At5g04720 encodes ADR1-L2 (Activated Disease Resistance 1-Like 2), a coiled-coil NLR-type (CC-NLR) immune receptor in Arabidopsis thaliana. It belongs to the RPW8-containing helper NLR family that plays critical roles in plant innate immunity . ADR1-L2 is one of three described ADR1 homologs (ADR1, ADR1-L1, and ADR1-L2) that function as helper NLRs in plant defense signaling cascades .
The protein contains:
RPW8-defined consensus sequences
Four predicted α-helices with distinct structural properties compared to canonical CNLs
An N-terminal domain that extends to the P-loop in the NB-ARC domain
ADR1-L2 contributes to basal resistance against pathogens and is involved in effector-triggered immunity signaling networks, making it a valuable target for studying plant disease resistance mechanisms.
At5g04720 antibodies have been validated for several experimental systems, with Western blot being the primary application. Based on available research data:
Experimental System | Validated | Recommended Dilution | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Western Blot | Yes | 1:2000-1:10000 | Most common application |
ELISA | Yes | ~1:10000 | Detection limit ~1 ng of target protein |
Immunofluorescence | Limited data | - | May require optimization |
Co-immunoprecipitation | Limited data | - | Protocol development may be necessary |
When working with plant extracts, particularly from Arabidopsis thaliana, protein extraction methods using TCA/acetone followed by denaturation with LDS sample buffer at 70°C for 10 minutes have shown good results in detecting plant proteins of similar nature .
Selection depends on your specific experimental needs. At5g04720 antibodies are available in several formats targeting different regions of the protein:
Antibody Format | Target Region | Applications | Advantages |
---|---|---|---|
N-terminal specific (X-C0Z338-N) | N-terminus | WB, ELISA | Good for detecting full-length protein |
C-terminal specific (X-C0Z338-C) | C-terminus | WB, ELISA | Useful if N-terminus is processed or modified |
Middle region specific (X-C0Z338-M) | Non-terminus sequence | WB, ELISA | Alternative epitope when termini are inaccessible |
For initial characterization, a combination of antibodies targeting different regions is recommended to ensure detection regardless of potential protein processing or modification events . For specific applications like studying protein-protein interactions, epitope accessibility should be considered when selecting antibody format.
Proper validation is critical for ensuring antibody specificity and reliability:
Western blot analysis with positive controls:
Use extracts from Arabidopsis thaliana wild-type plants
Include recombinant At5g04720 protein as positive control
Use knockout/knockdown lines as negative controls
Cross-reactivity assessment:
Test antibody against related ADR1 family members (ADR1, ADR1-L1)
Evaluate potential cross-reactivity with other NLR proteins
Confirm specificity in protein extracts from related plant species if intended for cross-species studies
Epitope mapping:
Functional validation:
Confirm antibody utility in immunoprecipitation experiments
Verify antibody effect on protein function if used in functional studies
Based on protocols used for similar plant proteins in Arabidopsis research:
Sample Preparation:
Use 10-15 μg of total protein per lane
Denature samples with LDS sample buffer at 70°C for 10 minutes
Electrophoresis and Transfer:
Use 12% SDS-PAGE for optimal separation
Transfer to PVDF membrane (0.2 μm pore size) using semi-dry transfer
Expected molecular weight: ~40-45 kDa
Immunodetection:
Block membrane with 5% milk in TBS-T overnight at 4°C
Primary antibody dilution: 1:1000 in TBS-T for 2 hours at room temperature
Wash three times for 15 minutes each in TBS-T
Use appropriate HRP-conjugated secondary antibody
Develop using standard ECL detection methods
This protocol has been effective for detecting similar plant proteins like HY5 and may require minor adjustments for At5g04720.
Protein extraction methods significantly impact the detection of plant immune receptors:
Tissue selection and treatment:
Young, actively growing tissue typically yields better results
Consider inducing defense responses before extraction to increase protein abundance
Flash-freeze harvested tissue immediately in liquid nitrogen
Extraction buffer optimization:
Include protease inhibitors to prevent degradation
Add phosphatase inhibitors if studying phosphorylation status
Consider detergent selection carefully (TRITON X-100, SDS, or NP-40)
Extraction protocol comparison:
Method | Advantages | Disadvantages | Recommendation |
---|---|---|---|
TCA/Acetone | Good for removing interfering compounds | May cause protein aggregation | Best for total protein extraction |
Phenol extraction | High purity | Time-consuming | For samples with high lipid content |
Native extraction | Preserves protein activity | Lower yield | For functional studies |
Post-extraction processing:
Centrifuge at high speed (>14,000 × g) to remove insoluble material
Consider concentration methods if protein abundance is low
Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles of extracted proteins
Proper handling of antibodies is essential for experimental success:
Storage and reconstitution:
Working dilution preparation:
Prepare fresh working dilutions shortly before use
Use high-quality, filtered buffers
If preparing stock solutions, include carrier proteins (e.g., BSA) to prevent adsorption
Long-term stability:
Monitor antibody performance over time with consistent positive controls
Document lot-to-lot variations
Consider adding preservatives (e.g., sodium azide at 0.05%) for long-term storage
Avoid exposing antibodies to extreme temperatures or pH conditions
Common issues and solutions:
Problem | Possible Causes | Solutions |
---|---|---|
No signal | Protein degradation | Add fresh protease inhibitors |
Insufficient protein | Increase loading amount | |
Inefficient transfer | Optimize transfer conditions | |
Antibody degradation | Use fresh antibody aliquot | |
Multiple bands | Cross-reactivity | Increase antibody dilution |
Protein degradation | Optimize extraction procedure | |
Post-translational modifications | Verify with different antibody format | |
High background | Insufficient blocking | Increase blocking time/concentration |
Secondary antibody issues | Test different secondary antibody | |
Non-specific binding | Optimize washing steps |
Additionally, consider signal enhancement systems if protein abundance is low. For plant proteins, tyramide signal amplification has been effective in detecting low-abundance immune receptors.
At5g04720 (ADR1-L2) functions within protein complexes in plant immunity, making interaction studies valuable:
Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP):
Use crosslinking agents to stabilize transient interactions
Consider native versus denaturing conditions based on interaction strength
Pre-clear lysates thoroughly to reduce non-specific binding
Include appropriate negative controls (non-specific antibodies, knockout lines)
Proximity labeling approaches:
Consider fusion proteins with BioID or APEX2 for in vivo interaction studies
Validate expression and functionality of fusion proteins
Optimize labeling conditions for plant tissues
Interaction verification:
Confirm interactions with reciprocal Co-IP experiments
Validate with orthogonal methods (Y2H, BiFC)
Research on NLR-type receptors has shown that the N-terminal fragments of CNL receptors interact frequently but rarely self-associate , suggesting potential heteromeric interactions that could be studied using these approaches.
Understanding expression dynamics is crucial for characterizing immune receptor function:
Transcriptional analysis:
RT-qPCR for temporal expression patterns
RNA-seq for genome-wide expression context
In situ hybridization for tissue-specific localization
Protein level analysis:
Western blotting with At5g04720 antibodies for protein abundance
Immunohistochemistry for spatial distribution
Mass spectrometry for absolute quantification
Promoter activity:
Reporter gene fusions (GUS, GFP) to study promoter activity
Chromatin immunoprecipitation to identify transcriptional regulators
Environmental and pathogen response:
Monitor expression changes following pathogen challenge
Evaluate expression under different abiotic stresses
Compare expression patterns in different genetic backgrounds
This approach has been valuable for understanding the regulation of other plant immune receptors and can provide insights into the role of ADR1-L2 in defense signaling networks.
When designing experiments, it's important to understand how At5g04720 antibodies perform relative to other plant immunity protein antibodies:
The reliability of plant immunity antibodies can vary significantly based on protein abundance and extraction methods. For At5g04720 and similar NLR proteins, optimization of extraction protocols is often necessary for consistent results.
While At5g04720 antibodies are primarily designed for Arabidopsis thaliana, researchers may need to adapt methods for studies in other species:
Cross-reactivity assessment:
Test antibody reactivity with recombinant proteins from target species
Perform sequence alignment to predict epitope conservation
Consider designing species-specific antibodies for divergent sequences
Extraction modification:
Adjust buffer composition based on species-specific compounds
For species with high phenolic content, add PVPP to extraction buffer
Optimize protein:detergent ratios for membrane-associated proteins
Detection protocol adaptation:
Adjust antibody concentration based on cross-reactivity strength
Consider longer incubation times for weaker interactions
Use more sensitive detection systems for low-abundance proteins
Validation in new species:
Include appropriate positive and negative controls
Perform peptide competition assays to confirm specificity
Consider using genetic tools (RNAi, CRISPR) to validate antibody specificity