The ENPP7 antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is a monoclonal mouse IgG1 antibody (Clone #560514) targeting human ENPP7. It recognizes the Pro23-Ser439 region of the mature 60 kDa glycoprotein (UniProt accession: Q6UWV6) . HRP conjugation enables enzymatic signal amplification in assays like Western blotting, enhancing detection limits.
Western Blot: Validated for detecting ENPP7 in human small intestine tissue lysates, showing a specific band at 60 kDa under reducing conditions .
Immunoassays: Compatible with HRP-based chromogenic or chemiluminescent substrates (e.g., TMB, ECL).
ENPP7 hydrolyzes dietary sphingomyelin to ceramide and phosphorylcholine, impacting lipid digestion and cell signaling. It is implicated in colorectal carcinoma progression, where its downregulation correlates with poor prognosis .
Western Blot: Demonstrated specificity in human small intestine lysates, with a clean 60 kDa band and no off-target binding .
Stability: Retains activity for 6 months at -70°C post-reconstitution .
Buffers: Use Immunoblot Buffer Group 1 for optimal results .
Controls: Include Fc-binding (positive) and empty vector (negative) controls to ensure assay reproducibility .
While ENPP1-targeting antibodies (e.g., clones 17 and 3G12) have been explored for cancer immunotherapy , ENPP7 antibodies are distinct in both target and application, focusing on metabolic and gastrointestinal research .
ENPP7 (ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 7), also known as alkaline sphingomyelinase (Alk-SMase), is a 60 kDa GPI-linked membrane glycoprotein primarily expressed in the intestines and human bile. The protein is significant in research because it hydrolyzes dietary sphingomyelin to form ceramide and phosphorylcholine, and may also hydrolyze and inactivate platelet-activating factor (PAF). ENPP7 has been implicated in various physiological processes related to lipid metabolism and has been observed to be down-regulated in some human colorectal carcinomas, suggesting its potential role in cancer pathophysiology .
HRP (Horseradish peroxidase) conjugated antibodies provide significant advantages for ENPP7 detection due to signal amplification properties. Unlike fluorescent conjugates, HRP catalyzes a chemical reaction generating a recordable signal in the form of light, substantially increasing sensitivity. This makes HRP conjugation especially valuable when detecting ENPP7 in samples where the protein may be present at low concentrations. The enzyme-based amplification system can detect picogram levels of target protein, whereas direct detection methods might require nanogram quantities . Additionally, HRP-conjugated antibodies produce stable signals that can be preserved for extended periods, allowing for multiple analyses of the same sample over time.
Human ENPP7 spans 458 amino acids and shares 80% and 82% amino acid identity with mouse and rat ENPP7, respectively. Despite this relatively high conservation, the 18-20% difference is significant enough to necessitate species-specific antibodies for optimal detection. The mature human ENPP7 protein (Pro23-Ser439) shares only 30-36% homology with other members of the NPP family, making it immunologically distinct from related proteins . When selecting antibodies for cross-species studies, researchers should validate epitope conservation in the target region or choose antibodies raised against conserved domains. This structural difference explains why some commercial antibodies show reactivity with human ENPP7 but not with mouse or rat variants, despite their sequence similarity.
For optimal Western blot detection of ENPP7 using HRP-conjugated antibodies:
Sample preparation: Prepare lysates from tissues (particularly small intestine) or cells expressing ENPP7
Protein separation: Use SDS-PAGE with reducing conditions
Transfer: Transfer proteins to PVDF membrane (preferred over nitrocellulose for ENPP7)
Blocking: Block with 5% non-fat milk in TBST for 1 hour at room temperature
Primary antibody: Incubate with anti-ENPP7 antibody (typically at 2 µg/mL concentration) overnight at 4°C
Washing: Wash 3-5 times with TBST
Secondary antibody: If using non-conjugated primary antibody, incubate with HRP-conjugated secondary antibody (e.g., Anti-Mouse IgG if using mouse monoclonal primary) at 1:5000 dilution for 1 hour
Signal detection: Develop using chemiluminescent substrate
Expected result: A specific band should be detected at approximately 60 kDa
For direct HRP-conjugated ENPP7 antibodies, skip the secondary antibody step and proceed directly to signal detection after washing.
To maintain optimal activity of ENPP7 antibody-HRP conjugates:
| Storage Condition | Duration | Temperature | Special Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term storage | 6-12 months | -20°C to -70°C | Store in single-use aliquots to avoid freeze-thaw cycles |
| Medium-term | 1 month | 2-8°C | Under sterile conditions after reconstitution |
| Working solution | 1-2 weeks | 2-8°C | Add preservative (e.g., 0.05-0.1% sodium azide) for extended shelf-life |
Critical factors affecting stability include:
Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles which significantly reduce HRP enzymatic activity
Store in light-protected containers as HRP is light-sensitive
Consider adding protein stabilizers (e.g., BSA) to diluted antibody solutions
Monitor pH as extreme values can denature both the antibody and the HRP enzyme
The optimal dilution ranges for ENPP7 antibody-HRP conjugates vary by application:
| Application | Recommended Dilution Range | Optimization Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Western Blot | 1:1000 - 1:5000 | Signal-to-noise ratio, protein abundance |
| ELISA | 1:2000 - 1:10000 | Plate coating density, detection sensitivity needed |
| IHC-Paraffin | 1:50 - 1:200 | Fixation method, antigen retrieval protocol |
| IHC-Frozen | 1:100 - 1:500 | Tissue preservation method, background signal |
| ICC/IF | 1:100 - 1:500 | Cell type, fixation protocol, permeabilization method |
Each laboratory should determine optimal dilutions through titration experiments. For detection antibodies in sandwich ELISA formats, an 80-fold dilution with 1X Assay Diluent is often recommended as a starting point . The HRP-Streptavidin concentrate used in some detection systems should be diluted 300-fold with 1X Assay Diluent .
To ensure experimental validity when using ENPP7 antibody-HRP conjugates, include these essential controls:
Negative controls:
No primary antibody control: Apply only secondary antibody-HRP to detect non-specific binding
Isotype control: Use non-specific antibody of same isotype and conjugation as your ENPP7 antibody
Absorption/neutralization control: Pre-incubate antibody with recombinant ENPP7 protein before application
Positive controls:
Tissue type control: Include samples known to express ENPP7 (e.g., small intestine tissue)
Recombinant protein: Include purified ENPP7 protein at known concentrations
Technical controls:
These controls help distinguish specific signals from background, validate antibody specificity, and ensure proper assay functioning.
Common sources of false positives or background when using HRP-conjugated ENPP7 antibodies include:
For Western blot applications specifically, reducing conditions and using Immunoblot Buffer Group 1 have been shown to improve specificity for ENPP7 detection .
To validate the specificity of an ENPP7 antibody-HRP conjugate:
Cross-reactivity testing:
Knockout/knockdown validation:
Test antibody on samples from ENPP7 knockout models or cells with ENPP7 knockdown
Compare signal to wild-type samples
Peptide competition assay:
Pre-incubate antibody with varying concentrations of ENPP7 immunizing peptide
Observe dose-dependent reduction in signal
Multiple antibody approach:
Use antibodies targeting different epitopes of ENPP7
Consistent results across antibodies suggest specificity
Mass spectrometry validation:
Immunoprecipitate ENPP7 with the antibody
Confirm protein identity by mass spectrometry
Tissue expression pattern:
For detecting low-abundance ENPP7 in complex samples:
Signal amplification systems:
Implement tyramide signal amplification (TSA) which can increase sensitivity 10-100 fold
Use poly-HRP conjugated secondary antibodies instead of mono-HRP systems
Consider avidin-biotin complexes with HRP for multilayer signal enhancement
Sample enrichment techniques:
Perform immunoprecipitation to concentrate ENPP7 before detection
Use subcellular fractionation to isolate membrane fractions where ENPP7 is enriched
Apply size exclusion or affinity chromatography to reduce sample complexity
Detection optimization:
Use high-sensitivity chemiluminescent substrates (e.g., femto-level reagents)
Increase antibody incubation time (overnight at 4°C) to maximize binding
Optimize substrate development time through kinetic studies
Use digital imaging systems with cooled CCDs for extended exposure without background buildup
Reduction of interference:
These approaches can collectively improve the signal-to-noise ratio and detection sensitivity by several orders of magnitude.
To study ENPP7's functional significance in disease models:
Expression correlation studies:
Quantify ENPP7 protein levels using antibody-based methods (Western blot, ELISA, IHC) across:
Normal vs. diseased tissues (especially colorectal tissues)
Disease progression stages
Patient outcome groups
Correlate protein levels with clinical parameters using statistical methods
Intervention studies:
Manipulate ENPP7 expression (overexpression/knockdown)
Use antibodies to confirm altered protein levels
Measure functional outcomes (e.g., sphingomyelin hydrolysis, ceramide production)
Assess disease-relevant phenotypes (e.g., cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation)
Mechanism studies:
Use co-immunoprecipitation with anti-ENPP7 antibodies to identify binding partners
Perform subcellular localization studies using antibody-based imaging
Investigate post-translational modifications with modification-specific antibodies
Study enzyme activity correlation with protein levels
Translational applications:
These approaches can establish both correlative and causal relationships between ENPP7 and disease processes.
For developing a sandwich ELISA for ENPP7 quantification in clinical samples:
Antibody pair selection:
Assay standardization:
Sample preparation optimization:
Evaluate matrix effects in different clinical specimens (serum, plasma, tissue lysates)
Determine optimal dilution factors for different sample types
Assess need for specialized extraction buffers for membrane-bound ENPP7
Assay validation:
Recovery testing: Spike known ENPP7 concentrations into samples (expect 80-95% recovery)
Linearity assessment: Test serial dilutions (1:2, 1:4) to confirm proportional signal reduction
Specificity testing: Challenge with related proteins and potential interferents
Stability testing: Evaluate freeze-thaw effects on sample measurements
Protocol optimization:
A properly developed sandwich ELISA can achieve high sensitivity (picogram levels) and specificity while providing reproducible quantification across diverse clinical samples.
To investigate the relationship between ENPP7 protein levels and enzymatic activity:
Paired quantitative analyses:
Quantify ENPP7 protein via ELISA or Western blot with HRP-conjugated antibodies
Simultaneously measure sphingomyelinase activity using:
Fluorogenic substrates (e.g., BODIPY-sphingomyelin)
Radiolabeled substrates ([14C]sphingomyelin)
Coupled enzyme assays measuring phosphocholine production
Calculate specific activity (enzyme activity units per unit protein)
Immunodepletion studies:
Use anti-ENPP7 antibodies conjugated to beads to sequentially deplete ENPP7 from samples
Measure remaining sphingomyelinase activity after each immunodepletion step
Plot activity reduction against protein depletion to establish correlation
Structure-function analyses:
Develop antibodies targeting different functional domains of ENPP7
Assess which antibodies inhibit enzymatic activity (function-blocking antibodies)
Correlate epitope location with impact on catalytic function
Post-translational modification studies:
Use antibodies specific for phosphorylated, glycosylated, or other modified forms of ENPP7
Compare enzymatic activity of different post-translationally modified subpopulations
Investigate regulation of activity through modification-specific antibody enrichment
In situ activity correlation:
These methods can reveal whether ENPP7 activity correlates linearly with protein levels or if post-translational regulation significantly modulates enzyme function independently of expression levels.
While the search results focus primarily on ENPP7, insights from ENPP1-targeted therapeutics can inform approaches for ENPP7:
Therapeutic antibody development:
Screen anti-ENPP7 antibodies for their ability to modulate enzymatic activity
Evaluate antibody candidates for specificity across the ENPP family (avoiding cross-reactivity)
Assess antibody stability, affinity, and potential for immune effector recruitment
Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) approaches:
Utilize anti-ENPP7 antibodies as targeting vehicles for cytotoxic payloads
Optimize drug-to-antibody ratios and linker chemistry
Evaluate selective targeting of tissues with high ENPP7 expression
Bispecific antibody platforms:
Develop IgG-based bispecific T-cell engagers (IbTEs) targeting ENPP7 and T-cell receptors
Create bispecifics targeting ENPP7 and complementary therapeutic targets
Test efficacy in redirecting immune cells to ENPP7-expressing tissues
CAR-T cell therapy:
Use ENPP7 antibody-derived binding domains to develop chimeric antigen receptors
Evaluate CAR-T cell activation and cytotoxicity against ENPP7-expressing cells
Assess potential on-target/off-tumor effects based on ENPP7 expression patterns
Antibody-based imaging and theranostics:
These approaches leverage antibody specificity to develop targeted therapeutic strategies similar to those being explored for other ENPP family members like ENPP1.
For multiplexed detection systems including ENPP7:
Antibody compatibility:
Select antibodies raised in different host species to avoid secondary antibody cross-reactivity
Verify epitope mapping to ensure antibodies targeting different proteins don't compete
Test for cross-reactivity between all components in the multiplex panel
Signal discrimination:
For HRP-based multiplex systems, use:
Different substrates producing distinct colorimetric outputs
Sequential detection with HRP inactivation between steps
Spatial separation techniques (e.g., different membrane regions)
Consider alternative enzyme systems (HRP, alkaline phosphatase, β-galactosidase) for orthogonal detection
Assay optimization:
Balance antibody concentrations to account for different target abundances
Establish detection thresholds that work for all analytes
Validate that multiplexed format maintains sensitivity of single-plex assays
Ensure dynamic ranges for all analytes are compatible
Controls and validation:
Include controls for each analyte individually and in combination
Test for interference between detection systems
Validate with spike-recovery of all analytes simultaneously
Compare results to single-plex gold standards
Data analysis:
Properly designed multiplexed systems can simultaneously measure ENPP7 alongside other proteins of interest while maintaining specificity and quantitative accuracy.