The HRP-conjugated DAXX antibody is used in studies of:
Apoptosis and DNA Repair: DAXX regulates apoptosis via interactions with Fas and FLASH and modulates DNA damage response genes (e.g., RAD51) .
Tumor Suppression: DAXX overexpression inhibits cancer progression by repressing oncogenes and enhancing PARP inhibitor sensitivity in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) .
Protein Folding: DAXX prevents aggregation of neurodegeneration-associated proteins (e.g., Aβ42, ATXN1) .
DAXX binds the promoters of DNA repair genes (e.g., RAD51, ATM) and suppresses their expression, impairing homologous recombination (HR) .
In TNBC cells, DAXX overexpression sensitizes cells to PARP inhibitors (e.g., ABT888) by downregulating RAD51 .
DAXX acts as a disaggregase, solubilizing misfolded proteins like Aβ42 fibrils and reducing ATXN1(82Q) aggregates .
Its chaperone activity is ATP-independent and more effective than HSP70 in certain contexts .
DAXX relocates to cytoplasmic bodies upon interaction with Ro52 and FLASH, influencing apoptosis and stress response .
Western Blotting: Use 1:1,000–1:5,000 dilution in TBST with 5% milk .
IHC: Optimize with heat-induced antigen retrieval (e.g., citrate buffer) .
ELISA: Compatible with direct detection due to HRP conjugation .
- Abcam HRP-conjugated DAXX antibody (ab305760) specifications .
- DAXX interaction with Ro52 and FLASH in HEK293 cells .
- DAXX-mediated RAD51 suppression and PARP inhibitor sensitivity .
- DAXX’s chaperone activity in protein folding .
- Thermo Fisher DAXX Polyclonal Antibody (PA5-79137) data sheet .
DAXX (Death domain-associated protein) is a multifunctional nuclear protein with critical roles in transcriptional regulation, chromatin remodeling, and protein homeostasis. As a transcription corepressor, it represses the transcriptional potential of several sumoylated transcription factors and down-regulates both basal and activated transcription . Its significance extends to:
Histone chaperone function: DAXX facilitates deposition of histone H3.3 variant and is a targeting component of the ATRX:DAXX chromatin remodeling complex
Protein quality control: Recently identified as a novel type of protein-folding enabler that prevents aggregation and can solubilize pre-existing aggregates
Apoptosis regulation: Originally identified as a Fas-binding protein, DAXX influences TNFRSF6-dependent apoptosis
p53 pathway modulation: Acts as an adapter in the MDM2-DAXX-USP7 complex, regulating p53 stability
Viral restriction: Functions as an antiviral factor that inhibits HIV-1 reverse transcription through SIM-dependent interaction with viral components
The diversity of DAXX functions makes it a significant target for research across multiple disciplines, including cancer biology, neurodegenerative disease research, virology, and epigenetics.
HRP-conjugated DAXX antibodies offer significant methodological advantages over unconjugated alternatives:
Simplified workflow: Direct detection eliminates the need for secondary antibody incubation, reducing protocol time by 1-2 hours and minimizing wash steps
Enhanced sensitivity: Direct conjugation provides excellent signal-to-noise ratios for detecting low-abundance DAXX protein, particularly important when evaluating nuclear subcompartments
Reduced cross-reactivity: Eliminates potential cross-species reactivity issues that can occur with secondary antibodies, particularly valuable in multi-species research contexts
Improved reproducibility: Consistent antibody:enzyme ratio in each experiment reduces inter-assay variability
Multiplexing capability: Compatible with multi-color detection schemes when combined with other directly labeled antibodies using different detection systems
Proper storage is critical for maintaining the dual functionality of both the antibody binding capacity and HRP enzymatic activity. Based on manufacturer recommendations and research protocols:
Researchers should avoid buffer components that may interfere with HRP activity, including thimerosal, merthiolate, sodium azide at >0.1%, and reducing agents like DTT or mercaptoethanol .
Selecting the optimal DAXX antibody requires careful consideration of several experimental parameters:
Epitope location and accessibility: DAXX contains functional domains including SIM (SUMO-interacting motif) and histone-binding regions. Antibodies targeting different epitopes may yield different results based on protein interactions or conformational states
Species cross-reactivity: While DAXX is highly conserved, confirm reactivity with your target species. Available antibodies show validated reactivity with human samples , but mouse and rat reactivity varies by clone
Application-specific validation:
Clone type considerations:
DAXX molecular weight detection: Note that while calculated MW is 81 kDa, observed MW is typically 100-130 kDa due to post-translational modifications
Appropriate dilution is critical for balancing signal strength and specificity. Based on validated protocols:
Researchers should note that sample-specific factors may necessitate optimization, and preliminary titration experiments are recommended to determine optimal dilution for each experimental system .
Effective blocking is essential for minimizing non-specific binding and optimizing signal-to-noise ratio:
Protein blockers:
Block optimization by application:
Background reduction strategies:
DAXX predominantly localizes to the nucleus but can translocate to the cytoplasm under stress conditions, creating detection challenges:
Subcellular fractionation approach:
Use specialized nuclear extraction buffers containing 420 mM NaCl to efficiently extract DAXX from nuclear bodies
Sequential extraction protocols starting with cytoplasmic lysis (0.1% NP40) followed by nuclear extraction yield cleaner fraction separation
Confirm fraction purity using nuclear (TBP ) and cytoplasmic (GAPDH) markers in parallel
Fixation considerations for microscopy:
Stress-induced translocation monitoring:
Antibody selection for subcellular pools:
DAXX detection can be challenging due to its involvement in multiple protein complexes and varying expression levels:
Enhanced chemiluminescence approaches:
Use high-sensitivity ECL substrates with extended exposure times (up to 5 minutes)
Super-signal West Femto or similar ultra-sensitive detection reagents can improve detection of low-abundance DAXX
Protein complex disruption strategies:
Sample denaturation at 95°C for 10 minutes in SDS sample buffer containing 8M urea can disrupt strong protein complexes
Consider sonication (3 × 10s pulses) of samples to improve release of DAXX from nuclear bodies
Signal enhancement techniques:
Epitope retrieval optimization:
DAXX undergoes extensive post-translational modifications that affect its detection pattern:
Molecular weight variation:
Detection of modified DAXX:
SUMOylated DAXX is critical for function, and the SUMO-interacting motif (SIM) is required for DAXX-mediated inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcription
When studying SUMOylated DAXX, include NEM (N-ethylmaleimide, 20mM) in lysis buffers to preserve SUMO modifications
Phosphorylated DAXX detection may require phosphatase inhibitor cocktails in sample preparation buffers
Proteasomal degradation considerations:
Antibody selection for modified forms:
Different antibody clones may have differential reactivity with modified DAXX forms
Epitope masking due to protein-protein interactions or modifications may require testing multiple antibodies targeting different regions
Recent research has revealed DAXX as a novel molecular chaperone. To investigate this function:
Experimental design for protein aggregation studies:
Key methodological approaches:
Disease-associated protein studies:
Cellular validation approaches:
DAXX plays a critical role in p53-MDM2 regulatory networks. To investigate this function:
Biochemical approaches:
Cellular pathway analysis:
Co-immunoprecipitation studies:
Experimental considerations:
Include appropriate controls for stress conditions (DNA damage inducers like etoposide)
Monitor p53 target gene expression by RT-qPCR to assess functional outcomes
Consider the dynamic nature of these interactions across different cellular states
DAXX functions as a histone chaperone for H3.3 variant deposition, which can be studied using these approaches:
Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) strategies:
Protein complex analysis:
DAXX and ATRX form a chromatin remodeling complex with ATP-dependent DNA translocase activity
Co-immunoprecipitation with DAXX antibody followed by detection of ATRX and histone H3.3 can identify these complexes
Recent research indicates the DAXX-ATRX interaction is dispensable for viability while the DAXX-H3.3 interaction is essential for postnatal viability
Mutation impact studies:
Experimental design considerations:
Include chromatin fractionation steps to effectively extract DAXX from chromatin
Consider crosslinking approaches for stabilizing transient interactions
Analyze both global H3.3 deposition patterns and specific genomic loci related to DAXX function
Recent research has identified DAXX as an antiretroviral factor that inhibits HIV-1 replication:
Key mechanistic insights:
Experimental approaches:
Mutation-based studies:
DAXX-mediated restriction assessment:
Several innovative approaches show promise for expanding DAXX research capabilities:
Multiplexed imaging technologies:
Cyclic immunofluorescence (CycIF) allows sequential imaging of multiple targets including DAXX
Mass cytometry imaging (IMC) could provide simultaneous detection of DAXX alongside dozens of other proteins
Proximity labeling approaches:
BioID or APEX2 fusions with DAXX can identify proximal proteins in living cells
HRP-conjugated DAXX antibodies could be adapted for proximity labeling of DAXX-associated proteins in fixed samples
Single-molecule detection systems:
Super-resolution microscopy combined with HRP-based signal amplification could reveal nanoscale DAXX distribution
Live-cell single-molecule tracking could monitor DAXX dynamics during stress responses
Microfluidic applications:
Automated microfluidic immunostaining platforms could enhance reproducibility of DAXX detection
Single-cell proteomic approaches might reveal heterogeneity in DAXX expression and modification states
DAXX's recently discovered chaperone functions suggest important applications in neurodegeneration research:
Protein aggregation disease models:
Therapeutic potential assessment:
Monitoring DAXX expression and localization in response to candidate drugs
Screening compounds that might enhance DAXX's chaperone activity
Genotype-phenotype correlations:
Correlating DAXX levels with disease progression in patient samples
Investigating DAXX polymorphisms as potential disease modifiers
Mechanistic dissection:
Detailed analysis of how DAXX disaggregates Aβ42 fibrils but not α-Syn fibrils
Investigation of potential synergies between DAXX and other chaperone systems