The At4g22230 antibody targets a defensin-like (DEFL) family protein encoded by the AT4G22230 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana . DEFL proteins are small, cysteine-rich peptides involved in plant defense mechanisms, antimicrobial activity, and developmental regulation. This antibody enables researchers to investigate the protein’s expression, localization, and functional roles in plant biology.
The antibody facilitates studies in:
Plant Immunity: Investigating DEFL protein roles in antimicrobial defense .
Gene Expression Analysis: Tracking tissue-specific or stress-induced expression of AT4G22230.
Protein Localization: Mapping subcellular distribution in plant cells.
Specificity: Validated for Arabidopsis thaliana; cross-reactivity with other species requires verification .
Experimental Optimization: Titration recommended due to variable expression levels of DEFL proteins under different conditions.
Further research could explore:
The protein’s interaction partners using co-immunoprecipitation.
CRISPR-edited AT4G22230 mutants to elucidate phenotypic impacts.
Comparative studies with other DEFL family members in Arabidopsis.
KEGG: ath:AT4G22230
UniGene: At.32556
The At4g22230 antibody is a research reagent that specifically recognizes and binds to the defensin-like (DEFL) family protein encoded by the AT4G22230 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana. This protein belongs to a class of small, cysteine-rich peptides that play crucial roles in plant defense mechanisms, antimicrobial activity, and developmental regulation. The antibody enables researchers to investigate the protein's expression patterns, subcellular localization, and functional roles within plant biological systems.
When using this antibody, researchers should be aware that:
It is formulated in a buffer containing 50% glycerol, 0.01M phosphate buffered saline (PBS), and 0.03% Proclin 300 as a preservative
Its specificity has been validated for Arabidopsis thaliana, though cross-reactivity with orthologous proteins in other plant species requires independent verification
The At4g22230 antibody facilitates multiple experimental applications in plant molecular biology research:
Immunoblotting (Western blot): For detecting and quantifying At4g22230 protein expression levels in plant tissue extracts
Immunohistochemistry/Immunofluorescence: For visualizing the spatial distribution of At4g22230 protein in plant tissues
Immunoprecipitation: For isolating At4g22230 protein complexes to identify interaction partners
ELISA: For quantitative measurement of protein levels
Optimization recommendations for these applications include:
Titration of antibody concentration due to variable expression levels of DEFL proteins under different conditions
Inclusion of appropriate positive and negative controls to validate specificity
Consideration of tissue-specific expression patterns when designing experiments
When validating At4g22230 antibody specificity in non-model plant species, researchers should implement a multi-step approach:
Sequence homology analysis: Compare the amino acid sequence of At4g22230 with putative orthologs in the target species to predict potential cross-reactivity
Recombinant protein controls: Express the orthologous protein from the target species and use it as a positive control
Knockout/knockdown validation: If available, use genetic knockouts or RNAi lines of the orthologous gene to confirm specificity
Pre-absorption tests: Pre-incubate the antibody with purified recombinant antigen before immunodetection to confirm binding specificity
Peptide competition assays: Perform parallel detections with and without competing peptide to verify signal specificity
This methodological approach is particularly important given that the At4g22230 antibody has been specifically validated for Arabidopsis thaliana, and cross-reactivity with other species requires verification.
Integrating At4g22230 antibody-based protein detection with transcriptomic data provides a powerful approach to understanding gene function:
Correlation analysis between protein and mRNA levels:
Measure At4g22230 protein levels using the antibody in immunoblotting or ELISA
Parallel RNA-seq or qRT-PCR analysis of AT4G22230 gene expression
Compare protein abundance with transcript levels to identify post-transcriptional regulation
Time-course experiments during stress responses:
Cell-type specific expression analysis:
Combine immunolocalization using the At4g22230 antibody with cell-type-specific transcriptomics
Co-expression network analysis:
Identify genes co-expressed with AT4G22230 using transcriptomic data
Validate protein-level interactions using co-immunoprecipitation with the At4g22230 antibody
This integrated approach enables researchers to distinguish between transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation mechanisms affecting At4g22230 protein function.
To effectively study At4g22230 expression variation under different stress conditions, researchers should consider this experimental design:
Stress treatments setup:
Apply multiple stress conditions (pathogen infection, drought, salt, cold, heat)
Include time-course sampling (e.g., 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 hours)
Maintain appropriate biological replicates (minimum n=3)
Multi-level analysis:
| Analysis Level | Technique | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Transcriptional | RT-qPCR | Quantify mRNA expression changes |
| Protein | Western blot with At4g22230 antibody | Measure protein accumulation |
| Spatial | Immunohistochemistry | Determine tissue-specific localization |
| Functional | Phenotypic assessment of mutants | Evaluate physiological significance |
Controls and normalization:
Statistical analysis:
Apply appropriate statistical methods to identify significant changes
Consider multiple testing corrections when analyzing across conditions
This approach is informed by methodologies used in transcriptional landscape studies of pattern-triggered immunity in Arabidopsis, where time-resolved sampling revealed distinct expression patterns in response to different stimuli .
To investigate protein-protein interactions involving At4g22230 in plant immunity contexts:
Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP):
Use At4g22230 antibody to pull down the protein complex from plant tissue extracts
Identify interaction partners using mass spectrometry
Verify interactions with reciprocal Co-IP using antibodies against putative partners
Proximity labeling techniques:
Create fusion proteins with BioID or APEX2 proximity labeling enzymes
Use the At4g22230 antibody to confirm expression and localization of fusion proteins
Identify proximal proteins through biotinylation and subsequent purification
Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BiFC):
Generate fusion constructs with split fluorescent protein fragments
Use At4g22230 antibody in parallel experiments to confirm expression levels
Visualize interactions through reconstituted fluorescence
FRET/FLIM analysis:
Create fluorescent protein fusions with At4g22230 and candidate interactors
Use the At4g22230 antibody to validate expression of fusion proteins
Measure energy transfer to detect direct interactions
This approach aligns with research methodologies examining protein functions in immune signaling pathways, where protein interactions are crucial for signal transduction in pattern-triggered immunity responses .
For optimal detection of At4g22230 protein in plant tissues, the following sample preparation protocol is recommended:
Tissue collection and processing:
Harvest plant tissue at appropriate developmental stage (consider expression timing)
Flash-freeze in liquid nitrogen to preserve protein integrity
Grind tissue to fine powder while maintaining frozen state
Protein extraction buffer optimization:
| Component | Concentration | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Tris-HCl pH 7.5 | 50 mM | Buffering |
| NaCl | 150 mM | Ionic strength |
| EDTA | 1 mM | Inhibits metalloproteases |
| Triton X-100 or NP-40 | 0.5-1% | Membrane solubilization |
| Protease inhibitor cocktail | 1× | Prevents degradation |
| DTT or β-mercaptoethanol | 1-5 mM | Reduces disulfide bonds |
| PVPP | 1-2% | Removes phenolic compounds |
Extraction procedure:
Maintain cold temperature throughout extraction (4°C)
Use tissue:buffer ratio of 1:3-1:5 (w/v)
Vortex and incubate with gentle rotation (15-30 min)
Centrifuge at high speed (≥12,000×g for 15 min)
Collect supernatant and quantify protein concentration
Sample preparation for immunoblotting:
Denature proteins in Laemmli buffer at 95°C for 5 minutes
Load 10-50 μg total protein per lane
Include recombinant At4g22230 protein as positive control if available
This protocol addresses the challenges associated with plant tissue extraction, including high levels of interfering compounds and proteolytic enzymes, while preserving the native state of At4g22230 protein for optimal antibody recognition.
When encountering weak or non-specific signals with At4g22230 antibody, implement this systematic troubleshooting approach:
For weak signals:
Increase antibody concentration (consider titration from 1:500 to 1:100)
Extend primary antibody incubation time (overnight at 4°C)
Enhance signal using high-sensitivity detection substrates
Increase protein loading (up to 50-75 μg per lane)
Optimize extraction buffer to improve protein solubilization
Verify target protein expression under current experimental conditions
For non-specific signals:
Increase blocking stringency (5% BSA or milk, consider adding 0.1% Tween-20)
Include additional washing steps (5× TBST washes for 10 minutes each)
Decrease antibody concentration
Pre-absorb antibody with non-specific proteins from the sample
Use monovalent antibody fragments to reduce background
Try alternative blocking agents (casein, fish gelatin)
Validation approaches:
Run parallel blots with pre-immune serum as control
Include knockout/knockdown samples as negative controls
Perform peptide competition assay to confirm specificity
Use secondary antibody-only control to check for non-specific binding
Optimization matrix:
| Parameter | Start with | If signal is weak | If background is high |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antibody dilution | 1:1000 | Decrease to 1:500 | Increase to 1:2000 |
| Blocking agent | 5% milk | Try 5% BSA | Add 0.1% Tween-20 |
| Incubation time | 2h at RT | Overnight at 4°C | Keep at 2h, add washes |
| Detection system | Standard ECL | High-sensitivity ECL | Standard ECL |
Implementing these approaches systematically will help identify the specific factors affecting At4g22230 antibody performance in your experimental system.
To validate At4g22230 antibody specificity using CRISPR-based approaches:
CRISPR/Cas9 knockout design:
Design sgRNAs targeting early exons of AT4G22230 gene
Target multiple sites to ensure complete knockout
Consider the gene's structure to avoid off-target effects
Controls and verification:
Include wild-type plants as positive controls
Use multiple independent knockout lines to confirm results
Perform RT-PCR to confirm absence of transcript
Sequence the targeted region to confirm gene editing
Phenotypic characterization:
Compare knockout plants with wild-type for altered defense responses
Challenge plants with pathogens to assess immunity-related phenotypes
Measure expression of defense marker genes
This approach leverages methods similar to those used in functional genomics studies of Arabidopsis immunity genes, where genetic manipulation has been crucial for understanding gene function .
To investigate functional relationships between At4g22230 and other DEFL family proteins:
Phylogenetic analysis:
Construct phylogenetic trees of DEFL family proteins to identify closely related members
Map conserved domains and motifs to identify functional regions
Compare evolutionary patterns across plant species
Expression correlation analysis:
Analyze transcriptomic datasets to identify co-expressed DEFL genes
Create condition-specific co-expression networks
Use At4g22230 antibody to verify protein-level correlation with transcripts
Functional redundancy assessment:
Generate single and combinatorial knockouts of At4g22230 and related DEFL genes
Use At4g22230 antibody to confirm protein absence in mutants
Assess phenotypic differences between single and multiple knockouts
Comparative localization studies:
Immunolocalization with At4g22230 antibody alongside antibodies for other DEFL proteins
Compare subcellular and tissue localization patterns
Identify regions of co-localization suggesting functional relationships
Comparative protein interaction mapping:
| Technique | Application to DEFL Family Analysis |
|---|---|
| Yeast two-hybrid screening | Identify shared and unique interactors |
| Co-immunoprecipitation | Confirm protein complexes in planta |
| Protein arrays | Profile interaction with defense signaling components |
This approach is informed by methods used to study protein families involved in plant immunity, where functional redundancy and specialization are common features .
To study stress-induced subcellular relocalization of At4g22230 protein:
Time-course immunofluorescence microscopy:
Treat plants with various stress conditions (pathogens, elicitors, abiotic stresses)
Collect samples at defined time points (0, 15, 30, 60, 180 minutes)
Process for immunofluorescence using the At4g22230 antibody
Co-label with organelle markers (nucleus, ER, Golgi, plasma membrane)
Capture high-resolution images and quantify protein distribution
Subcellular fractionation with immunoblotting:
Isolate subcellular fractions (cytosol, membrane, nuclear, organellar)
Perform Western blots using At4g22230 antibody on each fraction
Quantify relative distribution changes following stress treatment
Include fraction-specific markers to confirm separation quality
Live-cell imaging system:
Generate fluorescent protein fusions with At4g22230
Validate fusion protein functionality and localization using the At4g22230 antibody
Perform time-lapse imaging during stress application
Quantify dynamic relocalization patterns
This approach follows methodologies used to study protein relocalization during immune responses, where subcellular dynamics often play crucial roles in signal transduction .
Several emerging technologies hold promise for advancing At4g22230 protein function analysis:
Proximity-dependent biotinylation (BioID/TurboID):
Create fusion proteins to map the protein's interaction neighborhood
Identify transient interactions missed by traditional co-immunoprecipitation
Compare interactomes under different stress conditions
CRISPR-based transcriptional modulators:
Use CRISPRa/CRISPRi to modulate At4g22230 expression without genetic modification
Create conditional expression systems to study temporal requirements
Apply in diverse genetic backgrounds to assess context-dependent functions
Single-cell proteomics:
Analyze At4g22230 expression at single-cell resolution
Identify cell type-specific functions in complex tissues
Combine with spatial transcriptomics for integrated analysis
Cryo-electron microscopy:
Determine high-resolution structures of At4g22230 alone and in complexes
Identify structural changes upon ligand binding or activation
Guide rational design of functional variants
Synthetic biology approaches:
Create minimal systems reconstituting At4g22230 function
Design orthogonal signaling pathways incorporating At4g22230
Engineer enhanced or novel functions based on structural insights
These technologies complement traditional antibody-based approaches and could provide unprecedented insights into At4g22230 protein function in plant immunity and development.