The At1g59833 Antibody is a polyclonal or monoclonal antibody designed to target the protein encoded by the At1g59833 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana (Mouse-ear cress). This antibody is used in plant molecular biology research to study protein localization, function, and interactions. Key properties include:
Target Protein: Q2V4G1 (Uniprot ID)
Species Specificity: Arabidopsis thaliana
Format: Available in 2 ml or 0.1 ml vials (concentration not specified in sources) .
Arabidopsis thaliana is a model organism for studying plant development, stress responses, and biochemical pathways. Antibodies targeting specific genes (e.g., At1g59833) are critical for:
Functional Genomics: Elucidating gene function in metabolic or regulatory networks.
Disease Mechanisms: Investigating pathogen interactions or abiotic stress responses.
Biomarker Discovery: Identifying proteins linked to agronomic traits.
Epitope Mapping: Determine the binding region (paratope) to optimize assay specificity.
Functional Validation: Use knockout/knockdown models to confirm At1g59833’s role in Arabidopsis.
Cross-Species Reactivity: Test applicability in related Brassicaceae species.
Two primary approaches are used for generating antibodies against Arabidopsis proteins:
Small peptide approach: Using synthetic peptides (up to 15 amino acids) corresponding to target protein regions
Recombinant protein approach: Expressing and purifying larger portions (~100 amino acids) of the target protein
The recombinant protein approach has demonstrated significantly higher success rates. In a comprehensive study of 70 recombinant protein antibodies, 55% successfully detected their targets with high confidence, while peptide antibodies showed very low success rates .
For optimal results with At1g59833, the recombinant protein approach is recommended, particularly when working with complex plant tissues where target protein abundance may be limited.
Selecting the optimal antigenic region involves several critical bioinformatic assessment steps:
Identify potential antigenic regions using prediction algorithms
Select the largest antigenic subsequence
Check for potential cross-reactivity using blastX searches against protein databases
Apply a similarity score cutoff (≤40% at amino acid level) to minimize cross-reactivity
If cross-reactivity concerns exist, either:
For multi-gene families where obtaining unique sequences proves challenging, consider developing a family-specific antibody. This approach should be documented clearly in subsequent experimental reporting.
A multi-tiered validation approach is essential for confirming antibody specificity:
| Validation Method | Technical Approach | Expected Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Quality Control | Dot blots against recombinant protein | Detection in picogram range indicates good titer |
| Western Blot Analysis | SDS-PAGE separation followed by immunodetection | Single band of expected molecular weight |
| Mutant Background Testing | Testing in corresponding mutant lines | No signal or significantly reduced signal |
| In situ Immunolocalization | Tissue section antibody staining | Expected localization pattern absent in mutants |
| Subcellular Fractionation | Organelle isolation followed by Western blotting | Detection in expected cellular compartments |
Research demonstrates that testing against corresponding mutant backgrounds provides the most definitive validation. In studies with Arabidopsis protein antibodies, most gave no detectable signal in mutants, confirming their specificity .
This application-specific performance difference is common with plant antibodies and may be attributed to several factors:
Epitope accessibility: Fixation methods used in immunolocalization may mask epitopes that remain accessible in denatured Western samples
Protein conformation: The antibody may recognize linear epitopes (effective in Western blots) but not native conformations (required for immunolocalization)
Antibody purification: Crude antisera typically show poor performance in immunolocalization
Signal amplification requirements: Immunolocalization often requires more sensitive detection methods
Of 38 antibodies that showed good signal in quality tests, only 22 were suitable for immunocytochemistry applications, while 20 worked well in Western blotting . Only select antibodies function optimally across multiple applications, highlighting the importance of application-specific validation.
While specific At1g59833 protocols are not detailed in the available literature, an effective affinity purification protocol for Arabidopsis antibodies typically involves:
Expression and purification of the recombinant protein antigen
Coupling of purified antigen to an activated support matrix (e.g., CNBr-activated Sepharose)
Passing crude antiserum through the affinity column
Washing to remove non-specific antibodies
Elution of specific antibodies using low pH buffer
Immediate neutralization and buffer exchange
Concentration determination and storage optimization
This methodology significantly improves detection rates in both Western blots and immunolocalization applications, with documented success across multiple Arabidopsis protein targets .
At1g59833 antibodies can facilitate several advanced protein interaction studies:
Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP):
Pull down At1g59833 protein with affinity-purified antibodies
Identify interacting partners via mass spectrometry
Validate interactions with antibodies against predicted partners
Proximity Ligation Assay (PLA):
Detect protein interactions in situ with spatial resolution
Requires antibodies from different host species against interaction partners
Provides subcellular localization of interactions
Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BiFC) Validation:
Confirm BiFC results with antibody-based methods
Rule out artifacts from overexpression systems
For optimal results, affinity-purified antibodies are essential, particularly when target protein abundance is limited.
Detecting low-abundance proteins requires specialized methodological adaptations:
Sample Enrichment Techniques:
Subcellular fractionation to concentrate target proteins
Immunoprecipitation followed by Western blotting
Tissue-specific extraction optimized for protein preservation
Signal Amplification Strategies:
Tyramide signal amplification for immunohistochemistry
Enhanced chemiluminescence substrates for Western blotting
Multiple secondary antibody approaches
Advanced Detection Systems:
Laser-scanning confocal microscopy with spectral unmixing
Super-resolution microscopy for precise localization
Importantly, affinity purification significantly improved detection rates for Arabidopsis antibodies, with 55% showing high-confidence signals after purification compared to minimal detection in crude preparations .
Computational analysis forms a critical component of antibody development and validation:
Epitope Prediction and Analysis:
Algorithms identifying potential antigenic regions
Structure prediction tools for epitope accessibility assessment
Molecular dynamics simulations of antibody-antigen interactions
Cross-Reactivity Assessment:
BLAST searches against plant proteomes (40% similarity cutoff recommended)
Analysis of conserved domains across protein families
Prediction of potential off-target binding
Data Integration Platforms:
These computational approaches enhance experimental design and interpretation, particularly for challenging targets like At1g59833.
Statistical analysis of immunolocalization data should address both signal specificity and biological significance:
Signal Quantification Methods:
Fluorescence intensity measurements across cellular compartments
Colocalization coefficients with known subcellular markers
Signal-to-background ratio calculations
Statistical Testing Approaches:
Paired t-tests comparing wild-type versus mutant backgrounds
ANOVA for multi-condition comparisons across tissues/treatments
Non-parametric tests for non-normally distributed intensity data
Controls and Validation:
Negative controls (secondary antibody only, pre-immune serum)
Positive controls (known subcellular markers)
Competitive inhibition with immunizing antigen
Proper statistical analysis helps distinguish specific from non-specific signals and facilitates accurate biological interpretation of At1g59833 localization patterns.
Common technical issues and their solutions include:
| Technical Issue | Potential Causes | Resolution Strategies |
|---|---|---|
| No signal in Western blots | Protein denaturation affecting epitope, insufficient transfer | Try different extraction buffers, optimize transfer conditions |
| High background in immunolocalization | Non-specific binding, insufficient blocking | Increase blocking time/concentration, affinity purify antibody |
| Inconsistent results between experiments | Antibody degradation, variable fixation | Aliquot antibodies, standardize fixation protocols |
| Multiple bands in Western blots | Cross-reactivity, protein degradation | Affinity purification, add protease inhibitors |
| Signal in mutant backgrounds | Remaining protein fragments, antibody cross-reactivity | Verify mutation type, test additional mutant alleles |
Research shows that affinity purification significantly improved detection rates for Arabidopsis antibodies, resolving many common technical failures .
Optimal storage conditions are critical for maintaining antibody functionality:
Short-term Storage (1-2 weeks):
4°C with preservative (0.02-0.05% sodium azide)
Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles
Long-term Storage (months to years):
Prepare small working aliquots (20-50 μl)
Store at -20°C (for most applications) or -80°C (for critical applications)
Add stabilizing proteins (BSA, glycerol) for dilute solutions
Document activity at regular intervals
Shipping and Transport:
Ship on ice or dry ice depending on duration
Include temperature indicators for monitoring
Proper storage significantly affects antibody performance in both Western blot and immunolocalization applications, particularly for plant-specific antibodies that may have varying stability profiles.
CRISPR-Cas9 approaches can synergize with antibody-based studies in several ways:
Epitope Tagging via Genomic Editing:
Introduce small epitope tags at endogenous loci
Compare antibody performance against tagged versus untagged protein
Validate antibody specificity using CRISPR-knockout lines
Domain-Specific Function Analysis:
Create domain-specific deletions or modifications
Use antibodies to assess resulting changes in:
Protein localization
Interaction partners
Post-translational modifications
Regulatory Studies:
Modify promoter elements affecting expression levels
Use antibodies to quantify resulting protein abundance changes
Correlate with phenotypic outcomes
This integrated approach provides more comprehensive functional insights than either technology alone.
Multi-color experiments require careful planning to avoid technical artifacts:
Antibody Compatibility:
Select primary antibodies from different host species
Verify lack of cross-reactivity between secondary antibodies
Test for spectral bleed-through between fluorophores
Sequential Staining Protocols:
Determine optimal staining sequence for multiple antibodies
Establish effective blocking between sequential incubations
Consider tyramide signal amplification for low-abundance targets
Imaging Considerations:
Implement spectral unmixing for overlapping fluorophores
Use appropriate filter sets to minimize bleed-through
Acquire sequential scans rather than simultaneous collection
Successful multi-color experiments with plant proteins require rigorous controls and optimization, particularly when examining protein co-localization or complex distribution patterns .