization: Proteintech recommends TE buffer (pH 9.0) or citrate buffer (pH 6.0) for human skin tissue .
Negative controls: Include tissues with CTSL1 knockout or siRNA knockdown.
Cross-validation: Compare IHC results with orthogonal methods (e.g., ELISA or RNA-seq). For instance, the Assay Genie ELISA kit quantifies rat Ctsl1 with 0.156 ng/mL sensitivity , providing quantitative cross-correlation.
Discrepancies often arise from isoform detection variability or post-translational modifications. For example:
Proteolytic processing: CTSL1 exists as pro-enzyme (38 kDa) and active forms (25–29 kDa) . Antibodies targeting different epitopes may detect distinct isoforms.
Glycosylation differences: The 36–39 kDa bands in rat muscle suggest glycosylation variants. Use deglycosylation assays (e.g., PNGase F treatment) to confirm.
Species-specific cross-reactivity: Mouse-specific antibodies (e.g., Sino Biological’s PAb ) may fail in human samples without validation.
Antibody conjugation validation: Ensure fluorophore- or enzyme-conjugated antibodies (e.g., Bioss Inc.’s HRC-conjugated options ) do not alter epitope binding.
Signal amplification: Pair with tyramide-based systems for low-abundance targets.
Multiplex ELISA: Use the Assay Genie kit’s protocol with adaptations for simultaneous detection of CTSL1 and related proteases (e.g., Cathepsin B).
Epitope mapping clarifies whether antibodies target catalytic domains or regulatory regions. For instance:
Antibodies against the propeptide (e.g., residues 1–96) may block CTSL1 activation .
Proteintech’s antibody targets an undisclosed epitope; researchers should perform competitive assays with known ligands (e.g., CA-074 for Cathepsin B ) to infer binding regions.
Recent work fused propeptides to antibody CDR3 regions to create inhibitors . For CTSL1:
Design propeptide-antibody fusions: Link CTSL1 propeptide (residues 1–114) to heavy chains of clinical antibodies (e.g., trastuzumab).
Test inhibitory potency: Measure IC50 values using fluorogenic substrates (e.g., Z-FR-AMC for CTSL1 activity).
Step 1: Use antibodies with well-characterized epitopes (e.g., 10938-1-AP ) in WB and IHC.
Step 2: Quantify residual CTSL1 via ELISA (detection limit: 0.156 ng/mL ).
Step 3: Confirm with activity assays (e.g., fluorogenic substrate cleavage in KO vs. WT lysates).
BLAST alignment: Verify immunogen sequence homology (e.g., human vs. rodent CTSL1).
Structural modeling: Predict antibody-epitope interactions using SWISS-MODEL and PyMOL.
Dose-response analysis: Fit ELISA data to four-parameter logistic curves for precise quantification.
Scenario | Root Cause | Resolution Strategy |
---|---|---|
Inconsistent WB bands | Isoform-specific detection | Deglycosylation + knockout validation |
Low IHC signal | Suboptimal antigen retrieval | Test multiple buffers (pH 6.0–9.0) |
ELISA vs. WB discrepancy | Post-translational modifications | Combine with activity assays |
Cathepsin L is a member of the papain superfamily of cysteine proteases, which are enzymes that break down proteins by cleaving peptide bonds. It is synthesized as an inactive proenzyme and becomes active upon cleavage of its propeptide. Cathepsin L is found in lysosomes, where it plays a crucial role in the degradation of intracellular and extracellular proteins .
Cathepsin L is involved in various physiological processes, including:
The Mouse Anti-Human Cathepsin L antibody is a monoclonal antibody that specifically detects human Cathepsin L. It is produced by immunizing mice with human Cathepsin L and then harvesting the antibody-producing cells from the mice. These cells are fused with myeloma cells to create hybridomas, which can be cultured to produce large quantities of the antibody .
The Mouse Anti-Human Cathepsin L antibody is used in various research applications, including:
The Mouse Anti-Human Cathepsin L antibody is highly specific for human Cathepsin L and does not cross-react with other related lysosomal cysteine proteases, such as Cathepsin B, C, L2, O, S, or X/Z/P . This specificity makes it a valuable tool for studying Cathepsin L in various biological contexts.