At1g46840 is a gene in Arabidopsis thaliana (Mouse-ear cress) that encodes an F-box family protein according to the Araport11 database . The protein has the UniProt accession number Q9C629 . F-box proteins are components of SCF ubiquitin-ligase complexes that play critical roles in protein degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, functioning in numerous cellular processes including cell cycle regulation, signal transduction, and developmental processes.
The At1g46840 Antibody is typically available as a polyclonal antibody raised in rabbits using recombinant Arabidopsis thaliana At1g46840 protein as the immunogen . Commercial preparations generally have the following specifications:
Parameter | Specification |
---|---|
Antibody Type | Polyclonal |
Host Species | Rabbit |
Target Species | Arabidopsis thaliana |
Applications | ELISA, Western Blot |
Format | Liquid |
Purification | Antigen Affinity Purified |
Storage | -20°C or -80°C |
Buffer | 0.03% Proclin 300, 50% Glycerol, 0.01M PBS, pH 7.4 |
Lead Time | 14-16 weeks (made-to-order) |
Usage Restrictions | Research use only, not for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures |
The At1g46840 Antibody has been validated for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot applications based on manufacturer specifications . When using this antibody for Western blot applications, it is critical to ensure proper identification of the antigen by comparing with appropriate positive and negative controls. There is currently no published data in the search results indicating validation for immunohistochemistry, immunoprecipitation, or other applications.
For optimal antibody performance and longevity, store At1g46840 Antibody at -20°C or -80°C upon receipt . Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles as these can compromise antibody integrity and binding efficiency. For short-term use, aliquoting the antibody into smaller volumes before freezing can help minimize freeze-thaw cycles and preserve antibody functionality.
While specific optimized protocols for At1g46840 Antibody are not provided in the search results, the following general protocol can be adapted:
Sample Preparation:
Extract total protein from Arabidopsis tissues using appropriate buffer
Quantify protein concentration (Bradford or BCA assay)
Denature proteins in Laemmli buffer at 95°C for 5 minutes
Gel Electrophoresis:
Load 10-30 μg protein per lane on SDS-PAGE
Include positive control (recombinant At1g46840) and negative control
Transfer and Blocking:
Transfer proteins to PVDF or nitrocellulose membrane
Block with 5% non-fat milk or BSA in TBST for 1 hour at room temperature
Antibody Incubation:
Dilute At1g46840 Antibody (optimization required, start with 1:1000)
Incubate overnight at 4°C
Wash 3× with TBST
Detection:
Incubate with HRP-conjugated secondary antibody
Visualize using chemiluminescence
Since the expected molecular weight is not specified in the search results, researchers should be prepared to validate the specific band corresponding to At1g46840 protein in their experimental system.
Antibody specificity is crucial for accurate results, especially given known issues with commercial antibodies . To validate At1g46840 Antibody specificity:
Genetic Controls: Compare signal between wild-type Arabidopsis and mutant lines lacking At1g46840 (similar to the AT1R knockout approach in search result )
Blocking Peptide: Pre-incubate antibody with excess recombinant At1g46840 protein before application to samples; specific signals should be eliminated
Protein Overexpression: Test antibody against tissues/cells with different levels of At1g46840 expression, expecting proportional signal intensity
Multiple Antibodies: Compare results using different antibodies targeting different epitopes of At1g46840
Mass Spectrometry: Confirm the identity of the immunoprecipitated protein band by mass spectrometry
Lack of specificity in commercial antibodies is a significant concern, as highlighted in search result , where antibodies for AT1R produced identical staining patterns in both wild-type and knockout tissues, indicating non-specific binding.
Based on general antibody principles and the specificity issues noted in search result , researchers may encounter several challenges:
The experience with AT1R antibodies described in search result demonstrates that even when an antibody produces clear bands or staining patterns, these may not represent the target protein. Therefore, stringent validation using genetic controls is essential.
Cross-reactivity assessment is critical given the issues highlighted in search result :
In silico analysis: Compare the immunogen sequence of At1g46840 with other F-box proteins in Arabidopsis to identify potential cross-reactive proteins
Gene knockout approach: Test the antibody in Arabidopsis lines with At1g46840 knocked out; any remaining signal indicates cross-reactivity
Heterologous expression systems: Express At1g46840 and related F-box proteins individually in a non-plant system (e.g., E. coli or yeast) and test antibody reactivity
Peptide competition: Test whether peptides from related F-box proteins can compete with At1g46840 for antibody binding
The study in search result demonstrated that commercial antibodies for AT1R showed identical staining patterns in wild-type and AT1R knockout mice, revealing complete lack of specificity. This underscores the importance of rigorous validation for At1g46840 Antibody.
While specific information about post-translational modifications (PTMs) of At1g46840 is not provided in the search results, F-box proteins commonly undergo PTMs that could impact antibody recognition:
Phosphorylation: May alter protein conformation and epitope accessibility
Ubiquitination: Given the role of F-box proteins in ubiquitin-mediated processes, At1g46840 itself might be ubiquitinated, potentially masking epitopes
Glycosylation: Could create steric hindrance for antibody binding
Proteolytic processing: May generate fragments with different molecular weights, resulting in multiple bands
Researchers should consider these possibilities when interpreting Western blot results showing unexpected band patterns. To detect specific PTM forms, specialized antibodies targeting the modified epitopes would be required.
Given the documented issues with antibody specificity , a multi-method approach combining immunological detection with genetic approaches is recommended for comprehensive study of At1g46840.
While specific flow cytometry protocols for At1g46840 Antibody are not described in the search results, general principles from result can be adapted:
Cell preparation: Prepare single-cell suspensions from Arabidopsis protoplasts by enzymatic digestion of plant tissues
Fixation and permeabilization: Required for intracellular proteins; use 4% paraformaldehyde followed by detergent (e.g., 0.1% Triton X-100)
Antibody optimization:
Titrate antibody concentration to determine optimal signal-to-noise ratio
Include appropriate isotype control (rabbit IgG)
Use fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibody with brightness appropriate for expected expression level
Controls:
Negative control: Arabidopsis mutants lacking At1g46840
Positive control: Arabidopsis lines overexpressing At1g46840
Secondary-only control: To assess non-specific binding
Analysis considerations:
Gate on intact single cells
Compensate for autofluorescence common in plant cells
Compare mean fluorescence intensity across samples
Flow cytometry allows quantitative assessment of At1g46840 expression at the single-cell level, enabling detection of cell-to-cell variation not apparent in bulk assays like Western blotting .
Based on search result , emerging cryoEM techniques offer promising approaches for antibody characterization:
Structural characterization: CryoEM can determine the structure of antibody-antigen complexes, revealing precise epitope binding sites on At1g46840
Polyclonal antibody analysis: CryoEM combined with next-generation sequencing can identify individual antibody sequences within polyclonal mixtures, potentially allowing selection of the most specific antibodies
Epitope mapping: CryoEM structural data can identify specific binding regions, informing the design of more specific antibodies or enabling selection of non-competing antibody pairs for sandwich assays
Heterogeneity analysis: CryoEM can assess the structural diversity within polyclonal antibody preparations, helping researchers understand variability in experimental results
This approach represents a significant advancement over traditional antibody characterization methods, potentially addressing the specificity issues highlighted in search result .