The At1g68905 antibody is a specialized immunological tool targeting the protein encoded by the AT1G68905 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana (mouse-ear cress). This gene belongs to the defensin-like (DEFL) family, which plays roles in plant defense mechanisms, stress responses, and developmental processes . The antibody enables researchers to study the expression, localization, and functional dynamics of the AT1G68905 protein in plant tissues.
The AT1G68905 gene encodes a DEFL family protein characterized by its cysteine-rich structure, common among antimicrobial peptides. DEFL proteins are implicated in:
Plant immunity: Defense against pathogens via antimicrobial activity.
Stress adaptation: Response to abiotic stressors like drought or salinity.
Cellular signaling: Interaction with membrane receptors or ion channels .
The At1g68905 antibody is utilized in diverse experimental contexts:
Immunolocalization: Identifies tissue-specific expression patterns (e.g., root, leaf, or floral tissues) .
Western blotting: Detects the ~15–20 kDa DEFL protein in Arabidopsis extracts .
Functional studies: Investigates the role of AT1G68905 in pathogen interactions or stress responses.
Specificity validation: Antibodies targeting plant DEFLs require rigorous testing against recombinant proteins or knockout lines to confirm specificity (as highlighted in studies on angiotensin receptor antibodies) .
Cross-reactivity: DEFLs share structural homology; the At1g68905 antibody may cross-react with related proteins without proper validation .
Further research should prioritize:
At1g68905 Antibody works effectively in several immunological techniques including Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA. For optimal Western blot results, researchers should use fresh plant tissue extracts and optimize protein loading (typically 20-40 μg total protein). Immunohistochemistry applications benefit from paraformaldehyde fixation rather than methanol-based protocols when working with Arabidopsis tissues. Flow cytometry applications may require additional cell wall digestion steps that are plant-specific. The choice of detection method should align with your specific research question - Western blots for protein expression levels, immunoprecipitation for protein interactions, and immunohistochemistry for tissue localization studies .
For optimal stability, store At1g68905 Antibody at -20°C for long-term storage and at 4°C for short-term use (up to two weeks). Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles by aliquoting the antibody into single-use volumes upon receipt. When working with the antibody, maintain cold chain protocols similar to those used with conventional antibodies. The working dilution typically ranges from 1:500 to 1:2000 depending on the application, with Western blots generally requiring more dilute solutions (1:1000-1:2000) than immunoprecipitation protocols (1:200-1:500). Always centrifuge the antibody vial briefly before opening to collect the solution at the bottom of the tube and reduce protein denaturation at the air-liquid interface .
Validating antibody specificity is crucial for reliable research outcomes. Design a comprehensive validation protocol that includes: (1) Positive controls using recombinant At1g68905 protein; (2) Negative controls using Arabidopsis knockout or knockdown lines for At1g68905 if available; (3) Peptide competition assays to confirm binding specificity; (4) Cross-reactivity testing against related Arabidopsis proteins. Western blotting should reveal a band of the predicted molecular weight, while immunohistochemistry should show expected tissue distribution patterns. Compare your results with any published data on At1g68905 expression. Document batch variation by recording lot numbers and performing side-by-side comparisons when transitioning to new antibody batches .
Effective sample preparation for plant tissues requires modifications to standard mammalian protocols. For protein extraction, use buffer containing 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 150 mM NaCl, 1% Triton X-100, 0.5% sodium deoxycholate, and plant-specific protease inhibitor cocktail. Include 1-2% polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) to remove phenolic compounds that can interfere with antibody binding. For tissue samples, fix with 4% paraformaldehyde for 2-4 hours followed by paraffin embedding or cryosectioning. When working with green tissues, include a chlorophyll removal step using ethanol series (30%, 50%, 70%, 90%, 100%) to reduce autofluorescence in immunofluorescence applications. Optimize protein extraction by testing multiple buffers if initial results show weak signal or high background .
The optimal working conditions for At1g68905 Antibody vary by application. For Western blotting, start with 1:1000 dilution in 5% non-fat milk or BSA in TBST, with overnight incubation at 4°C. For immunohistochemistry, use 1:200-1:500 dilution with incubation times of 2 hours at room temperature or overnight at 4°C. ELISA applications typically require 1:500-1:2000 dilutions. Always perform a dilution series (e.g., 1:500, 1:1000, 1:2000, 1:5000) during optimization to determine the concentration that maximizes specific signal while minimizing background. Secondary antibody selection should match the host species of At1g68905 Antibody, and incubation temperatures affect binding kinetics - higher temperatures increase reaction rates but may reduce specificity .
At1g68905 Antibody can be employed in co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) experiments to identify protein interaction partners. For plant-specific co-IP, use gentle lysis buffers (25-50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 100-150 mM NaCl, 0.5-1% NP-40 or Triton X-100) supplemented with protease inhibitors and 1 mM DTT. Cross-linking with formaldehyde (0.5-1% for 10 minutes) prior to extraction can stabilize transient interactions. Couple the antibody to protein A/G beads (4-5 μg antibody per 50 μl bead slurry) for 2-4 hours before adding plant lysate. After overnight incubation at 4°C, perform stringent washing steps (at least 4-5 washes) to reduce non-specific binding. Eluted proteins can be analyzed by mass spectrometry to identify novel interaction partners, followed by reciprocal co-IP or proximity ligation assays for validation .
When employing At1g68905 Antibody for ChIP studies, modifications to standard protocols are necessary for plant chromatin. Begin with formaldehyde cross-linking (1% for 10-15 minutes) of fresh plant tissue, followed by quenching with glycine. Isolate nuclei using plant-specific nuclear isolation buffers containing 0.25M sucrose, 10mM Tris-HCl pH 8.0, 10mM MgCl₂, 1% Triton X-100, and protease inhibitors. Sonicate chromatin to 200-500 bp fragments (typically 15-20 cycles of 30 seconds on/30 seconds off at medium power). Pre-clear chromatin with protein A/G beads before immunoprecipitation with At1g68905 Antibody (4-6 μg per reaction). Include appropriate controls: input DNA (1-5% of starting material), IgG control, and if possible, a knockout line control. After reverse cross-linking and DNA purification, analyze by qPCR or next-generation sequencing to identify DNA binding sites or chromatin association patterns .
When studying developmental processes with At1g68905 Antibody, consider tissue-specific expression variations and temporal regulation. Design experiments to capture developmental progression through time-course sampling of multiple tissue types. For whole-mount immunohistochemistry of Arabidopsis seedlings, optimize tissue clearing methods such as ClearSee or modified Hoyer's solution to improve antibody penetration and signal detection. In developmental studies, always compare antibody staining patterns with published transcriptomic data or reporter gene expressions for the At1g68905 gene. Document phenological stages precisely using standardized growth stage classifications for Arabidopsis. Consider potential post-translational modifications that may affect antibody recognition across developmental stages. Implement parallel approaches such as RNA in situ hybridization to correlate protein localization with mRNA expression patterns .
Weak or absent signals when using At1g68905 Antibody may stem from several factors. First, verify protein expression using transcriptomic data for your specific tissues and conditions, as At1g68905 may have tissue-specific or condition-dependent expression. For protein extraction, test alternative buffers with different detergents (RIPA, NP-40, or Triton X-100-based) and include phosphatase inhibitors if the target protein might be phosphorylated. Increase antibody concentration gradually (try 1:500, 1:200, or even 1:100 for difficult samples) and extend incubation times to 48 hours at 4°C if necessary. For plant tissues, incorporate antigen retrieval methods such as citrate buffer (pH 6.0) treatment at 95°C for 15-20 minutes before antibody incubation. Consider using amplification systems like tyramide signal amplification or biotin-streptavidin systems to enhance weak signals .
High background is a common challenge with plant tissue immunodetection. Implement these strategies to minimize non-specific binding: (1) Increase blocking stringency using 5% BSA or 5-10% normal serum from the same species as the secondary antibody; (2) Extend blocking time to 2-3 hours at room temperature; (3) Add 0.1-0.3% Triton X-100 to antibody dilution buffers to reduce hydrophobic interactions; (4) Pre-absorb the antibody with plant tissue powder from knockout lines or unrelated species; (5) Include additional washing steps (at least 5 washes of 10 minutes each) with 0.1% Tween-20 in buffer; (6) Optimize secondary antibody dilution (typically 1:5000-1:10000); (7) For immunofluorescence, treat sections with 0.1-1% sodium borohydride to reduce autofluorescence from aldehyde fixatives and include a Sudan Black B treatment (0.1-0.3% in 70% ethanol) to quench plant tissue autofluorescence .
Conflicting results across different detection methods require systematic analysis. First, evaluate epitope accessibility - certain techniques may denature proteins (Western blot) while others preserve native conformation (immunoprecipitation), affecting antibody recognition. Document fixation and extraction protocols precisely, as these significantly impact epitope preservation. Consider post-translational modifications that might be tissue-specific or condition-dependent and affect antibody binding. When Western blot and immunohistochemistry results conflict, perform cellular fractionation to determine if the protein localizes to compartments that might be lost or underrepresented in certain extraction methods. For definitive validation, implement orthogonal approaches such as mass spectrometry identification of immunoprecipitated proteins or correlate with fluorescent protein fusion localization studies. Create a detailed analysis table comparing results across methods, including all experimental variables, to identify patterns that might explain discrepancies .
For quantitative analysis of At1g68905 protein expression, select methods appropriate to your detection technique. For Western blots, use densitometry software (ImageJ, Image Lab, etc.) with appropriate normalization controls like housekeeping proteins specific to plants (e.g., actin, tubulin, or GAPDH). Calculate relative expression using the formula:
For immunohistochemistry quantification, measure mean fluorescence intensity within defined regions of interest across multiple biological replicates (n≥3). ELISA-based quantification should include a standard curve using recombinant At1g68905 protein if available. Statistical analysis should employ appropriate tests (t-test for two-condition comparisons, ANOVA for multiple conditions) with post-hoc tests as needed. Report both biological and technical replicate numbers clearly in publications .
Multiplex immunoassays with At1g68905 Antibody require careful planning to avoid cross-reactivity and signal interference. For dual immunofluorescence, select primary antibodies from different host species (e.g., rabbit anti-At1g68905 with mouse anti-second target) and use spectrally distinct fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibodies (e.g., Alexa Fluor 488 and Alexa Fluor 594). When this is not possible, employ sequential staining protocols with complete blocking between rounds of antibody incubation. For multiplex Western blotting, use differently sized target proteins that can be distinguished on the same blot, or employ fluorescent Western blotting with spectrally distinct detection channels. Consider protein extraction methods that effectively isolate all targets of interest, as some proteins may require specialized extraction protocols. Validate multiplex assays by comparing with single-staining controls to ensure antibody performance isn't compromised in the multiplex format .
Comparing At1g68905 expression across Arabidopsis ecotypes requires attention to genetic and environmental variables. First, verify antibody epitope conservation across ecotypes through sequence alignment analysis. Implement standardized growth conditions (light intensity, photoperiod, temperature, humidity, and growth medium composition) to minimize environmental variation. Harvest tissues at identical developmental stages rather than chronological age, as development rates vary between ecotypes. For quantitative comparisons, use reference proteins with verified stable expression across the ecotypes being studied. Consider tissue-specific expression patterns that may differ between ecotypes and sample multiple tissue types accordingly. When possible, correlate protein expression data with transcriptomic data from public databases to identify potential post-transcriptional regulation differences. Present data in a standardized format using the following table structure:
| Ecotype | Tissue Type | Developmental Stage | Relative At1g68905 Expression | Method | Reference Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Col-0 | Leaf | Rosette (Stage 5.1) | 1.00 (normalized) | Western | Actin (At3g18780) |
| Ler | Leaf | Rosette (Stage 5.1) | 0.78 ± 0.12 | Western | Actin (At3g18780) |
Include at least 3-5 biological replicates per ecotype and apply appropriate statistical tests to assess significance of observed differences .