DTX4 Antibody is a research tool designed to detect and study the deltex E3 ubiquitin ligase 4 (DTX4), a 67.3 kDa cytoplasmic protein involved in ubiquitination-mediated degradation of substrates like TBK1 and modulation of immune responses . It plays critical roles in cellular homeostasis, cancer progression, and immune regulation .
Validated for human and mouse samples, with cross-reactivity predicted in bovine, rat, and chicken .
TBK1 Degradation: DTX4 collaborates with NLRP4 to ubiquitinate TBK1, dampening type I interferon responses .
Cancer Relevance: Overexpressed in leukemia (K562 cells) and adrenal carcinoma (SW13 cells) .
Neuronal and Immune Roles: Implicated in neurodegenerative disorders via protein turnover regulation .
Deubiquitination Crosstalk: DTX4 interacts with Usp27x to stabilize cFLIPL, modulating apoptosis sensitivity .
Structural Studies: Antibodies like MAB7157 enable mapping of DTX4’s WWE and RING domains critical for substrate binding .
Cross-Reactivity: Some antibodies (e.g., PA5-49652) may detect mouse DTX4 due to 97% sequence homology .
Specificity: Non-specific binding observed in non-reducing conditions; validate using knockout controls .
DTX4 Antibodies are pivotal for exploring therapeutic targeting in cancer (e.g., disrupting Notch signaling) and autoimmune diseases (e.g., modulating TBK1 activity). Ongoing studies focus on isoform-specific roles, as DTX4 has two splice variants with distinct functions .
DTX1 (Deltex-1) is an approximately 75 kDa cytoplasmic and nuclear ubiquitin ligase that interacts with the Notch-1 intracellular domain and regulates Notch-induced gene transcription. It contains two WWE domains (amino acids 14-94 and 95-171) and one RING-type zinc finger (amino acids 411-472) . Within amino acids 1-147, human Deltex-1 shares 97% amino acid sequence identity with mouse and rat Deltex-1 . In plant research literature, QsDTX41 appears to be related to proanthocyanidin synthesis and programmed cell death pathways in cork oak .
Based on experimental validation, DTX1/DTX4 antibodies have demonstrated effectiveness in multiple applications:
| Application | Validated Conditions | Cell Lines | Expected Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Blot | 2 μg/mL antibody concentration | K562, SW13 | Specific band at ~67 kDa |
| Immunocytochemistry | 10 μg/mL, 3 hours at RT | K562 | Cytoplasmic localization |
| Flow Cytometry | Paraformaldehyde fixation, saponin permeabilization | K562 | Positive intracellular staining |
These applications provide researchers with multiple methodological approaches to study DTX proteins in different experimental contexts .
In cork oak research, QsDTX41 transcripts show significantly higher accumulation in both young-developed cork (YDC) (P = 0.0001) and trunk-derived cork (TDC) (P < 0.0001) compared to undifferentiated calli . Additionally, significantly higher expression was observed in TDC compared with YDC (P = 0.0002). This expression pattern correlates with other genes related to proanthocyanidin synthesis (QsLDOX, QsLAR, QsBAN) and appears to be associated with programmed cell death processes in cork formation .
For maximum antibody performance and longevity, researchers should follow these evidence-based storage protocols:
| Storage Condition | Duration | Temperature | Special Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| As supplied | 12 months | -20 to -70°C | Original container |
| Post-reconstitution | 1 month | 2 to 8°C | Sterile conditions |
| Long-term storage | 6 months | -20 to -70°C | Sterile conditions post-reconstitution |
It is crucial to use a manual defrost freezer and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles that can compromise antibody performance .
To ensure experimental validity, incorporate these essential controls:
Positive control lysates: Use validated cell lines such as K562 human chronic myelogenous leukemia cells or SW13 human adrenal cortex adenocarcinoma cells
Negative controls: Include isotype control antibody (e.g., MAB0041) processed in parallel with DTX1/DTX4 antibody
Secondary antibody controls: For Western blot, use HRP-conjugated Anti-Mouse IgG (HAF007); for immunofluorescence, use NorthernLights 557-conjugated Anti-Mouse IgG (NL007)
Procedural controls: For flow cytometry, compare staining in permeabilized vs. non-permeabilized samples to verify intracellular localization
Based on experimental evidence, researchers should consider these compartment-specific approaches:
Cytoplasmic detection: Standard immunofluorescence with appropriate permeabilization has successfully detected DTX1/DTX4 in the cytoplasm of K562 cells
Nuclear detection: Since DTX1 functions in both cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments, nuclear extraction protocols may be necessary to enrich for nuclear fractions
Membrane association: For potential membrane-associated pools, subcellular fractionation followed by Western blotting can differentiate between soluble and membrane-bound populations
Flow cytometry: For intracellular detection, fixation with paraformaldehyde followed by permeabilization with saponin has been validated for DTX1/DTX4 detection
Researchers can employ several sophisticated approaches:
Co-immunoprecipitation studies: Using DTX1/DTX4 antibodies to pull down protein complexes can identify interaction partners within the Notch pathway
ChIP-seq analysis: Investigating potential roles of DTX1/DTX4 in transcriptional regulation by identifying genomic binding sites
Proximity ligation assays: Visualizing direct protein-protein interactions between DTX1/DTX4 and Notch pathway components in situ
Ubiquitination assays: Examining the E3 ligase activity of DTX1 on potential Notch pathway substrates
These approaches enable mechanistic investigation of DTX1/DTX4's role in regulating Notch-induced gene transcription .
Based on cork oak research methodologies, several approaches have proven effective:
Comparative gene expression analysis: qRT-PCR comparing QsDTX41 expression across different tissue types (calli, YDC, TDC) reveals developmental regulation
Histochemical correlation: Vanillin-HCl staining for proanthocyanidins can be correlated with QsDTX41 expression to establish functional relationships
Electron microscopy: Ultrastructural analysis of cellular changes during programmed cell death can be linked to DTX41 expression patterns
Co-expression network analysis: Studying relationships between QsDTX41 and other genes involved in proanthocyanidin synthesis (QsLDOX, QsLAR, QsBAN) and programmed cell death (γVPE, ENDO4, PASPA3, RPN5A, XCP1)
To ensure specificity in experimental detection:
Epitope mapping: Characterize the specific epitope recognized by anti-DTX1/DTX4 antibodies to assess potential cross-reactivity
Western blot validation: Confirm single-band detection at the expected molecular weight (~67 kDa for DTX1/DTX4) versus ~75 kDa for DDX41
RNA interference: Use targeted siRNA knockdowns to validate antibody specificity through signal reduction
Recombinant protein controls: Express tagged versions of DTX41 and similar proteins to establish detection specificities
Orthogonal detection methods: Combine antibody-based detection with mass spectrometry for definitive protein identification
| Challenge | Possible Causes | Recommended Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Weak signal | Insufficient protein expression, antibody degradation | Increase sample loading, optimize antibody concentration, use fresh antibody aliquots |
| Multiple bands | Cross-reactivity, protein degradation | Use reducing conditions, include protease inhibitors, validate with positive controls |
| Background staining | Insufficient blocking, high antibody concentration | Optimize blocking (duration/reagent), titrate antibody concentration, increase wash steps |
| Inconsistent results | Freeze-thaw degradation, variable fixation | Use single-use aliquots, standardize fixation protocols, include internal controls |
When analyzing DTX1/DTX4 expression data:
Cell type-specific variation: Compare expression across multiple validated cell lines (K562, SW13) to establish baseline expectations
Subcellular localization changes: Interpret cytoplasmic versus nuclear localization in the context of Notch pathway activation state
Correlation with functional outcomes: Link expression patterns to downstream effects on Notch-induced gene transcription
Developmental context: Consider temporal regulation, as seen in the progressive expression changes in cork development from calli to YDC to TDC
Statistical validation: Apply appropriate statistical tests (as used in cork oak research with P-value thresholds) to determine significance of expression differences
To ensure signal specificity:
Peptide competition assays: Pre-incubate antibody with immunizing peptide to confirm signal specificity
Knockout/knockdown validation: Compare signal in wild-type versus DTX1/DTX4-depleted samples
Multiple antibody validation: Use antibodies targeting different epitopes of DTX1/DTX4
Signal quantification: Apply digital image analysis to quantify signal-to-noise ratios
Physiological correlation: Verify that observed changes correlate with expected biological responses (e.g., Notch pathway modulation)
Building on detection in cancer cell lines (K562, SW13) , researchers can explore:
Expression profiling: Compare DTX1/DTX4 levels across cancer types and correlate with clinical outcomes
Functional studies: Investigate how DTX1/DTX4 modulation affects cancer cell proliferation, migration, and therapy response
Pathway analysis: Examine crosstalk between Notch signaling and other oncogenic pathways mediated by DTX1/DTX4
Biomarker potential: Evaluate DTX1/DTX4 as a potential diagnostic or prognostic biomarker in specific cancer types
Therapeutic targeting: Explore ways to modulate DTX1/DTX4 activity for potential cancer treatment
Based on cork oak research connecting QsDTX41 with programmed cell death :
Time-course analysis: Monitor DTX41 expression changes throughout the progression of programmed cell death
Genetic manipulation: Employ overexpression or silencing of DTX41 to assess effects on cell death pathways
Protein interaction studies: Identify binding partners of DTX41 in cell death signaling networks
Subcellular localization: Track changes in DTX41 distribution during cell death progression using fractionation and imaging
Comparative systems biology: Compare DTX41 function in plant versus animal programmed cell death mechanisms
Emerging technologies offer new research possibilities:
Single-cell RNA sequencing: Reveal cell-to-cell heterogeneity in DTX1/DTX4 expression within tissues
CyTOF/mass cytometry: Simultaneously analyze DTX1/DTX4 expression alongside multiple signaling pathway components
Spatial transcriptomics: Map DTX41 expression patterns within complex tissue architectures
Live-cell imaging: Track dynamic changes in DTX1/DTX4 localization during cellular processes in real-time
CRISPR screening: Identify genetic interactions with DTX1/DTX4 in specific cellular contexts