DUSP11 (dual-specificity phosphatase 11) is a phosphatase involved in RNA metabolism and protein dephosphorylation, with roles in viral restriction and cellular noncoding RNA regulation . The biotin-conjugated anti-DUSP11 antibody (Catalog No. ABIN7244174) is a polyclonal rabbit-derived reagent that binds specifically to human DUSP11. Its biotin tag facilitates high-sensitivity detection in assays requiring streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or streptavidin-fluorophore complexes .
ELISA: Quantifies DUSP11 expression in serum or cell lysates.
Immunohistochemistry (IHC): Localizes DUSP11 in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues, such as cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) samples .
Cancer Prognosis: Elevated DUSP11 levels correlate with advanced T-stage and poor prognosis in intrahepatic CCA (iCCA) .
Viral Infection: DUSP11 regulates hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication by modulating RNA triphosphatase activity .
RNA Metabolism: Converts microRNA precursors from 5'-triphosphate to 5'-monophosphate, influencing steady-state noncoding RNA levels .
ELISA: Incubate biotin-conjugated antibody with target antigen, followed by streptavidin-HRP and colorimetric substrate.
IHC: Apply antibody at 1:30–1:150 dilution after antigen retrieval; detect with streptavidin-biotin-complex (ABC) kits .
Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles to preserve activity.
Sodium azide in the buffer is toxic; handle with protective equipment .
The table below contrasts biotin-conjugated DUSP11 antibodies with other formats:
| Conjugate | Applications | Reactivity | Sensitivity | Catalog No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biotin | ELISA, IHC | Human | High | ABIN7244174 |
| Unconjugated | WB, IF, IP | Human, Mouse | Moderate | 10204-2-AP |
| FITC | IF, Flow Cytometry | Human | High | ABIN7070668 |
Prognostic Biomarker in CCA: High DUSP11 expression in iCCA tissues predicts poor post-operative survival (PMC8513537) .
Viral RNA Regulation: DUSP11 restricts HCV by enabling exonuclease XRN-mediated RNA degradation .
Autoimmunity: Identified in autoantibody profiling of ACPA-negative rheumatoid arthritis .
DUSP11 is a unique member of atypical dual specificity phosphatases that primarily functions as an RNA 5'-triphosphatase. It preferentially acts on 5'-triphosphorylated (5'-PPP) RNAs transcribed by RNA polymerase III (Pol III) and converts them to a 5'-monophosphorylated (5'-P) form. This activity has significant implications for cellular RNA metabolism and innate immune responses. DUSP11 also regulates cellular noncoding RNA levels and can dephosphorylate certain proteins, suggesting a multifunctional role in cellular processes .
Immunohistochemical studies have demonstrated that DUSP11 is predominantly localized in the cell nucleus, consistent with its function as a phosphatase toward phospho-RNA. This nuclear localization is particularly evident in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) tissues, where DUSP11 plays a role in cancer progression . Understanding this localization is crucial for experimental design when using antibodies to detect DUSP11 in cellular compartments.
Biotin-conjugated antibodies offer several advantages in research applications, particularly for complex protocols requiring signal amplification. The strong affinity between biotin and streptavidin allows for enhanced detection sensitivity in immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry. Additionally, biotinylated formats eliminate the need for species-specific secondary antibodies, allowing greater flexibility in multi-label experiments and reducing background in certain tissue types.
DUSP11 antibodies have been validated for several research applications including:
| Application | Dilution Range | Positive Control Samples |
|---|---|---|
| Western Blot (WB) | 1:2000-1:12000 | A431 cells, HeLa cells, K-562 cells |
| Immunoprecipitation (IP) | 0.5-4.0 μg for 1.0-3.0 mg protein | K-562 cells |
| Immunofluorescence (IF/ICC) | 1:700-1:2800 | A431 cells |
These applications have been documented in multiple publications, particularly for western blot and knockdown/knockout validation studies .
For optimal DUSP11 detection in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues, researchers should follow this methodology:
Deparaffinize and rehydrate tissues with xylene and graded alcohol
Perform antigen retrieval in citrate buffer (pH 6.0)
Block endogenous peroxidase activity with 3% hydrogen peroxide
Block non-specific binding with 1% bovine serum albumin for 30 minutes
Incubate with biotin-conjugated DUSP11 antibody at appropriate dilution (typically 1:100-1:500) at 4°C overnight
Wash thoroughly with phosphate buffered saline (three times)
Apply streptavidin-peroxidase complex directly (skipping secondary antibody step)
Visualize with 3,3'-diaminobenzidine solution for 10 minutes
Counterstain, dehydrate, and mount
This protocol has been effective for detecting DUSP11 in cholangiocarcinoma tissues, allowing for accurate assessment of expression patterns .
For rigorous quantitative analysis of DUSP11 expression, researchers should consider:
Standardization of antibody concentration, incubation times, and detection systems across samples
Inclusion of appropriate positive controls (A431, HeLa, or K-562 cells) and negative controls
Implementation of scoring systems for immunohistochemistry (e.g., H-score combining intensity and percentage of positive cells)
Validation of findings using orthogonal methods (qPCR, western blot)
Consideration of subcellular localization patterns (nuclear vs. cytoplasmic staining)
In published studies, DUSP11 expression has been classified into "high" and "low" categories based on staining intensity and proportion of positive cells, allowing for meaningful correlation with clinical parameters .
Recent research has uncovered DUSP11's critical role in immune regulation through its RNA phosphatase activity. All cellular transcripts initially contain a tri-phosphate (PPP) group at the 5'-end, which can be recognized as a pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) by the cell's innate immune system. DUSP11 removes these 5'-PPP groups from RNA polymerase III transcripts, converting them to 5'-monophosphorylated (5'-P) forms. DUSP11 depletion leads to accumulation of 5'-PPP-Pol III-ncRNAs, enhancing cellular responsiveness to incoming PAMPs. This immune imbalance is modulated by a non-coding RNA called nc886, which increases in expression upon DUSP11 depletion, mitigating the sensitized immunity. This mechanism represents a novel pathway by which human cells control immune sensitivity intrinsically through RNA metabolism .
To study DUSP11-RNA interactions, researchers can employ several antibody-dependent methodologies:
RNA Immunoprecipitation (RIP): Using DUSP11 antibodies to pull down DUSP11-RNA complexes, followed by RNA isolation and analysis via RT-qPCR or sequencing
Cross-linking Immunoprecipitation (CLIP): Employing UV cross-linking to capture direct RNA-protein interactions before immunoprecipitation with DUSP11 antibodies
Immunofluorescence co-localization: Using biotin-conjugated DUSP11 antibodies in combination with RNA FISH to visualize spatial relationships
Proximity Ligation Assay (PLA): Detecting DUSP11-RNA interactions in situ with high specificity
These approaches can help elucidate DUSP11's RNA targets, particularly focusing on 5'-triphosphorylated RNAs transcribed by RNA polymerase III that have been implicated in immune regulation pathways .
For maximum stability and performance of DUSP11 antibodies:
| Storage Parameter | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Store at -20°C |
| Buffer Composition | PBS with 0.02% sodium azide and 50% glycerol (pH 7.3) |
| Aliquoting | Unnecessary for -20°C storage of small volumes (20μl) |
| Freeze-Thaw Cycles | Minimize; thaw only once before use |
| Working Solution | Dilute in appropriate buffer immediately before use |
| Long-term Storage | Stable for 12 months after shipment when stored properly |
These conditions apply specifically to DUSP11 antibodies referenced in the literature and should be verified for each individual product .
Rigorous validation of DUSP11 antibody specificity should include:
Positive control testing in known DUSP11-expressing cell lines (A431, HeLa, K-562)
Negative controls using knockdown or knockout validation (siRNA, CRISPR/Cas9)
Western blot confirmation of band at expected molecular weight (39 kDa)
Peptide competition assays to confirm epitope specificity
Cross-reactivity testing against related DUSP family members
Comparison of staining patterns across multiple antibodies targeting different DUSP11 epitopes
Publications have successfully employed these validation approaches for DUSP11 antibodies in knockdown/knockout studies, confirming specificity before proceeding with experimental applications .
When encountering background issues with biotin-conjugated antibodies, researchers should implement:
Endogenous biotin blocking step using avidin/biotin blocking kits before primary antibody incubation
Optimization of antibody concentration (typically starting with more dilute solutions)
Extended blocking steps (1-2 hours) using BSA or serum from the same species as secondary reagents
Addition of 0.1-0.3% Triton X-100 to buffers to reduce hydrophobic interactions
Pre-absorption of antibody with tissue powder from the species being studied
Use of streptavidin-conjugated fluorophores with minimal spectral overlap for multicolor applications
These approaches have proven effective in minimizing background while maintaining specific signal in immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence applications with biotin-conjugated antibodies.
The unique RNA phosphatase activity of DUSP11 presents several potential therapeutic avenues:
Targeting DUSP11 to modulate innate immune responses by altering the cellular landscape of 5'-PPP RNAs, which could enhance antiviral or antitumor immunity
Exploiting the relationship between DUSP11 and nc886 to develop novel immune modulators that can fine-tune immune sensitivity in autoimmune diseases or cancer
Developing small molecule inhibitors of DUSP11 that could potentially sensitize cancer cells to immunotherapy by increasing recognition of endogenous nucleic acids as PAMPs
Creating therapeutic RNA molecules with modified 5' ends that can bypass or leverage DUSP11 regulation
The recently discovered role of DUSP11 in controlling immune sensitivity through cellular RNA metabolism provides a conceptual framework for these potential interventions .
Recent technological developments enhancing DUSP11 detection include:
Multiplexed immunofluorescence allowing simultaneous detection of DUSP11 with other biomarkers
Digital pathology with automated image analysis for standardized quantification
Single-cell proteomics enabling assessment of DUSP11 expression heterogeneity within tissues
Proximity extension assays for ultrasensitive quantification in limited samples
Mass spectrometry-based approaches for absolute quantification and post-translational modification analysis
These advances are particularly relevant for clinical applications where DUSP11 has demonstrated prognostic value, such as in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma .
Emerging research has identified intriguing connections between DUSP11 and viral pathogenesis. The study of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) has revealed that viral infection suppresses DUSP11 expression, leading to increased nc886 expression. This interaction appears to be bidirectional, as nc886 subsequently stimulates KSHV infectivity. This mechanism suggests that viruses may manipulate host DUSP11 levels to create a cellular environment favorable for viral replication, potentially by altering immune surveillance of viral nucleic acids. The variable expression of DUSP11 in human tissues compared to the more constitutive expression in mice (which lack nc886) suggests that this regulatory mechanism may have evolved as part of human-specific immune adaptations. These findings open new research directions for understanding how pathogens exploit host RNA processing machinery and how such interactions might be therapeutically targeted .