The At2g22941 gene encodes a protein of unknown function in Arabidopsis thaliana. Despite limited functional annotation, genes in this chromosomal region are often associated with:
Stress response pathways (e.g., drought, salinity)
Developmental regulation (e.g., root or leaf morphogenesis)
Metabolic processes (e.g., secondary metabolite synthesis)
Antibodies like CSB-PA651994XA01DOA enable researchers to study the expression patterns and post-translational modifications of such proteins under experimental conditions .
While no direct studies using the At2g22941 antibody are cited in the provided sources, analogous applications for plant-specific antibodies include:
Localization Studies: Mapping protein expression in plant tissues during growth or stress.
Protein-Protein Interaction Assays: Identifying binding partners via co-immunoprecipitation.
Functional Knockdown Validation: Confirming reduced protein levels in gene-edited mutants.
The absence of published data specific to this antibody highlights a gap in current literature, suggesting opportunities for novel investigations .
Specificity: Commercial antibodies require validation via knockout controls to confirm target specificity.
Buffer Compatibility: Compatibility with common assay buffers (e.g., PBS, RIPA) is critical for experimental reproducibility .
Storage: Long-term stability typically requires storage at -20°C in aliquots to avoid freeze-thaw cycles .
Advancements in antibody engineering, such as mass photometry for aggregation analysis and high-throughput epitope binning , could enhance the utility of plant-specific reagents like the At2g22941 antibody. Collaborative efforts between academia and industry are essential to expand the functional annotation of understudied plant proteins.
The At2g22941 gene encodes a protein of unknown function in Arabidopsis thaliana (mouse-ear cress), a model organism widely used in plant molecular biology. Despite limited functional annotation, genes in this chromosomal region are frequently associated with stress response pathways (e.g., drought, salinity), developmental regulation (e.g., root or leaf morphogenesis), and metabolic processes (e.g., secondary metabolite synthesis).
Studying At2g22941 is important because:
It may provide insights into plant stress responses, which are increasingly relevant for agriculture in changing climate conditions
Understanding its function could reveal novel developmental regulation mechanisms
The protein may participate in metabolic pathways with potential biotechnological applications
It represents one of many uncharacterized genes in the Arabidopsis genome, addressing a significant knowledge gap
Rigorous validation is essential before incorporating any antibody into experimental workflows. For At2g22941 antibody, follow these methodological steps:
Knockout/knockdown controls: Test the antibody against wild-type and At2g22941 knockout or knockdown samples. The antibody should show significantly reduced or absent signal in the knockout/knockdown samples.
Western blot analysis: Confirm specific detection of a protein band at the expected molecular weight. For proteins of unknown function like At2g22941, compare the observed band with the theoretical weight calculated from the amino acid sequence.
Immunofluorescence with peptide competition: Pre-incubate the antibody with excess immunizing peptide before staining to confirm signal specificity.
Cross-reactivity assessment: Test against closely related proteins, especially in cases where protein families share homology.
Reproducibility across lots: When possible, validate multiple antibody lots to ensure consistent performance.
These validation steps should be documented thoroughly, as they provide the foundation for interpreting all subsequent experimental results.
Based on available information and analogous applications for plant-specific antibodies, the At2g22941 antibody can be utilized in several research applications:
| Application | Typical Working Dilution | Buffer Compatibility | Sample Preparation Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Blotting | 1:500-1:2000 | TBST, PBST | Denaturing conditions |
| Immunohistochemistry | 1:100-1:500 | PBS, TBS | Fixation critical (4% PFA preferred) |
| Immunoprecipitation | 1:50-1:200 | IP lysis buffer | Native conditions essential |
| Immunofluorescence | 1:100-1:500 | PBS | Mild fixation preferred |
| ELISA | 1:1000-1:5000 | Coating buffer (pH 9.6) | Direct or sandwich format |
The specific applications should be validated experimentally, as the At2g22941 antibody (e.g., CSB-PA651994XA01DOA) may have optimal performance in certain applications over others. Documentation for specific antibody products should be consulted for manufacturer-recommended applications and dilutions.
Investigating protein-protein interactions involving the poorly characterized At2g22941 protein requires a multi-faceted approach:
Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP):
Use the At2g22941 antibody to immunoprecipitate the target protein under native conditions
Identify binding partners through mass spectrometry analysis
Validate interactions with reverse Co-IP using antibodies against putative partners
Include appropriate negative controls (IgG, knockout/knockdown samples)
Proximity Labeling Approaches:
Generate fusion proteins with BioID or APEX2 to map the proximal interactome
Express these constructs in Arabidopsis protoplasts or stable transgenic lines
Perform streptavidin pull-down followed by mass spectrometry
Yeast Two-Hybrid Screening:
Use At2g22941 as bait to screen Arabidopsis cDNA libraries
Validate positive interactions through orthogonal methods (Co-IP, BiFC)
Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BiFC):
Create fusion constructs with split fluorescent protein fragments
Co-express in plant cells to visualize interactions through reconstituted fluorescence
Include appropriate controls to rule out spontaneous complementation
The experimental design should follow principles of proper controls and statistical rigor as outlined in design of experiments methodology . Careful documentation of all experimental conditions is essential for reproducibility.
Understanding the subcellular localization of At2g22941 provides critical insights into its potential function. Several methodological approaches can be employed:
Immunofluorescence Microscopy:
Fix plant tissues using 4% paraformaldehyde
Perform antigen retrieval if necessary
Incubate with At2g22941 antibody (1:100-1:500 dilution)
Detect with fluorescently-labeled secondary antibody
Co-stain with established organelle markers
Analyze using confocal microscopy
Subcellular Fractionation and Western Blotting:
Isolate various cellular compartments (nuclei, chloroplasts, mitochondria, etc.)
Confirm fraction purity using established markers
Perform western blotting with At2g22941 antibody on each fraction
Quantify relative abundance across fractions
Fluorescent Protein Fusion:
Generate N- and C-terminal GFP/YFP fusions with At2g22941
Express in Arabidopsis protoplasts or stable transgenic plants
Observe live cells under confocal microscopy
Compare both fusion orientations to rule out targeting sequence disruption
Electron Microscopy with Immunogold Labeling:
Fix samples with glutaraldehyde and embed in resin
Prepare ultrathin sections
Incubate with At2g22941 antibody
Detect with gold-conjugated secondary antibody
Visualize using transmission electron microscopy
Each approach has distinct advantages and limitations. Using multiple complementary techniques provides the most robust evidence for protein localization.
Post-translational modifications (PTMs) often regulate protein function, stability, and interactions. For a protein of unknown function like At2g22941, characterizing PTMs may provide functional insights:
Phosphorylation Analysis:
Immunoprecipitate At2g22941 using validated antibody
Perform western blot with phospho-specific antibodies (if available)
Analyze by mass spectrometry to identify phosphorylation sites
Validate sites using phosphatase treatment controls
Compare phosphorylation status under different stress conditions
Ubiquitination and SUMOylation:
Immunoprecipitate At2g22941 under denaturing conditions
Probe western blots with anti-ubiquitin or anti-SUMO antibodies
Use proteasome inhibitors to enhance detection of ubiquitinated forms
Identify modification sites using mass spectrometry
Glycosylation Analysis:
Treat immunoprecipitated At2g22941 with glycosidases
Observe mobility shift on western blots
Use lectin blotting to detect specific glycan structures
Employ mass spectrometry for glycan profiling
PTM-specific Enrichment Strategies:
Use titanium dioxide for phosphopeptide enrichment
Apply IMAC (Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography) for phosphorylated proteins
Employ lectin affinity chromatography for glycosylated proteins
Combining these approaches with functional studies can establish connections between specific modifications and protein function .
Studying At2g22941 expression under various stress conditions requires careful experimental design following these methodological principles:
Experimental Design Framework:
Implement a factorial design approach to test multiple stress factors and their interactions
Include appropriate controls (untreated, mock treatments)
Ensure sufficient biological replicates (minimum n=3 for each condition)
Include time-course sampling when possible to capture expression dynamics
Stress Treatment Implementation:
Standardize growth conditions before stress application
Apply controlled stress treatments (e.g., precise drought conditions through regulated watering)
Document all environmental parameters (light intensity, temperature, humidity)
Consider multiple stress intensities to establish dose-response relationships
Expression Analysis Methods:
Western blotting with At2g22941 antibody for protein-level analysis
RT-qPCR for transcript-level analysis (design gene-specific primers)
Immunohistochemistry to analyze tissue-specific expression patterns
Consider reporter gene fusions (promoter::GUS) for spatial expression analysis
Data Analysis Approach:
Apply appropriate statistical methods (ANOVA, mixed-effects models)
Use visualization techniques that highlight treatment effects
Normalize expression data to appropriate reference genes/proteins
Implement bioinformatic analysis to identify co-expressed genes
This methodological framework follows the principles of design of experiments (DOE) to maximize information gain while controlling for external variables .
Robust immunoprecipitation (IP) experiments require comprehensive controls to ensure result validity:
| Control Type | Purpose | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| Input Control | Quantify IP efficiency | Reserve 5-10% of pre-IP lysate |
| IgG Control | Detect non-specific binding | Parallel IP with isotype-matched non-specific IgG |
| No-Antibody Control | Detect resin-binding artifacts | Process sample without antibody addition |
| Knockout/Knockdown | Validate specificity | Perform IP from At2g22941 knockout/knockdown samples |
| Peptide Competition | Confirm epitope specificity | Pre-incubate antibody with immunizing peptide |
| Denaturing Control | Disrupt protein-protein interactions | Compare native vs. denaturing conditions |
| Crosslinking Validation | Verify crosslinking efficiency | Include non-crosslinked samples |
| RNase/DNase Treatment | Distinguish direct vs. nucleic acid-mediated interactions | Treat lysates with nucleases before IP |
For experiments identifying interaction partners, additional validation through reverse IP is recommended, where antibodies against putative partners are used to confirm co-precipitation of At2g22941 .
Optimizing immunohistochemistry (IHC) for the detection of At2g22941 in plant tissues requires methodical approach to multiple parameters:
Fixation Optimization:
Test multiple fixatives (4% paraformaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, ethanol-based)
Optimize fixation time (4-24 hours) and temperature (4°C or room temperature)
Evaluate preservation of antigenicity vs. morphology
Antigen Retrieval Methods:
Compare heat-induced epitope retrieval methods (microwave, pressure cooker)
Test different retrieval buffers (citrate pH 6.0, Tris-EDTA pH 9.0)
Optimize retrieval duration (10-30 minutes)
Blocking Strategy:
Test different blocking agents (BSA, normal serum, commercial blockers)
Optimize blocking concentration (1-10%) and duration (1-24 hours)
Include detergents (0.1-0.3% Triton X-100) to enhance penetration
Antibody Optimization:
Perform titration series (1:50 to 1:2000) to determine optimal concentration
Compare incubation conditions (4°C overnight vs. room temperature 1-4 hours)
Test different antibody diluents to minimize background
Detection System Selection:
Compare enzymatic (HRP/DAB) vs. fluorescent detection methods
For fluorescence, select secondary antibody with appropriate spectral properties
Test signal amplification methods (tyramide signal amplification) for low-abundance targets
Counterstaining and Mounting:
Select appropriate counterstains compatible with detection method
Use mounting media that preserves signal and prevents photobleaching
Document all optimization steps systematically to establish a reproducible protocol.
When troubleshooting weak or absent signals in western blotting with At2g22941 antibody, consider these methodological solutions:
Protein Extraction Issues:
Problem: Inefficient extraction of membrane or nuclear proteins
Solution: Use stronger lysis buffers with appropriate detergents (RIPA, SDS-based)
Validation: Confirm protein extraction by Ponceau S staining or housekeeping protein detection
Protein Abundance Limitations:
Problem: Low abundance of At2g22941 protein
Solution: Increase starting material, concentrate samples, or use immunoprecipitation
Validation: Load concentration series to determine detection threshold
Epitope Accessibility Issues:
Problem: Epitope masking during denaturation
Solution: Test different denaturation conditions (varying temperatures, reducing agents)
Validation: Compare native vs. denaturing conditions
Transfer Efficiency Problems:
Problem: Inefficient transfer of proteins to membrane
Solution: Optimize transfer conditions (time, voltage, buffer composition)
Validation: Use Ponceau S staining to confirm transfer efficiency
Antibody Binding Limitations:
Problem: Suboptimal antibody concentration or incubation conditions
Solution: Perform antibody titration series and test different incubation times/temperatures
Validation: Include positive control samples with known reactivity
Detection Sensitivity Issues:
Problem: Insufficient detection sensitivity
Solution: Use more sensitive detection methods (ECL-Plus, fluorescent secondary antibodies)
Validation: Compare multiple detection methods with serial dilutions
Sample Degradation:
Problem: Protein degradation during preparation
Solution: Add protease inhibitors, maintain cold temperature, process samples quickly
Validation: Compare fresh vs. stored samples
Each troubleshooting step should be performed systematically, changing one variable at a time to identify the limiting factor .
Discrepancies between protein and mRNA levels of At2g22941 require careful analysis and can provide valuable biological insights:
Post-transcriptional Regulation Assessment:
Analyze microRNA targeting predictions for At2g22941 mRNA
Investigate RNA-binding protein interaction potential
Examine mRNA stability through actinomycin D chase experiments
Compare 5' and 3' UTR regulatory elements with known post-transcriptional regulators
Translational Efficiency Analysis:
Perform polysome profiling to assess mRNA association with ribosomes
Analyze codon optimization and predict translation efficiency
Investigate potential upstream open reading frames (uORFs) that might regulate translation
Protein Stability Evaluation:
Conduct cycloheximide chase experiments to measure protein half-life
Investigate ubiquitination status and proteasome-dependent degradation
Examine potential degrons or stability-regulating PTMs
Technical Validation:
Confirm antibody specificity in knockout/knockdown systems
Validate RT-qPCR primer efficiency and specificity
Use multiple antibodies targeting different epitopes if available
Employ absolute quantification methods for both protein and mRNA
Biological Context Interpretation:
Analyze temporal dynamics (time-course experiments)
Examine spatial patterns (tissue-specific differences)
Consider stress or developmental context-dependent regulation
Remember that protein-mRNA discrepancies are common biological phenomena reflecting the complex regulatory landscape between transcription and protein function .
Analyzing At2g22941 expression in stress response contexts requires integrative approaches:
Multi-omics Data Integration:
Correlate At2g22941 protein expression with:
Transcriptome data from RNA-seq experiments
Metabolomic profiles relevant to stress responses
Proteomic changes in stress-related pathways
Use computational approaches (WGCNA, DIABLO) to identify co-regulated networks
Pathway Analysis:
Map At2g22941 to known stress response pathways using:
GO enrichment analysis
KEGG pathway mapping
Plant Reactome annotations
Use tools like MapMan to visualize expression changes in stress response context
Comparative Expression Analysis:
Compare At2g22941 expression patterns with:
Known stress response genes
Transcription factors involved in stress regulation
Other genes in the same chromosomal region
Calculate correlation coefficients across multiple stress conditions
Time-resolved Analysis:
Evaluate expression dynamics across stress application time course
Identify primary vs. secondary response patterns
Cluster genes with similar temporal profiles
Mutant Phenotype Analysis:
Compare stress responses in wild-type vs. At2g22941 mutant plants
Measure physiological parameters (ROS production, stomatal conductance)
Evaluate stress tolerance phenotypes quantitatively
This multi-faceted approach enables robust positioning of At2g22941 within the broader context of plant stress response networks .
Active learning strategies can significantly enhance experimental efficiency in characterizing proteins like At2g22941:
Iterative Experimental Design:
Computational Prediction Integration:
Employ protein structure prediction tools to guide epitope mapping
Use machine learning to predict protein-protein interactions
Implement binding site prediction algorithms
Validate computational predictions experimentally in targeted assays
High-throughput Phenotyping:
Design plant phenotyping experiments with active learning algorithms
Focus on phenotypes most likely to reveal At2g22941 function
Adaptively select growth conditions based on initial results
Integrate image-based phenotyping with computational analysis
Optimal Mutagenesis Strategy:
Use computational prediction to design targeted mutagenesis of At2g22941
Focus on conserved residues or predicted functional domains
Implement iterative design-build-test cycles
Coordinate with structural analysis to interpret results
Active learning approaches not only reduce experimental burden but can accelerate discovery by 28 steps compared to random sampling approaches , making them particularly valuable for studying proteins of unknown function like At2g22941.
Investigating stress-responsive PTMs of At2g22941 requires specialized methodologies:
Quantitative PTM Profiling:
Implement SILAC or TMT labeling for comparative PTM analysis
Apply targeted mass spectrometry (SRM/MRM) for specific modification sites
Use parallel reaction monitoring for higher sensitivity detection
Compare PTM profiles across multiple stress conditions
Site-specific Mutagenesis:
Generate phosphomimetic mutants (S/T to D/E) and phospho-null mutants (S/T to A)
Create lysine mutants (K to R) to block ubiquitination/SUMOylation
Introduce these mutations in native gene context using CRISPR/Cas9
Evaluate phenotypic consequences under stress conditions
Kinase/Enzyme Identification:
Perform in vitro kinase assays with recombinant At2g22941
Use kinase inhibitor panels to identify responsible kinase families
Apply proximity labeling approaches to identify modifying enzymes
Conduct yeast two-hybrid screens with conditionally expressed constructs
Dynamic PTM Visualization:
Develop phosphorylation-specific antibodies for At2g22941
Apply SDS-PAGE with Phos-tag™ acrylamide for mobility shift detection
Implement FRET-based biosensors for real-time PTM monitoring
Use split-GFP systems coupled to modification-dependent interactions
These approaches provide complementary information on the PTM landscape of At2g22941 and its regulation under stress conditions, similar to strategies used for other regulatory proteins .
A comprehensive functional characterization of At2g22941 requires a multi-disciplinary approach:
Genetic Resources Development:
Generate multiple allelic variants (knockout, knockdown, overexpression)
Create tissue-specific and inducible expression systems
Develop fluorescent protein fusions for live imaging
Establish CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing for precise mutations
Multi-scale Phenotyping:
Analyze developmental phenotypes across complete life cycle
Implement high-throughput image-based phenotyping
Conduct detailed cellular and subcellular analysis
Perform stress tolerance assays under multiple conditions
Multi-omics Integration:
Compare transcriptomes (RNA-seq) between wild-type and mutant lines
Analyze proteomes and phosphoproteomes under normal and stress conditions
Conduct metabolomic profiling to identify affected pathways
Perform chromatin immunoprecipitation if nuclear localization is observed
Interactome Mapping:
Conduct yeast two-hybrid and split-ubiquitin screens
Implement proximity labeling approaches (BioID, APEX)
Perform co-immunoprecipitation with At2g22941 antibody
Validate key interactions through multiple orthogonal methods
Evolutionary Analysis:
Compare At2g22941 with orthologs across plant species
Analyze selection pressure on different protein domains
Investigate gene duplication and diversification patterns
Correlate evolutionary conservation with functional elements
This comprehensive approach follows design of experiments principles and integrates techniques from molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, and computational biology to develop a complete understanding of At2g22941 function.