DNAH7 (Dynein Axonemal Heavy Chain 7) is a force-generating protein that plays a crucial role in respiratory cilia and sperm flagella beating. It functions by producing force toward the minus ends of microtubules and possesses ATPase activity, with the force-producing power stroke occurring upon ADP release . As a component of the inner dynein arm (IDA) of ciliary axonemes, DNAH7 is specifically found in IDAb and IDAe complexes and associates with the light intermediate chain DNALI1 .
Research importance:
DNAH7 is associated with primary ciliary dyskinesia and male fertility outcomes
Recent studies have identified DNAH7 mutations as potentially beneficial for colorectal cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors
It serves as a critical marker for studying ciliary function in respiratory epithelium
DNAH7 antibody, HRP conjugated, is particularly suitable for:
ELISA applications: The most validated application at dilutions of 1:500-1000
Immunodetection following protein separation: Especially useful for quantitative analyses of DNAH7 expression levels in different tissue samples
The HRP conjugation eliminates the need for secondary antibody incubation, streamlining experimental workflows and reducing background. This makes it particularly valuable for high-throughput screening applications and situations requiring enhanced sensitivity .
The specificity of DNAH7 antibody has been validated through multiple approaches:
Western blot analysis: Detects a specific band at the expected size of DNAH7 (~461 kDa) in control samples
Immunofluorescence microscopy: Shows localization throughout the entire length of ciliary axonemes in healthy control subjects
Comparative studies: Shows absence of signal in respiratory ciliary axonemes from individuals with CCDC39 and CCDC40 variants, confirming specificity
Cross-reactivity testing has shown predicted reactivity with DNAH7 from multiple species including human, mouse, rat, dog, cow, sheep, pig, horse, chicken, and rabbit , though experimental validation has primarily been performed in human samples.
Standard ELISA protocol for HRP-conjugated DNAH7 antibody:
Coating: Coat wells with target protein/sample (50-100 μL/well)
Blocking: Block with 5% non-fat milk or BSA in PBS-T (1-2 hours at room temperature)
Primary antibody: Apply HRP-conjugated DNAH7 antibody at 1:500-1000 dilution in blocking buffer
Incubation: 1-2 hours at room temperature or overnight at 4°C
Washing: Wash 3-5 times with PBS-T
Detection: Add TMB or other HRP substrate and measure colorimetric signal
Analysis: Analyze results against appropriate controls
Optimal antibody concentration may require titration for your specific application
Always include negative controls (no primary antibody) and positive controls (known DNAH7-expressing samples)
Maintain consistent temperature conditions throughout the protocol
For optimal performance and longevity of DNAH7 antibody, HRP conjugated:
Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles: Aliquot antibody upon first thaw to minimize degradation
Working solution: When diluted for use, maintain at 4°C and use within 24 hours
Buffer conditions: The antibody is typically provided in a buffer containing 50% glycerol, 0.01M PBS (pH 7.4), and 0.03% Proclin 300 as a preservative
Shipping conditions: Typically shipped with ice packs; verify integrity upon arrival
Research has shown that properly stored HRP-conjugated antibodies maintain >90% activity for at least 12 months when stored according to manufacturer recommendations.
DNAH7 antibody has proven valuable in PCD research through several methodological approaches:
Immunofluorescence microscopy: Enables visualization of DNAH7 localization in respiratory ciliary axonemes
Correlation with genetic findings: Can confirm functional impact of variants in genes like CCDC39 and CCDC40
Characterization of IDA components: Studies have used DNAH7 antibodies to demonstrate that defects in the 96 nm axonemal ruler affect assembly of IDA components
Differential diagnosis: While PCD individuals with CCDC39/CCDC40 variants show absence of DNAH7, those with N-DRC defects (variants in DRC1/CCDC164, CCDC65, GAS8) or ODA defects (DNAH5) show normal DNAH7 distribution
Collect respiratory epithelial cells via nasal or bronchial brushing
Fix cells in 4% paraformaldehyde
Permeabilize with 0.2% Triton X-100
Block with 5% BSA/normal serum
Use acetylated α-tubulin as ciliary marker for co-localization studies
Analyze using high-resolution confocal microscopy
This approach enables researchers to correlate genetic variants with specific alterations in ciliary ultrastructure.
When faced with contradictory results using DNAH7 antibodies, consider implementing these methodological approaches:
Multiple detection methods: Combine immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and ELISA to verify findings
Different antibody clones: Test antibodies recognizing different epitopes within DNAH7 (e.g., AA 730-903 versus AA 2301-2400)
Genetic knockdown validation: Use siRNA to deplete DNAH7 and confirm antibody specificity
Epitope accessibility: Optimize antigen retrieval methods (heat-induced vs. enzymatic)
Fixation comparison: Test multiple fixation protocols (PFA, methanol, acetone)
Blocking optimization: Test different blocking agents to reduce background
Positive controls: Include samples with known DNAH7 expression
Signal amplification: Consider tyramide signal amplification for low-abundance detection
Quantitative analysis: Use digital image analysis software for objective quantification
Co-localization studies: Assess overlap with known interaction partners (e.g., DNALI1)
Subcellular fractionation: Separate chromatin-bound from soluble fractions before analysis
These approaches have successfully resolved contradictions in studies of DNAH7 localization in PCD patients with different genetic variants .
DNAH7 antibodies provide valuable tools for investigating sperm flagella anomalies, particularly in cases of asthenozoospermia and multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF):
Comparative immunolocalization: Analyze DNAH7 distribution in normal versus abnormal sperm flagella
Co-localization with other flagellar markers: Use multi-color immunofluorescence to examine spatial relationships with other axonemal components
Correlative light and electron microscopy: Combine immunolocalization with ultrastructural analysis
Diagnostic potential: DNAH7 antibody staining patterns can help categorize subtypes of MMAF
Genotype-phenotype correlations: Compare DNAH7 staining patterns in cases with known variants in DNAH gene family members
Fertility outcome prediction: Research indicates that infertile males with variants in DNAH7 can achieve successful pregnancy outcomes through ICSI
Use mild fixation to preserve flagellar structure
Include membrane permeabilization optimization
Apply DNAH7 antibody at 1:50-200 dilution for immunofluorescence
Counterstain with acetylated α-tubulin or other axonemal markers
This approach has helped establish that DNAH7 plays a critical role in sperm flagella beating and male fertility .
Multi-color immunofluorescence with DNAH7 antibodies requires careful planning to achieve optimal results:
Antibody compatibility: When using DNAH7 antibody with other primary antibodies, ensure they are raised in different host species to avoid cross-reactivity
Epitope accessibility: Different fixation methods may variably affect epitope accessibility for DNAH7 versus other targets
Signal intensity balancing: DNAH7 may require signal amplification to match intensity with more abundant proteins
Sequential staining: Consider sequential rather than simultaneous incubation if antibodies are incompatible
Spectral separation: Ensure fluorophores have minimal spectral overlap (particularly important when using FITC-conjugated DNAH7 antibody)
Blocking optimization: Use species-specific blocking to minimize cross-reactivity
Controls: Include single-stained controls for spectral compensation and bleed-through assessment
DNAH7 antibody works effectively with acetylated α-tubulin for ciliary co-localization studies
For studying inner dynein arm components, combinations of DNAH7 with DNAH1 and DNAH6 antibodies have been successfully employed
These approaches have enabled researchers to characterize the differential localization of IDA components in respiratory cilia from healthy individuals and PCD patients .
Recent research has identified DNAH7 mutations as potentially beneficial for colorectal cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) , opening new avenues for research where DNAH7 antibodies can play a crucial role:
Colorectal cancer patients with DNAH7 mutations showed improved response to ICIs (P<0.05)
DNAH7 mutation was associated with higher ESTIMATE scores, immune scores, and matrix scores (P<0.001)
Pathways related to small molecule transport, keratinization, and immune response were enriched in DNAH7 mutated tissues
Tumor microenvironment characterization:
Use IHC with DNAH7 antibodies to assess expression patterns in tumor versus normal tissues
Compare expression in microsatellite instability-high versus microsatellite stable colorectal cancers
Predictive biomarker development:
Develop immunohistochemical protocols to detect wild-type versus mutated DNAH7 protein
Correlate DNAH7 staining patterns with genetic testing results and treatment outcomes
Mechanistic studies:
Use DNAH7 antibodies to identify protein interaction partners in cancer cells
Investigate changes in subcellular localization of DNAH7 in cancer versus normal cells
Compare DNAH7 protein levels between DNAH7-mutated and wild-type tumors using Western blot
Protocol recommendations:
These approaches can help elucidate the mechanisms by which DNAH7 mutations influence tumor immunology and response to immunotherapy.
Detecting DNAH7 (~461 kDa) by Western blotting requires specialized protocols optimized for high molecular weight proteins:
Harvest cells or tissue in ice-cold RIPA buffer supplemented with protease inhibitors
For ciliated cells, consider direct lysis in Laemmli buffer to improve high molecular weight protein recovery
Sonicate samples briefly (3 × 10s pulses) while keeping on ice
Centrifuge at 14,000×g for 15 minutes at 4°C
Collect supernatant and determine protein concentration
Gel selection: Use NuPAGE 3-8% Tris-acetate gels specifically designed for high molecular weight proteins
Sample preparation: Denature samples at 70°C for 10 minutes (not higher, to prevent aggregation)
Electrophoresis: Run at lower voltage (100V) for extended time (3-4 hours)
Transfer: Use wet transfer to PVDF membrane at low amperage (250mA) overnight at 4°C
Primary antibody: Incubate with anti-DNAH7 rabbit polyclonal antibody diluted in 5% skim milk in TBS-T
Secondary antibody: Incubate with goat anti-rabbit HRP antibody for 1 hour at room temperature
Detection: Use ECL Prime Western Blotting Detection Reagent with extended exposure times
This protocol has successfully detected DNAH7 as a single specific band at the expected size of approximately 461 kDa in control samples .
While DNAH7 is primarily known as an axonemal protein, recent studies suggest potential nuclear functions. Optimizing chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) with DNAH7 antibodies requires:
Antibody validation: First confirm nuclear localization of DNAH7 in your cell type using fractionation and immunofluorescence
Chromatin binding assessment: Perform chromatin binding assay similar to HRP-3 protocols to verify chromatin association
Epitope accessibility: Evaluate if the antibody epitope (e.g., AA 730-903 or AA 2301-2400) remains accessible in chromatin-bound DNAH7
Crosslinking: Test both formaldehyde (1%) and dual crosslinking (DSG followed by formaldehyde)
Sonication: Optimize sonication conditions for fragments of 200-500bp
Antibody amount: Typically 2-5μg per ChIP reaction, but titration is recommended
Chromatin amount: Start with 25μg of chromatin per reaction
Controls: Include IgG control and positive control antibody (e.g., H3)
Washing stringency: Optimize salt concentration in wash buffers