The LCR82 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana is described as encoding a low-molecular-weight cysteine-rich protein. These proteins are typically small, secreted, and have roles in various plant processes, including defense and development. The TAIR (The Arabidopsis Information Resource) database provides detailed information on this gene, including its computational and curator summaries .
While there is no specific information on an "LCR82 Antibody," research into low-molecular-weight cysteine-rich proteins like those encoded by LCR82 could have implications for plant biotechnology and agriculture. These proteins might play roles in plant defense mechanisms or developmental processes, which could be leveraged to improve crop resilience or yield.
Given the lack of direct information on an "LCR82 Antibody," future research could focus on exploring the functions of LCR82 and similar proteins in Arabidopsis and other plants. This might involve studying their expression patterns, interactions with other proteins, and potential roles in stress responses or development.
Research Area | Description |
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Expression Patterns | Investigate how LCR82 is expressed across different tissues and conditions. |
Protein Interactions | Identify proteins that interact with LCR82 to understand its functional networks. |
Stress Responses | Examine if LCR82 plays a role in plant responses to environmental stresses. |
When selecting antibodies for CD82 detection, researchers should consider multiple factors to ensure optimal experimental outcomes. First, verify the antibody's validated reactivity with your species of interest. For example, the PE anti-human CD82 [ASL-24] monoclonal antibody has confirmed reactivity with human, African Green, baboon, and cynomolgus samples, making it suitable for comparative studies across these species .
Second, consider the clonality and isotype, as these properties influence specificity and potential cross-reactivity. The mouse IgG1, κ isotype of the ASL-24 clone offers high specificity for CD82 detection .
Third, evaluate the detection method compatibility - if flow cytometry is your intended application, select antibodies specifically validated for this use and appropriately conjugated (such as PE conjugation for direct fluorescence detection) .
Fourth, review quality control data provided by manufacturers. Reputable antibodies undergo validation via immunofluorescent staining with flow cytometric analysis to confirm performance . Finally, determine suitable concentration through titration experiments rather than relying solely on manufacturer recommendations, as optimal concentration can vary based on sample type and experimental conditions.
Validating antibody specificity for neurological targets requires a multi-faceted approach. Begin with genetic validation by testing the antibody on samples where the target protein is absent (knockout) or depleted (knockdown). For instance, when validating LRRK2 antibodies, researchers can use LRRK2-knockout cell lines to confirm absence of signal .
Use multiple antibodies targeting different epitopes of the same protein. The MJFF (Michael J. Fox Foundation) panel of LRRK2 antibodies targets different epitopes as shown in Table 1:
Antibody | Species | LRRK2 Region | Main Epitope |
---|---|---|---|
MJFF1 (c5-8) | Rabbit | C-terminal (970-2527 aa) | LDLSANELRDI |
MJFF2 (c41-2) | Rabbit | C-terminal (970-2527 aa) | LSANELRDI |
MJFF3 (c69-6) | Rabbit | C-terminal (970-2527 aa) | LDLSANELRDID |
MJFF4 (c81-8) | Rabbit | C-terminal (970-2527 aa) | SANELRDID |
MJFF5 (c68-7) | Rabbit | C-terminal (970-2527 aa) | LSANELRDI |
N241A/34 | Mouse | - | EGDLLVNPDQ |
Concordant results from different antibodies increase confidence in specificity .
Employ orthogonal methods like mass spectrometry to confirm antibody-detected proteins. For LRRK2, researchers have developed a SISCAPA (Stable Isotope Standard Capture by Anti-peptide Antibody) method that combines antibody enrichment with mass spectrometry detection, allowing both verification of antibody specificity and absolute quantification .
Finally, conduct peptide competition assays where pre-incubation with the immunizing peptide should abolish specific binding.
Detecting LRRK2 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) without relying on extracellular vesicle enrichment represents a significant methodological advancement. Traditional approaches have relied on differential ultracentrifugation to isolate LRRK2-containing vesicles followed by Western blot detection, but this introduces variability challenges in clinical settings .
The SISCAPA (Stable Isotope Standard Capture by Anti-peptide Antibody) assay offers a robust alternative that directly measures LRRK2 from 1 ml of human CSF. This method employs a carefully selected monoclonal antibody (N241A/34) with epitope mapping confirming binding to a unique tryptic peptide (AEEGDLLVNPDQPR, amino acids 1834-1847) specific to LRRK2 .
Key advantages of this approach include:
Elimination of ultracentrifugation steps that introduce variability
Addition of stable isotope-labeled peptide standards enabling absolute quantitation
Greater throughput capacity suitable for clinical trial implementation
Consistent detection from a standardized sample volume (1 ml)
Reduced sensitivity to blood contamination from traumatic lumbar puncture
When implementing this method, researchers should conduct peptide uniqueness verification through protein BLAST analysis and optimize sample processing parameters to maintain consistency across testing sites.
Despite significant advancements in ultrasensitive detection platforms, measuring low-abundance neurological biomarkers remains challenging. Several commercial platforms have been developed with single-digit pg/ml sensitivity limits, yet show variable performance depending on the target protein and sample matrix.
For LRRK2 detection in CSF, multiple ultrasensitive platforms have been evaluated including Singulex Erenna, Quanterix Simoa, and MSD S-plex technologies. Despite their impressive sensitivity in other applications, these platforms have demonstrated inconsistent reliability for LRRK2 detection in human CSF samples . This contrasts with their robust performance in detecting LRRK2 in rodent and primate tissues, highlighting matrix-specific challenges in human clinical samples .
Factors affecting platform performance include:
Epitope accessibility in the native protein conformation
Matrix interferences from abundant CSF proteins
Variability in LRRK2 compartmentalization and processing
Antibody pair compatibility in sandwich immunoassay formats
Researchers should conduct comprehensive validation studies with their specific target protein before selecting a platform for clinical studies, as sensitivity specifications alone do not guarantee successful detection in complex biological matrices like CSF.
Effective sample preparation is critical for reliable antibody-based detection of membrane proteins like CD82. For flow cytometry applications, maintain cell viability during processing to preserve native protein conformation. When using PE-conjugated antibodies like anti-CD82 (ASL-24), protect samples from prolonged light exposure to prevent fluorophore degradation .
For intracellular membrane proteins (like LIMPII/SR-B2), implement fixation with paraformaldehyde followed by permeabilization with saponin to enable antibody access while preserving epitope structure . This approach has been successfully demonstrated for detecting LIMPII/SR-B2 in mouse splenocytes .
When detecting proteins in cerebrospinal fluid, blood contamination can be a significant concern. Research shows that hemoglobin levels should be assessed in CSF samples, though minimal blood contamination (0.001-1% v/v) does not significantly compromise LRRK2 detection by SISCAPA methods . Implement sample dilution protocols based on expected protein abundance - for instance, hemoglobin measurements in CSF typically require 1:100 dilution in appropriate assay buffer .
For membrane proteins requiring extraction from tissue, optimize detergent type and concentration to solubilize the target without disrupting epitope structure. Maintain consistent buffer conditions throughout processing to minimize batch effects.
Detecting post-translational modifications (PTMs) in LRRK2, particularly phosphorylation events, requires specialized methodological considerations. To effectively measure phosphorylated LRRK2 and its substrates:
First, preserve phosphorylation status by including phosphatase inhibitors in all buffers during sample collection and processing. This is critical when measuring sites like pS935-LRRK2 that are dynamically regulated .
Second, implement cellular stress models to amplify signal detection. For example, LLOMe treatment induces lysosomal stress that enhances LRRK2 kinase activity, resulting in increased phosphorylation of substrate proteins like Rab10 at threonine 73 (pT73-Rab10) . This amplification strategy aids in detecting differences between experimental groups that might be subtle under basal conditions.
Third, include appropriate controls in experimental design:
LRRK2 kinase inhibitors (e.g., MLi2) to confirm phosphorylation specificity
Total protein measurements alongside phosphoprotein detection
Time-course analysis to capture dynamic changes
Correlation analysis between LRRK2 levels and pT73-Rab10 can provide insights into pathway activation, as research has demonstrated positive correlations between these measurements . When analyzing patient-derived samples, consider inherent variability in LRRK2 expression levels, which may not directly correlate with disease status or centrosomal cohesion deficits .
Antibody-based cellular assays offer promising approaches for stratifying Parkinson's disease (PD) patients who might benefit from LRRK2-targeted therapies, even beyond those with known LRRK2 mutations. Centrosomal cohesion deficit assays provide a functional readout of LRRK2 kinase activity that can identify patients with hyperactive LRRK2 signaling .
This stratification approach has revealed that LRRK2 kinase activity-mediated cohesion deficits are:
Common across different LRRK2 mutation carriers
Detectable in a distinct subset of idiopathic PD patients
Present in peripheral blood-derived cells, enabling minimally invasive testing
When implementing this approach, researchers should:
Establish baseline centrosomal measurements in control populations
Validate the assay's sensitivity to LRRK2 inhibition in known mutation carriers
Correlate cellular phenotypes with clinical features
Consider combined approaches measuring multiple LRRK2 pathway components
Importantly, quantitative immunoblotting reveals that total LRRK2 levels vary considerably among idiopathic PD patients and do not necessarily correlate with the presence of centrosomal cohesion deficits . This highlights the value of functional readouts over simple protein level measurements for patient stratification.
Measuring LRRK2 in clinical samples presents several methodological challenges that researchers must address for reliable cross-cohort comparisons. When analyzing the MJFF LRRK2 Cohort Consortium samples, which included healthy controls, sporadic PD patients, and LRRK2 mutation carriers with and without PD, researchers encountered several important considerations .
First, sample volume standardization is essential - the SISCAPA method requires a consistent 1 ml CSF input to enable reliable detection across diverse patient samples . Second, researchers must account for age-related effects, as CSF LRRK2 levels have been shown to increase with participant age, potentially confounding disease-related differences .
Third, clinical sample collection procedures can introduce variability. Traumatic lumbar punctures resulting in blood contamination initially raised concerns, but analytical validation demonstrated that blood contamination from 0.001% to 1% v/v did not significantly impact LRRK2 measurements .
Fourth, reference material selection is critical for normalization. Stable isotope-labeled peptide standards enable absolute quantitation but must be carefully calibrated . Finally, batch effects must be minimized through randomized sample processing and inclusion of quality control samples across batches.
Despite these challenges, researchers found that PD patients with the G2019S LRRK2 mutation had significantly higher CSF LRRK2 levels compared to other groups, demonstrating the feasibility of detecting disease-relevant differences when proper methodological controls are implemented .
The integration of antibody capture with mass spectrometry represents a powerful approach for neurological biomarker discovery, particularly for challenging targets like LRRK2. This hybrid methodology leverages the specificity of antibodies with the analytical precision of mass spectrometry.
The SISCAPA approach exemplifies this combination by using an antibody (N241A/34) to capture a specific LRRK2 peptide (AEEGDLLVNPDQPR) followed by mass spectrometric detection . This method offers several advantages for future biomarker research:
Absolute quantification through stable isotope-labeled peptide standards
Enhanced sensitivity for low-abundance proteins in complex matrices
Ability to detect multiple proteins simultaneously through multiplexed antibody panels
Improved specificity by monitoring multiple peptide fragments from the target protein
Potential for detecting post-translational modifications by monitoring modified peptides
Future developments in this field may include automated sample processing platforms to increase throughput, expanded antibody panels targeting multiple proteins within disease-relevant pathways, and integration with artificial intelligence for improved data analysis.
Researchers should consider implementing this approach when traditional immunoassays lack sufficient sensitivity or specificity for their neurological biomarker of interest, particularly in challenging matrices like cerebrospinal fluid.
Antibody-based cellular phenotyping offers significant potential for advancing personalized medicine in neurodegenerative diseases by identifying functional cellular signatures that may predict therapeutic response. This approach moves beyond genetic testing alone to capture pathway dysregulation that may occur through various mechanisms.
For LRRK2-related Parkinson's disease, centrosomal cohesion deficit assays provide a functional readout that can identify patients with hyperactive LRRK2 signaling regardless of mutation status . This cellular phenotyping approach has several important implications for personalized medicine:
Identification of responder populations: MLi2-sensitive cohesion deficits in early-stage idiopathic PD patients suggest this cellular phenotype could identify individuals likely to respond to LRRK2 inhibitor therapies beyond known mutation carriers .
Longitudinal disease monitoring: Antibody-based assays in peripheral blood-derived cells enable repeated sampling to track disease progression and therapeutic response.
Combinatorial biomarker strategies: Integrating cellular phenotyping with fluid biomarkers and clinical parameters may improve patient stratification accuracy.
Therapeutic dose optimization: Measuring LRRK2 pathway activity through phosphorylation of substrate proteins like Rab10 could enable personalized dosing of LRRK2 inhibitors .
For implementation in clinical trials, standardized protocols for sample collection, processing, and analysis will be essential to ensure reproducibility across testing sites. As this field advances, antibody-based cellular phenotyping may become an integral component of patient selection criteria for trials of targeted therapies in neurodegenerative diseases.