At3g18150 is a gene locus in Arabidopsis thaliana that encodes a putative F-box/LRR-repeat protein belonging to the RNI-like superfamily . This protein plays significant roles in plant stress responses and developmental processes. F-box proteins are important components of SCF (Skp1-Cullin-F-box) complexes that mediate protein degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, making At3g18150 particularly relevant for studying plant signaling networks and stress adaptation mechanisms.
The protein is a downstream target of WRKY75 transcription factor , suggesting its involvement in phosphate starvation responses and potentially in other stress-responsive pathways. Studying At3g18150 contributes to our understanding of how plants regulate protein turnover during development and in response to environmental stimuli.
While specific commercial At3g18150 antibodies are not explicitly listed in the search results, researchers can employ several approaches for antibody development against this protein:
Polyclonal antibodies: Generated by immunizing rabbits with purified recombinant At3g18150 protein or synthetic peptides derived from unique regions of the protein sequence .
Monoclonal antibodies: Produced through hybridoma technology using mice immunized with At3g18150 protein, offering higher specificity but more complex development .
Recombinant antibodies: Engineered through gene synthesis and expression systems, allowing for customization of binding properties and production without animal immunization .
The selection depends on research requirements, with polyclonal antibodies offering broader epitope recognition but monoclonal antibodies providing consistent lot-to-lot reproducibility.
Validating antibody specificity for At3g18150 requires multiple complementary approaches:
Western blot analysis: Using wild-type Arabidopsis extracts alongside At3g18150 knockout/knockdown mutants to confirm the absence of signal in mutant lines.
Recombinant protein controls: Testing the antibody against purified recombinant At3g18150 protein and unrelated plant proteins to assess cross-reactivity.
Immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry: Confirming that the antibody pulls down the correct protein.
Pre-absorption tests: Incubating the antibody with excess antigen before immunodetection to verify signal elimination.
Tissue specificity correlation: Comparing antibody signal pattern with known mRNA expression patterns of At3g18150.
A properly validated antibody should recognize a protein of approximately the predicted molecular weight of At3g18150 protein (~34 kDa, though post-translational modifications may alter migration) with minimal cross-reactivity to other proteins.
Optimal extraction of At3g18150 (F-box/LRR-repeat protein) requires protocols designed to preserve protein integrity while maximizing yield:
Buffer composition: Use a buffer containing:
50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5)
150 mM NaCl
1% Triton X-100 or 0.5% NP-40
10% glycerol
1 mM EDTA
Freshly added protease inhibitor cocktail
1 mM DTT or 5 mM β-mercaptoethanol
Extraction procedure:
Grind plant tissue in liquid nitrogen to fine powder
Add 3-5 volumes of extraction buffer
Homogenize thoroughly
Centrifuge at 15,000×g for 15 minutes at 4°C
Collect supernatant while avoiding lipid layer
Preservation methods:
For short-term storage (1-2 weeks): Store at -80°C in single-use aliquots
For immunoprecipitation: Process immediately after extraction
Add 5-10% glycerol as cryoprotectant
Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles
For fractionation approaches, consider that F-box proteins may associate with multiple cellular compartments depending on their interaction status with SCF complexes.
While specific dilutions for At3g18150 antibodies aren't standardized, optimal conditions can be determined based on similar plant protein antibodies:
| Application | Antibody Type | Recommended Dilution | Incubation Conditions | Blocking Solution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Blot | Polyclonal | 1:1000 - 1:2000 | Overnight at 4°C | 5% non-fat milk or 3% BSA in TBST |
| Western Blot | Monoclonal | 1:500 - 1:1000 | 2 hours at RT or overnight at 4°C | 3% BSA in TBST |
| Immunohistochemistry | Polyclonal | 1:200 - 1:500 | Overnight at 4°C | 5% normal serum in PBS |
| ELISA | Polyclonal/Monoclonal | 1:1000 - 1:5000 | 1-2 hours at RT | 1-3% BSA in PBS |
Always perform titration experiments to determine optimal antibody concentration for your specific experimental system . For Western blots using plant samples, consider additional steps:
Include 1% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and 2% polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) in extraction buffer to remove phenolic compounds
Use PVDF membranes rather than nitrocellulose for improved protein retention
Extend blocking time to 2 hours to reduce background in plant samples
Optimizing immunoprecipitation (IP) for At3g18150 protein interactions requires consideration of F-box protein dynamics:
Crosslinking approach:
Treat plant tissue with 1% formaldehyde for 10 minutes to preserve transient interactions
Quench with 125 mM glycine
This preserves interactions with SCF complex components and potential substrates
IP buffer optimization:
Test different salt concentrations (100-300 mM NaCl)
Evaluate detergent types and concentrations (0.1-1% NP-40, 0.1-0.5% Triton X-100)
Include 10-20 mM MG132 (proteasome inhibitor) to stabilize substrate interactions
Antibody coupling:
Covalently couple purified At3g18150 antibody to Protein A/G beads using dimethyl pimelimidate
Use 5-10 μg antibody per IP reaction
Pre-clear lysates with uncoupled beads to reduce non-specific binding
Sequential IP for complex purification:
First IP with At3g18150 antibody
Elute under mild conditions (peptide competition)
Second IP with antibody against predicted interactor
Controls:
IgG isotype control
Immunoprecipitation from knockout/knockdown lines
Pre-absorption of antibody with antigen
This approach will help identify both stable SCF complex components and transient substrate interactions.
At3g18150 protein localization can be dynamically regulated during stress responses, and antibody-based approaches offer several strategies to monitor these changes:
Subcellular fractionation combined with immunoblotting:
Separate nuclei, cytosol, membrane, and chromatin-bound fractions
Perform Western blotting with At3g18150 antibody
Quantify relative distribution changes under stress conditions
Include compartment-specific markers for validation
Immunofluorescence microscopy:
Fix plant tissues with 4% paraformaldehyde
Perform antigen retrieval if necessary (citrate buffer, pH 6.0)
Incubate with At3g18150 primary antibody (1:100-1:200)
Apply fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibody (1:200-1:500)
Co-stain with organelle markers
Analyze subcellular distribution before and after stress treatment
Proximity ligation assay (PLA):
Use At3g18150 antibody together with antibodies against potential interactors
PLA signal indicates proximity (<40 nm) between proteins
Monitor interaction changes during stress progression
Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP):
If At3g18150 associates with chromatin during stress, perform ChIP followed by qPCR or sequencing
Map binding sites genome-wide and correlate with transcriptional changes
This multi-faceted approach will reveal how At3g18150 localization and interaction dynamics respond to environmental stresses, providing insights into its regulatory mechanisms.
Studying post-translational modifications (PTMs) of At3g18150 protein requires specialized antibody-based approaches:
Modification-specific antibodies:
Generate antibodies against predicted phosphorylation, ubiquitination, or SUMOylation sites on At3g18150
Validate using synthetic phosphopeptides or in vitro modified recombinant protein
Apply in Western blots to detect modification status changes
Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis with immunoblotting:
Separate proteins by isoelectric point and molecular weight
Transfer to membrane and probe with At3g18150 antibody
Shifts in position indicate modifications
Compare patterns before/after phosphatase treatment or stress conditions
Immunoprecipitation coupled with mass spectrometry:
Immunoprecipitate At3g18150 using validated antibodies
Digest with trypsin and analyze by LC-MS/MS
Map modifications at amino acid resolution
Quantify modification stoichiometry under different conditions
Phos-tag gel electrophoresis:
Incorporate Phos-tag molecules in SDS-PAGE to retard phosphorylated protein migration
Detect mobility shifts using At3g18150 antibody
Compare patterns with and without phosphatase treatment
These techniques enable researchers to chart the dynamic PTM landscape of At3g18150 and correlate modifications with protein function, stability, and localization.
While At3g18150 is not annotated as a direct DNA-binding protein, it may associate with chromatin through interactions with transcription factors or chromatin modifiers. ChIP-seq using At3g18150 antibodies can reveal these associations:
Chromatin preparation:
Crosslink Arabidopsis tissues with 1% formaldehyde for 10 minutes
Quench with glycine and isolate nuclei
Sonicate to generate 200-500 bp DNA fragments
Verify fragmentation by agarose gel electrophoresis
ChIP optimization for At3g18150:
Test multiple antibody concentrations (2-10 μg per reaction)
Compare different washing stringencies
Include appropriate controls (IgG, input DNA, At3g18150 knockout)
Validate enrichment by qPCR at candidate regions before sequencing
Data analysis pipeline:
Map reads to Arabidopsis genome (TAIR10 or latest)
Call peaks using MACS2 or similar algorithms
Perform motif discovery on enriched regions
Correlate binding sites with transcriptome data
Compare binding profiles under different conditions
Validation experiments:
Confirm selected peaks by ChIP-qPCR
Perform sequential ChIP (Re-ChIP) to identify co-binding with known transcription factors
Test functional relevance using reporter assays
This approach can reveal if At3g18150 participates in transcriptional regulation through association with specific genomic regions, potentially connecting ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation with transcriptional control.
Several challenges may arise when working with antibodies against plant F-box proteins like At3g18150:
| Issue | Possible Causes | Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| High background in Western blots | Non-specific binding, insufficient blocking | Use 5% BSA instead of milk; Increase washing time/stringency; Try different blocking agents (casein, commercial blockers); Pre-absorb antibody with plant extract from knockout line |
| Multiple bands | Cross-reactivity, protein degradation, isoforms | Use freshly prepared samples with additional protease inhibitors; Verify with recombinant protein control; Perform peptide competition assay; Test knockout/knockdown samples |
| No signal in immunoprecipitation | Low protein abundance, epitope masking | Use larger amount of starting material; Try different extraction buffers; Use mild detergents; Perform epitope retrieval; Verify protein expression with RT-qPCR |
| Inconsistent results between experiments | Antibody batch variation, sample preparation differences | Use internal loading controls; Standardize extraction protocols; Aliquot antibodies to avoid freeze-thaw cycles; Include positive controls in each experiment |
| Poor immunofluorescence | Fixation-related epitope masking, low antibody penetration | Test different fixatives; Optimize antigen retrieval; Try longer antibody incubation; Use detergent permeabilization; Consider tissue-specific expression levels |
Always validate new antibody lots using positive controls and established protocols to ensure consistent performance across experiments.
Post-translational modifications of At3g18150 can significantly impact antibody recognition:
Epitope masking effects:
Phosphorylation near antibody epitopes may enhance or reduce binding
Ubiquitination can sterically block antibody access
Glycosylation may prevent antibody recognition completely
Modification-dependent recognition patterns:
Some antibodies may preferentially recognize modified forms
Others may only bind unmodified epitopes
This results in differential detection of protein subpopulations
Strategies for comprehensive detection:
Use multiple antibodies targeting different regions of At3g18150
Perform dephosphorylation assays to evaluate phosphorylation impact
Treat samples with deubiquitinating enzymes before analysis
Compare native versus denatured protein detection efficiency
Characterization methods:
Treat recombinant At3g18150 with kinases, ubiquitin ligases or other modifying enzymes
Test antibody recognition of modified versus unmodified protein
Use synthetic peptides with defined modifications for epitope mapping
Understanding modification-dependent recognition patterns is crucial for accurate interpretation of At3g18150 detection results, especially when studying stress responses or developmental transitions where PTM profiles may change dramatically.
Investigating At3g18150-containing protein complexes requires specialized approaches:
Blue Native PAGE with immunoblotting:
Solubilize complexes using mild detergents (digitonin, DDM)
Separate intact complexes by BN-PAGE
Transfer to membrane and probe with At3g18150 antibody
Detect native complex size and composition
Excise bands for mass spectrometry identification
Immunoprecipitation coupled with cross-linking:
Apply membrane-permeable crosslinkers (DSP, DTBP) to stabilize complexes
Perform IP with At3g18150 antibody
Analyze by SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblotting or mass spectrometry
Compare complex composition under different conditions
Co-immunoprecipitation validation:
Perform reciprocal IPs with antibodies against identified interactors
Verify interactions by immunoblotting
Include appropriate controls (IgG, knockout lines)
Size exclusion chromatography with immunodetection:
Fractionate plant extracts by size
Analyze fractions by immunoblotting for At3g18150
Identify co-eluting proteins by mass spectrometry
Map complex assembly/disassembly dynamics
This approach is particularly relevant for F-box proteins like At3g18150, which function in SCF complexes and may associate with different substrate recognition components depending on cellular context.
When working with antibodies against At3g18150 and related F-box proteins, researchers should consider:
Epitope selection considerations:
F-box domain (N-terminal) is highly conserved and may lead to cross-reactivity
LRR regions offer greater specificity but may be less accessible in complex-bound protein
C-terminal regions often provide best specificity but may be subject to modifications
Cross-reactivity profiles:
Test against recombinant proteins from most closely related family members
Perform immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry to identify all bound proteins
Use knockout/knockdown lines of multiple family members for validation
Functional domain accessibility:
F-box domain may be masked when protein is incorporated into SCF complex
LRR regions may change conformation upon substrate binding
Consider using multiple antibodies targeting different regions
Application-specific performance:
Some antibodies may work well for Western blot but poorly for immunoprecipitation
Others may be ideal for immunofluorescence but inadequate for ChIP
Validate each antibody specifically for your application of interest
Understanding these comparative aspects helps in selecting the most appropriate antibody for specific experimental goals and in correctly interpreting results when studying F-box protein families.
Several cutting-edge techniques are expanding the toolkit for studying At3g18150 protein dynamics:
Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) with antibody fragments:
Generate Fab fragments from At3g18150 antibodies
Label with donor fluorophores
Label potential interaction partner antibodies with acceptor fluorophores
Measure FRET in fixed or permeabilized cells
Track interaction dynamics with nanometer resolution
Proximity-dependent biotin identification (BioID) coupled with antibody validation:
Express At3g18150-BioID fusion proteins in plants
Identify biotinylated proximal proteins by mass spectrometry
Validate interactions using At3g18150 antibodies in co-IP experiments
Create interaction network maps
Super-resolution microscopy with antibody labeling:
Use At3g18150 antibodies with STORM or PALM super-resolution techniques
Achieve ~20 nm resolution of protein localization
Perform multi-color imaging to map protein neighborhood
Track reorganization during stress responses
Single-molecule pull-down (SiMPull) assays:
Immobilize At3g18150 antibodies on microscope slides
Capture protein complexes from plant extracts
Visualize using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy
Count individual complexes and determine stoichiometry
These emerging techniques offer unprecedented insights into At3g18150 protein dynamics, interaction networks, and functional relationships within the plant cell environment.
Computational methods can significantly improve At3g18150 antibody development and experimental design:
Epitope prediction and antibody design:
Use structural prediction algorithms to identify accessible epitopes on At3g18150
Analyze protein sequence conservation to select unique regions
Predict potential PTM sites that might interfere with antibody binding
Model antibody-antigen interactions to optimize affinity
Network analysis for validation experiments:
Integrate transcriptomic and proteomic datasets to predict At3g18150 function
Identify key conditions for validation experiments
Predict potential interactors for co-immunoprecipitation validation
Map At3g18150 to stress response pathways
Machine learning for image analysis:
Train algorithms to recognize specific immunostaining patterns
Automatically quantify protein colocalization from microscopy data
Detect subtle changes in localization under different conditions
Classify cellular responses based on At3g18150 dynamics
Integrative multi-omics approaches:
Combine ChIP-seq, RNA-seq, and proteomics data
Correlate At3g18150 binding sites with gene expression changes
Predict functional outcomes of protein interactions
Generate testable hypotheses for antibody-based validation
By leveraging computational tools, researchers can design more specific antibodies, plan more informative experiments, and extract deeper biological insights from antibody-based studies of At3g18150 protein function in plant development and stress responses.