The At4g12500 antibody is a specialized immunological tool targeting the protein product of the Arabidopsis thaliana gene At4g12500, also annotated as EARLI4 or AZI4 (Azelaic Acid Induced 4). This gene belongs to the EARLI1-type lipid transfer protein (LTP) family, which plays critical roles in plant systemic acquired resistance (SAR), stress responses, and developmental regulation . The antibody enables researchers to detect, quantify, and localize the At4g12500 protein in experimental settings, facilitating studies on its molecular functions and interactions.
Gene Locus: Chromosome 4 (At4g12500) in Arabidopsis thaliana .
Protein Family: Member of the non-specific lipid transfer (nsLTP) family with a conserved BARWIN-like domain .
Paralogs: Clustered with AZI1 (At4g12470), AZI3 (At4g12490), and EARLI1 (At4g12480) in a tandem array on chromosome 4 .
Stress Response: Upregulated during biotic stress (e.g., pathogen infection) and abiotic stress (e.g., cold, salt) .
Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR): Mediates lipid signaling to activate defense mechanisms against pathogens .
Cell Wall Integrity: Contributes to cell wall remodeling under stress conditions .
Protein Partners: Associates with AZI1 and AZI3 to form signaling complexes .
Pathogen Response: Interacts with heparan sulfate proteoglycans during Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis infection .
The antibody is primarily used for:
Western Blotting: Detecting At4g12500 protein expression under stress conditions .
Immunoprecipitation (IP): Isolating protein complexes for functional studies .
Localization Studies: Visualizing subcellular distribution via immunofluorescence .
TRAP (Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification): Profiling polysome-associated mRNAs in pathogen-infected tissues .
Pathogen Defense: At4g12500 is enriched in polysome fractions during H. arabidopsidis infection, indicating active translation in response to pathogens .
Lipid Signaling: The protein facilitates azelaic acid transport, a key metabolite in SAR .
Gene Redundancy: Despite high homology with AZI1 and AZI3, At4g12500 exhibits unique expression patterns, suggesting non-redundant roles .
Antibody Specificity: Cross-reactivity with paralogs (e.g., AZI1, AZI3) remains a concern .
Functional Redundancy: Genetic overlap complicates phenotype characterization in knockout mutants .
Antibody validation is crucial for ensuring experimental reliability. For proper validation of At4g12500 antibody:
Genetic validation: Test the antibody in knockout/knockdown Arabidopsis lines (T-DNA insertion mutants). Compare signals between wild-type and mutant samples to confirm specificity .
Western blot analysis: Run samples from tissues known to express and not express the target protein. A single band at the expected molecular weight indicates specificity.
Recombinant protein controls: Express and purify the target protein to use as a positive control and for antibody characterization.
Cross-reactivity testing: Test against closely related proteins to ensure the antibody doesn't detect other proteins unintentionally.
Secondary antibody-only controls: Perform parallel experiments without primary antibody to identify non-specific binding of the secondary antibody .
Proper antibody storage and handling are essential for maintaining activity and reproducibility:
Storage temperature: Store antibody aliquots at -20°C for long-term storage or at 4°C for short-term use (1-2 weeks).
Avoid freeze-thaw cycles: Prepare small aliquots of antibody to minimize freeze-thaw cycles, which can degrade antibody quality.
Working dilutions: Prepare working dilutions fresh on the day of experiment for optimal results.
Preservatives: Working dilutions may contain 0.02-0.05% sodium azide to prevent microbial contamination during short-term storage.
Tracking: Document lot numbers, receipt dates, and freeze-thaw cycles to monitor antibody performance over time.
Include the following controls to ensure reliable and interpretable results:
| Control Type | Purpose | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| Positive control | Confirms antibody activity | Use samples known to express At4g12500 protein |
| Negative control | Verifies specificity | Use knockout/knockdown lines or tissues not expressing the protein |
| Loading control | Ensures equal sample loading | Probe with antibodies against housekeeping proteins |
| Secondary only | Identifies non-specific binding | Omit primary antibody in parallel samples |
| Blocking peptide | Confirms epitope specificity | Pre-incubate antibody with immunizing peptide |
For optimal Western blot results with At4g12500 antibody:
Sample preparation:
Grind plant tissue in liquid nitrogen to fine powder
Extract proteins in buffer containing appropriate detergents and protease inhibitors
Quantify protein concentration using Bradford or BCA assay
Gel electrophoresis and transfer:
Load 10-30 μg protein per lane
Separate proteins on 10-12% acrylamide gel
Transfer to PVDF membrane (100V for 1 hour or 30V overnight)
Antibody incubation:
Block membrane with 5% non-fat milk in TBST for 1 hour at room temperature
Incubate with At4g12500 antibody (1:1000 dilution) overnight at 4°C
Wash 3× with TBST, 5 minutes each
Incubate with HRP-conjugated secondary antibody (1:5000) for 1 hour
Wash 3× with TBST, 10 minutes each
Detection and analysis:
For successful immunoprecipitation of At4g12500 protein and its interacting partners:
Lysate preparation:
Extract proteins under non-denaturing conditions to preserve protein-protein interactions
Pre-clear lysate with Protein A/G beads to reduce non-specific binding
Save an input fraction (5-10%) for comparison
Antibody binding:
Incubate lysate with 2-5 μg At4g12500 antibody overnight at 4°C with gentle rotation
Add pre-washed Protein A/G beads and incubate for 2-4 hours
Wash beads 4-5 times with buffer of decreasing stringency
Elution and analysis:
Controls:
Include IgG control (same species as primary antibody)
Consider knockout/knockdown samples as negative controls
For successful immunofluorescence microscopy:
Sample preparation:
Fix plant tissue with 4% paraformaldehyde
Prepare sections (10-20 μm) or isolated cells/protoplasts
Perform antigen retrieval if necessary (citrate buffer, pH 6.0)
Immunostaining:
Permeabilize samples with 0.1-0.5% Triton X-100
Block with 3% BSA in PBS with 0.1% Triton X-100 for 1 hour
Incubate with At4g12500 antibody (1:100-1:500) overnight at 4°C
Wash 3× with PBS
Incubate with fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibody (1:500) for 1 hour
Counterstain nuclei with DAPI
Mount in anti-fade medium
Imaging and analysis:
Capture images using confocal microscopy
Include z-stacks for 3D reconstruction
Use appropriate filter sets to minimize bleed-through
Controls:
Include secondary-only controls
Use known subcellular markers for co-localization studies
| Problem | Possible Causes | Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| No signal | Low protein expression, antibody degradation, inappropriate conditions | Increase protein loading, reduce antibody dilution, check extraction method, verify protein expression in samples |
| High background | Insufficient blocking, non-specific binding, high antibody concentration | Optimize blocking conditions, increase washing stringency, increase antibody dilution, pre-adsorb antibody |
| Multiple bands | Cross-reactivity, protein degradation, post-translational modifications | Verify with knockout controls, add protease inhibitors, compare with literature reports |
| Inconsistent results | Variable sample preparation, antibody batch variation | Standardize protocols, use consistent antibody lots, include positive controls in each experiment |
When troubleshooting, change only one parameter at a time and document all modifications to identify the optimal conditions for your experimental system .
For accurate quantification of At4g12500 protein:
Western blot quantification:
Use standard curves with recombinant protein when possible
Include multiple technical and biological replicates
Use digital imaging systems with linear detection range
Normalize to appropriate loading controls or total protein
Apply statistical analysis to determine significance
Immunofluorescence quantification:
Use consistent acquisition parameters
Implement automated image analysis workflows
Normalize to reference structures or co-stains
Quantify signal intensity using appropriate software
Analyze at least 30-50 cells per condition
ELISA or related methods:
Develop sandwich ELISA using multiple antibodies if available
Generate standard curves for absolute quantification
Validate dynamic range appropriate for expected concentrations
Statistical considerations:
To investigate post-translational modifications (PTMs):
Western blot analysis:
Look for multiple bands or mobility shifts
Compare observed molecular weight with predicted weight
Use PTM-specific antibodies (phospho, ubiquitin, etc.) in parallel
Treat samples with phosphatases or other enzymes to remove PTMs
Immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry:
Use At4g12500 antibody to enrich the protein
Analyze by LC-MS/MS to identify PTMs
Compare PTM patterns under different conditions
Validate findings with PTM-specific antibodies
Inhibitor studies:
Treat plants with inhibitors of specific PTM pathways
Observe changes in protein mobility or abundance
Correlate with changes in protein function or localization
Mutational analysis:
If At4g12500 encodes a DNA-binding protein, ChIP can reveal its genomic targets:
Sample preparation:
Cross-link plant tissue with 1% formaldehyde
Extract and shear chromatin to 200-500 bp fragments
Pre-clear chromatin with Protein A/G beads
Immunoprecipitation:
Incubate sheared chromatin with At4g12500 antibody overnight at 4°C
Add Protein A/G beads and incubate for 2-4 hours
Wash beads with increasing stringency buffers
Reverse cross-links and purify DNA
Analysis options:
ChIP-qPCR for specific targets
ChIP-seq for genome-wide binding profile
Compare binding patterns under different conditions
Controls and validation:
To investigate protein-protein interactions:
Co-immunoprecipitation:
Use At4g12500 antibody to pull down protein complexes
Identify interacting partners by Western blot or mass spectrometry
Perform reciprocal co-IP experiments to confirm interactions
Compare interaction profiles under different conditions
Proximity labeling approaches:
Fuse BioID or APEX2 to At4g12500 protein
Allow proximity-dependent labeling of nearby proteins
Purify biotinylated proteins and identify by mass spectrometry
Validate interactions with co-immunoprecipitation using At4g12500 antibody
Fluorescence techniques:
Perform bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC)
Use Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) with labeled antibodies
Validate interactions with co-localization studies
Cross-linking strategies:
Nanobodies offer advantages over conventional antibodies for certain applications:
Advantages of nanobodies:
Developing At4g12500-specific nanobodies:
Applications in plant research:
Super-resolution microscopy with labeled nanobodies
Intracellular targeting and manipulation
Crystallization chaperones for structural studies
Live-cell imaging with minimal perturbation
Validation and screening methods:
To assess cross-reactivity potential:
Sequence analysis:
Align the protein sequence of At4g12500 with homologs from other species
Focus on the epitope region if known
Predict cross-reactivity based on sequence conservation
Experimental validation:
Test the antibody on protein extracts from related species
Include positive (Arabidopsis) and negative controls
Verify band size corresponds to predicted molecular weight
Consider immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry for confirmation
Species-specific optimization:
Adjust antibody concentration for each species
Modify extraction and blocking conditions as needed
Include appropriate controls for each species
Alternative approaches:
Several resources can help identify validated antibodies:
Antibody search engines:
Antibody data repositories:
Literature reviews:
Search for publications using At4g12500 antibodies
Contact authors for specifics on antibody performance
Review methods sections for detailed protocols
Plant research databases: