KEGG: ath:AT2G22807
STRING: 3702.AT2G22807.1
Antibody validation is a crucial first step before using any antibody in your experiments. For At2g22807 antibodies, a multi-method validation approach is recommended:
Western blot analysis: Run lysates from both wild-type samples and knockout/knockdown samples lacking At2g22807 expression. A specific antibody should show a band at the expected molecular weight in wild-type samples but not in knockout samples .
Immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry: This can confirm that the antibody is capturing the intended target protein and identify any potential cross-reactive proteins .
Immunofluorescence with knockout controls: Create mosaic fields containing both wild-type and knockout cells to directly compare staining patterns within the same visual field, reducing imaging and analysis biases .
Recombinant protein expression: Express the At2g22807 protein recombinantly and confirm antibody binding, ideally testing against related family members to establish specificity .
Research shows that approximately 50% of commercially available antibodies fail in one or more applications, emphasizing the critical importance of validation before beginning your experimental work .
Each antibody type offers distinct advantages and limitations for At2g22807 research:
Polyclonal Antibodies:
Recognize multiple epitopes on At2g22807
Generally provide higher sensitivity for low-abundance targets
Show greater batch-to-batch variation
May have higher cross-reactivity with related proteins
Monoclonal Antibodies:
Recognize a single epitope on At2g22807
Provide consistent performance between batches
May have reduced sensitivity compared to polyclonals
Production is dependent on hybridoma cell lines
Recombinant Antibodies:
Generated using recombinant DNA technology
Offer exceptional batch-to-batch consistency
Sequence-defined for reproducibility
Can be engineered for improved performance
Generally demonstrate superior performance compared to both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies
Research has demonstrated that recombinant antibodies consistently outperform traditional monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies in specificity and reproducibility . For At2g22807 research, especially for long-term studies, recombinant antibodies provide the most reliable option when available.
When selecting an At2g22807 antibody, thoroughly evaluate the datasheet for:
Immunogen information: The specific region of At2g22807 used to generate the antibody, which helps predict potential cross-reactivity with related proteins .
Validated applications: Specific techniques the antibody has been tested in (WB, IF, IP, etc.) with supporting images showing clear, specific staining .
Species reactivity: Confirmed species the antibody recognizes, especially important for comparative studies across plant models .
Positive and negative controls: Evidence the antibody recognizes At2g22807 but not related proteins or samples lacking the target .
Recommended dilutions and protocols: Starting concentrations for different applications that have been empirically determined .
Citations in peer-reviewed literature: Published research demonstrating successful application of the antibody in contexts similar to your planned experiments .
The datasheet should clearly indicate whether the antibody has been tested in knockout/knockdown validation systems, as this represents the gold standard for specificity validation .
Successful Western blotting with At2g22807 antibodies depends on optimized conditions:
Sample preparation:
Protein transfer:
Blocking and antibody incubation:
5% non-fat milk in TBST is typically effective, but BSA may be preferable for phospho-specific antibodies
Primary antibody dilutions typically range from 1:500 to 1:1000 based on antibody concentration and affinity
Overnight incubation at 4°C often yields better signal-to-noise ratio than shorter incubations
Detection and controls:
The observed band size for your protein may differ from the predicted size due to post-translational modifications, splicing variants, or proteolytic processing. Validation with knockout controls is essential for confirming specificity .
For successful immunofluorescence studies with At2g22807 antibodies:
Fixation optimization:
Permeabilization:
For plant cells, 0.1-0.5% Triton X-100 is typically effective
Duration affects antibody accessibility (5-15 minutes)
Over-permeabilization can disrupt cellular architecture
Antigen retrieval:
May be necessary if fixation masks the epitope
Citrate buffer (pH 6.0) heating is a common method
Test with and without this step to determine necessity
Antibody concentration and validation:
Counterstaining:
Use DAPI for nuclear visualization
Consider additional markers for co-localization studies (organelle markers)
Research shows that creating mosaic fields containing both wild-type and knockout cells in the same visual field significantly reduces imaging biases and provides the most reliable validation of staining specificity .
Successful immunoprecipitation of At2g22807 requires:
Lysis buffer optimization:
Use non-denaturing buffers to preserve protein-protein interactions
Include protease and phosphatase inhibitors
Adjust salt concentration (typically 150-300 mM NaCl) to balance specificity and yield
Pre-clearing lysates:
Incubate lysate with protein A/G beads before adding antibody
Reduces non-specific binding
Remove any naturally occurring antibodies in the sample
Antibody incubation:
Use 2-5 μg antibody per 500 μg-1 mg of protein lysate
Incubate overnight at 4°C with gentle rotation
Consider crosslinking antibody to beads for cleaner results
Washing conditions:
Perform 3-5 washes with increasing stringency
First washes with lysis buffer, final washes with higher salt
Avoid harsh detergents that may disrupt protein-protein interactions
Validation by Western blot:
For co-immunoprecipitation studies, it's important to verify that the antibody epitope does not overlap with binding regions of interacting proteins, as this could prevent detection of certain protein-protein interactions .
Non-specific bands are a common challenge with plant protein antibodies. Several factors may contribute:
Cross-reactivity with related proteins:
Sample preparation issues:
Insufficient protein denaturation
Protein degradation (increase protease inhibitors)
Sample overloading causing non-specific binding
Blocking inefficiency:
Insufficient blocking leads to high background
Try alternative blocking agents (milk vs. BSA)
Increase blocking time or concentration
Antibody quality concerns:
Detection system sensitivity:
Overly sensitive detection systems amplify weak non-specific interactions
Reduce exposure time or antibody concentration
Use more stringent washing conditions
Research indicates that approximately 20-30% of published studies may use ineffective antibodies that show non-specific binding . Always validate specificity using appropriate controls, especially genetic knockouts when available.
When facing weak or absent signals with At2g22807 antibodies:
Protein extraction efficiency:
Ensure your extraction method effectively solubilizes At2g22807
Test alternative extraction buffers with different detergents
Consider tissue-specific extraction protocols for plant tissues
Protein expression level:
At2g22807 may be expressed at low levels under standard conditions
Consider enrichment methods (subcellular fractionation)
Verify expression using RT-PCR or RNA-seq data
Epitope accessibility:
Antibody concentration:
Increase antibody concentration incrementally
Extend incubation time (overnight at 4°C)
Reduce washing stringency slightly
Detection sensitivity:
Use more sensitive detection methods (ECL Plus vs. standard ECL)
For IF, try signal amplification systems
Consider using a more sensitive secondary antibody
If the protein is confirmed to be expressed (by RNA analysis) but remains undetectable by antibody methods, consider alternative approaches such as epitope tagging of the endogenous protein using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing .
Comprehensive validation requires multiple controls:
Genetic controls:
Peptide competition:
Pre-incubate antibody with immunizing peptide
Should abolish specific binding
Non-specific binding will remain visible
Multiple antibody validation:
Cross-species validation:
If At2g22807 is conserved, test in multiple species
Conservation of signal pattern supports specificity
Species-specific differences should align with sequence conservation
Technical controls:
Secondary-only controls to assess background
Isotype controls to identify non-specific binding
Loading controls to normalize signal intensity
Research indicates that approximately 50-75% of proteins can be effectively detected by at least one high-performing antibody, suggesting that with proper validation, reliable antibodies can be identified for most targets .
Proper quantification of At2g22807 expression by Western blot requires:
Image acquisition:
Capture images within the linear range of detection
Avoid saturated pixels that prevent accurate quantification
Use consistent exposure settings across comparative samples
Normalization approach:
Always normalize to appropriate loading controls (actin, tubulin, GAPDH)
Verify that loading controls remain stable under your experimental conditions
Consider using total protein normalization (Ponceau S, REVERT stain) for more reliable normalization
Software analysis:
Use dedicated image analysis software (ImageJ, Image Lab)
Subtract background signal from each lane
Define lanes and bands consistently across samples
Statistical analysis:
Run at least three biological replicates
Apply appropriate statistical tests based on experimental design
Report both raw and normalized values with measures of variation
Reporting standards:
Include representative blot images showing all experimental conditions
Show full blots including molecular weight markers in supplementary materials
Report antibody dilutions, exposure times, and image processing methods
When comparing At2g22807 expression across different conditions, always process all samples simultaneously (extraction, gel running, transfer, antibody incubation) to minimize technical variation that could confound biological differences .
Differentiating specific from non-specific immunofluorescence signals requires:
Pattern analysis:
Specific staining should show consistent subcellular localization
Non-specific staining often appears diffuse or variable between cells
Compare to known localization patterns from literature or prediction tools
Control comparisons:
Colocalization studies:
Co-stain with markers for predicted subcellular compartments
Quantify colocalization using Pearson's or Mander's coefficients
Specific staining should show consistent colocalization patterns
Signal intensity correlation:
Compare staining intensity with known expression levels
Tissues/cells with higher expression should show stronger signals
Treatment-induced expression changes should correlate with staining intensity
Resolution considerations:
Super-resolution microscopy can help distinguish specific from non-specific patterns
Z-stack imaging prevents misinterpretation from overlapping structures
Time-lapse imaging can reveal dynamic localization patterns consistent with function
Creating mosaic fields containing both wild-type and knockout cells in the same image provides the most direct and convincing demonstration of antibody specificity in immunofluorescence experiments .
Confirming protein-protein interactions requires orthogonal validation:
Reciprocal co-immunoprecipitation:
Immunoprecipitate the interacting partner and probe for At2g22807
Confirms interaction bidirectionally
May reveal interaction stoichiometry differences
Proximity ligation assay (PLA):
In situ detection of protein interactions
Confirms proximity (<40 nm) in native cellular context
Provides spatial information about interaction sites
Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC):
Split fluorescent protein fusion approach
Confirms direct interaction in living cells
Provides subcellular localization of interactions
Pull-down with recombinant proteins:
Test direct binding with purified components
Eliminates potential bridging proteins
Can identify minimum binding domains
Mass spectrometry validation:
When reporting protein-protein interactions, it's essential to validate using at least two independent methods, as each approach has distinct limitations that can lead to false positives or false negatives .
Investigating post-translational modifications (PTMs) of At2g22807 requires:
Modification-specific antibodies:
Use antibodies targeting specific PTMs (phosphorylation, ubiquitination, etc.)
Validate specificity using appropriate controls (phosphatase treatment, mutation of modification sites)
Consider developing custom PTM-specific antibodies if commercial options are unavailable
Enrichment strategies:
Experimental manipulations:
Compare PTM status under different conditions (stress, developmental stages)
Use inhibitors/activators of relevant modifying enzymes
Generate mutation constructs (phospho-mimetic, phospho-null) to assess function
Fractionation approaches:
Different PTM forms may localize to distinct subcellular compartments
Separate cellular compartments before analysis
Compare PTM distribution across fractions
Temporal considerations:
Many PTMs are transient and condition-dependent
Establish appropriate time courses for your experimental system
Consider rapid sample preservation methods to capture transient PTMs
Mass spectrometry analysis of immunoprecipitated At2g22807 can provide comprehensive PTM mapping, identifying multiple simultaneous modifications that may not be detectable using antibody-based methods alone .
Investigating At2g22807 structural dynamics requires specialized approaches:
Conformation-specific antibodies:
Some antibodies preferentially recognize specific protein conformations
Screen antibodies for differential binding under conditions that alter conformation
Map epitopes to understand conformational sensitivity
Limited proteolysis:
Different conformations expose different protease-sensitive sites
Compare digestion patterns under different conditions
Identify protected regions that indicate structural changes
Crosslinking mass spectrometry:
Native gel electrophoresis:
Preserves protein complexes and conformational states
Can separate different oligomeric or conformational species
Follow with mass spectrometry for complex composition analysis
Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry:
Maps solvent-accessible regions of proteins
Detects conformational changes upon ligand binding or complex formation
Provides structural information in native conditions
When investigating protein complexes containing At2g22807, consider using non-competitive antibodies that bind without disrupting complex formation, as this allows isolation of intact functional complexes for further analysis .
Developing quantitative assays for At2g22807 requires:
ELISA development:
Automated Western blot quantification:
Use fluorescent secondary antibodies for wider linear range
Include standard curve of recombinant protein
Normalize to total protein rather than single housekeeping genes
Validate across multiple biological replicates
Selected Reaction Monitoring (SRM) mass spectrometry:
Peptide-based absolute quantification
Independent of antibody availability
Requires heavy-labeled synthetic peptide standards
Highly specific and sensitive for low-abundance proteins
Proximity Ligation Assay (PLA):
In situ quantification in tissue sections
Single-molecule sensitivity
Preserves spatial information
Can be automated for high-throughput analysis
Flow cytometry:
Single-cell level quantification
Requires permeabilization for intracellular proteins
Provides population distribution information
Can correlate with other cellular parameters
For absolute quantification, including calibrated recombinant protein standards is essential. For relative quantification across samples, consistent processing and appropriate normalization strategies are critical for reliable results .