FBXL19 antibodies are immunoreagents that bind specifically to FBXL19, a substrate-recognition component of the SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase. Key features include:
Molecular weight: ~76 kDa (calculated), though observed bands range between 60–75 kDa due to post-translational modifications .
Domains: Contains a CXXC-PHD domain, F-box domain, and leucine-rich repeats .
Function: Regulates protein stability via ubiquitination (e.g., RAC1, RAC3, RhoA) and modulates pathways like MAPK signaling .
FBXL19 antibodies are critical for diverse experimental workflows:
Cancer Biology: Detects FBXL19 overexpression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and breast cancer, correlating with poor prognosis .
Developmental Biology: Identifies FBXL19’s role in recruiting CDK-Mediator to CpG islands during embryonic stem cell differentiation .
Inflammation: Monitors FBXL19’s regulation of endothelial cell (EC) responses in acute lung injury .
Specificity: Recognizes FBXL19 in lysates from HEK-293, HeLa, and A549 cells .
Cross-reactivity: No reported cross-reactivity with related F-box proteins (e.g., FBXL5) .
Ubiquitination: FBXL19 mediates degradation of RAC1, RAC3, and RhoA, impairing cell migration .
Transcriptional Regulation: Recruits CDK8-Mediator to CpG islands of silent developmental genes, priming them for activation during differentiation .
Acute Lung Injury: Endothelial-specific FBXL19 overexpression reduces neutrophil influx and vascular leakage in mice .
FBXL19 antibodies have advanced understanding of its dual roles in cancer and development. Key unresolved questions include:
FBXL19 is a nuclear protein that functions as a CpG island-binding protein in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells through its ZF-CxxC domain. It plays a critical role in recruiting the CDK-Mediator complex to CpG island-associated promoters of non-transcribed developmental genes, priming these genes for activation during cell lineage commitment. Recognition of CpG islands by FBXL19 has been shown to be essential for mouse development. Additionally, FBXL19 functions as a component of an SCF (Skp, Cullin, F-box) E3 ligase complex with anti-inflammatory effects, controlling actin cytoskeleton dynamics by targeting cell membrane receptors and small GTPases for ubiquitination and degradation .
When selecting an FBXL19 antibody, researchers should consider: (1) The specific application (Western blot, ChIP, immunofluorescence, or immunoprecipitation), as antibodies perform differently across techniques; (2) The species reactivity needed, as the search results indicate work with both mouse and human FBXL19; (3) The target epitope, as FBXL19 contains distinct domains including the ZF-CxxC domain, F-box domain, and leucine-rich repeats; (4) Monoclonal versus polyclonal options—monoclonals offer specificity while polyclonals may provide stronger signals; and (5) Validation data availability, especially given that some commercially available FBXL19 antibodies have shown unreliable performance in Western blot analysis as noted in the research .
FBXL19 is regulated through a balance between ubiquitination and acetylation. It has a relatively short half-life of approximately 3 hours. FBXL19 can be polyubiquitinated, and treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG-132 prolongs its half-life, indicating that FBXL19 degradation occurs via the ubiquitin-proteasome system rather than lysosomal degradation. Importantly, FBXL19 can also be acetylated, and this acetylation reduces its ubiquitination levels, thereby increasing protein stability. The histone acetyltransferase CBP has been identified as an enzyme that catalyzes FBXL19 acetylation. Inhibition or downregulation of CBP reduces FBXL19 stability, whereas CBP overexpression increases it. This regulatory mechanism impacts the function of SCF FBXL19 E3 ligase by controlling the availability of its F-box protein subunit .
Based on the search results, validated applications for FBXL19 antibodies include: (1) Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) to identify genome-wide binding sites at CpG islands; (2) Immunofluorescence staining to determine subcellular localization; (3) Immunoprecipitation to study protein-protein interactions, particularly with components of the CDK-Mediator complex; (4) Biochemical fractionation experiments to determine subcellular distribution; and (5) Western blot analysis, though with some limitations as noted in the research. Some researchers have overcome detection issues by tagging endogenous FBXL19 with epitope tags (3xT7-2xStrepII) using CRISPR/Cas9 knock-in approaches .
For effective ChIP-seq with FBXL19 antibodies, researchers should: (1) Consider using epitope-tagged FBXL19 (as described in the search results) if antibody performance is suboptimal; (2) Include appropriate controls, such as input DNA and IgG ChIP; (3) Compare FBXL19 binding with known CpG island markers such as KDM2A and KDM2B; (4) Correlate binding profiles with non-methylated CpG density; and (5) Validate findings using mutant versions of FBXL19 (e.g., K49A ZF-CxxC domain mutant or ΔCXXC deletion mutant) to confirm binding specificity. The search results describe successful ChIP-seq experiments that revealed FBXL19 enrichment at both computationally predicted CpG islands and regions containing BioCAP signal (an experimental measure of non-methylated DNA) .
For studying FBXL19-mediated ubiquitination, researchers should consider: (1) Implementing a modified immunoprecipitation protocol under denaturing conditions as described in the search results, where cells are lysed in 2% SDS buffer containing ubiquitin aldehyde and N-ethylmaleimide (to inhibit deubiquitinases); (2) Sonicating and boiling samples to denature proteins before dilution with PBS; (3) Following with standard immunoprecipitation procedures; (4) Including proteasome inhibitors (e.g., MG-132) in experimental designs to accumulate ubiquitinated substrates; (5) Comparing ubiquitination levels in the presence or absence of FBXL19 overexpression or knockdown; and (6) Analyzing specific substrates such as Cdc42, which has been identified as an FBXL19 target for ubiquitination and degradation .
For optimal immunoprecipitation of FBXL19, researchers should: (1) Use appropriate cell lysis buffers that preserve protein-protein interactions; (2) Include protease inhibitors to prevent degradation; (3) Consider that FBXL19 interactions with some proteins, such as components of the CDK-Mediator complex, appear to be sub-stoichiometric and relatively weak, as noted in the search results; (4) Use sufficient starting material (the search results indicate using 1 mg of cell lysate); (5) Allow adequate incubation time (overnight at 4°C with antibody followed by 2 hours with protein A/G agarose); and (6) Perform thorough washing steps (3 times with 1% Triton X-100 in ice-cold PBS). If direct immunoprecipitation proves challenging due to antibody limitations, consider using epitope-tagged versions of FBXL19 or creating CRISPR/Cas9 knock-in cell lines with endogenously tagged FBXL19 .
Critical controls for FBXL19 antibody experiments include: (1) Isotype-matched IgG controls for immunoprecipitation and ChIP experiments; (2) FBXL19 knockdown or knockout cells as negative controls; (3) Cells overexpressing FBXL19 as positive controls; (4) For ChIP-seq studies, include mutant versions of FBXL19 (K49A and ΔCXXC) to validate binding specificity; (5) For studies of FBXL19 stability, include cycloheximide chase experiments with and without proteasome inhibitors; (6) For studies of FBXL19 acetylation, include deacetylase inhibitors (e.g., TSA) and acetyltransferase inhibitors (e.g., C646, anacardic acid); and (7) For functional studies, include both wild-type and mutant versions of FBXL19 to distinguish specific effects from non-specific ones .
For optimal FBXL19 western blot detection: (1) Note that some commercially available FBXL19 antibodies have shown unreliable performance in Western blot analysis, as mentioned in the search results; (2) Consider generating cell lines expressing epitope-tagged FBXL19 (FS2-FBXL19) or creating CRISPR/Cas9 knock-in cell lines with endogenously tagged FBXL19 (3xT7-2xStrepII tag); (3) Use appropriate lysis buffers and include protease inhibitors to prevent degradation; (4) Include phosphatase inhibitors if studying phosphorylation states; (5) Given FBXL19's relatively short half-life (~3 hours), consider proteasome inhibitor treatment to stabilize the protein before lysis; (6) Use freshly prepared samples when possible, as FBXL19 may be unstable during storage; and (7) For detection of specific post-translational modifications, consider using antibodies against those modifications (e.g., anti-acetylated lysine) followed by immunoprecipitation of FBXL19 .
To investigate FBXL19's role in CpG island binding and gene regulation, researchers can: (1) Perform ChIP-seq with FBXL19 antibodies or epitope-tagged FBXL19 to identify genome-wide binding sites; (2) Generate ZF-CxxC domain mutants (K49A) or deletion mutants (ΔCXXC) to assess the dependency of binding on this domain; (3) Correlate FBXL19 binding with non-methylated CpG density and other CpG island-binding proteins (e.g., KDM2A, KDM2B); (4) Integrate FBXL19 binding data with transcriptome data to identify regulated genes; (5) Perform ChIP-seq for components of the CDK-Mediator complex to assess co-localization with FBXL19; (6) Utilize FBXL19 knockout or knockdown approaches followed by RNA-seq to identify genes regulated by FBXL19; and (7) Study the dynamics of FBXL19 binding during cellular differentiation to understand its role in developmental gene regulation .
To study FBXL19-CDK-Mediator interactions, researchers should: (1) Perform co-immunoprecipitation experiments using antibodies against FBXL19 and CDK-Mediator components (e.g., MED12, CDK8) as described in the search results; (2) Use mass spectrometry analysis of affinity-purified FBXL19 complexes to identify interacting partners; (3) Recognize that the interaction appears to be sub-stoichiometric and relatively weak, which may require optimized conditions for detection; (4) Consider using protein crosslinking approaches to stabilize transient interactions; (5) Perform ChIP-seq for both FBXL19 and CDK-Mediator components to assess co-occupancy at genomic sites; (6) Generate domain mutants of FBXL19 to map the interaction interface with CDK-Mediator; and (7) Employ functional assays, such as reporter gene assays, to assess the impact of FBXL19 on CDK-Mediator-dependent transcription .
To investigate FBXL19 acetylation: (1) Perform cycloheximide chase experiments in the presence or absence of deacetylase inhibitors (e.g., TSA) to assess protein stability; (2) Use acetylation-mimic mutants (lysine to glutamine substitution) or acetylation-deficient mutants (lysine to arginine substitution) to study the impact on protein stability and function; (3) Investigate the role of CBP in FBXL19 acetylation through overexpression, knockdown, or inhibition (e.g., with C646); (4) Perform mass spectrometry analysis to identify specific acetylation sites; (5) Assess the impact of acetylation on FBXL19 ubiquitination using the in vivo ubiquitin assay described in the search results; (6) Investigate whether acetylation affects FBXL19's interaction with other SCF components or its substrate recognition; and (7) Study the functional consequences of altered FBXL19 stability on its targets, such as Cdc42 ubiquitination and degradation .
FBXL19 antibodies may show inconsistent Western blot results due to: (1) The relatively short half-life of FBXL19 (~3 hours), leading to low endogenous levels; (2) Potential post-translational modifications affecting epitope recognition; (3) The search results specifically note that "the FBXL19 antibody failed to work reliably for Western blot analysis," suggesting inherent challenges with available antibodies; (4) Variation in antibody quality between lots or manufacturers; (5) Suboptimal sample preparation conditions for preserving FBXL19; (6) Differences in FBXL19 expression levels between cell types; and (7) Technical variations in transfer efficiency or detection methods. Researchers have overcome these limitations by generating epitope-tagged versions of FBXL19 or creating CRISPR/Cas9 knock-in cell lines with endogenously tagged FBXL19 .
To improve detection of endogenous FBXL19: (1) Treat cells with proteasome inhibitors (e.g., MG-132) to stabilize FBXL19 protein; (2) Use deacetylase inhibitors (e.g., TSA) to enhance acetylation and reduce ubiquitination; (3) Consider generating CRISPR/Cas9 knock-in cell lines with endogenously tagged FBXL19 as described in the search results; (4) Implement more sensitive detection methods, such as enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) or fluorescence-based detection; (5) Enrich FBXL19 through immunoprecipitation before Western blot analysis; (6) Optimize lysis conditions to ensure complete extraction of nuclear proteins, as FBXL19 is predominantly nuclear; and (7) Concentrate samples through techniques such as TCA precipitation if necessary .
For troubleshooting failed FBXL19 ChIP experiments: (1) Verify antibody specificity and ChIP compatibility through preliminary tests; (2) Consider using epitope-tagged FBXL19 if antibody performance is suboptimal; (3) Optimize crosslinking conditions, as FBXL19 is a DNA-binding protein with potentially transient interactions; (4) Ensure complete chromatin shearing to appropriate fragment sizes; (5) Increase the amount of starting material, as FBXL19 may be present at low levels; (6) Optimize wash stringency to balance between signal retention and background reduction; (7) Include positive controls such as ChIP for known CpG island-binding proteins (e.g., KDM2A, KDM2B); and (8) Validate ChIP-seq findings using alternative methods, such as comparing wild-type FBXL19 with ZF-CxxC domain mutants (K49A) or deletion mutants (ΔCXXC) .
FBXL19 Variant | Half-life | Effect of MG-132 | Effect of TSA | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wild-type FBXL19 | ~3 hours | Increased stability | Increased stability | Baseline for comparison |
Acetylation-mimic FBXL19 | Longer than wild-type | Less pronounced effect | N/A | More stable due to mimicking constitutive acetylation |
K49A ZF-CxxC mutant | Similar to wild-type | Similar to wild-type | Similar to wild-type | Mutation affects DNA binding but not protein stability |
ΔCXXC deletion mutant | Similar to wild-type | Similar to wild-type | Similar to wild-type | Deletion affects DNA binding but not protein stability |
This table summarizes key findings regarding FBXL19 protein stability based on the search results, highlighting how different variants respond to proteasome inhibition (MG-132) and deacetylase inhibition (TSA) .
Domain | Function | Experimental Evidence | Significance |
---|---|---|---|
ZF-CxxC domain | Recognition of non-methylated CpG islands | K49A mutation and ΔCXXC deletion dramatically reduce chromatin binding | Essential for recruitment to developmental gene promoters |
F-box domain | Mediates interaction with Skp1 in SCF complex | Forms part of the SCF FBXL19 E3 ligase complex | Critical for substrate ubiquitination activity |
Leucine-rich repeats | Substrate recognition | Targets IL-33 receptor and Rho family GTPases | Determines specificity of ubiquitination targets |
Acetylation sites | Regulate protein stability | Acetylation reduces ubiquitination and increases half-life | Control availability of FBXL19 for E3 ligase function |
This table organizes domain-specific functions of FBXL19 based on experimental evidence from the search results, providing a comprehensive view of structure-function relationships .
Modification | Detection Method | Reagents | Controls | Key Findings |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ubiquitination | Modified IP under denaturing conditions | 2% SDS, ubiquitin aldehyde, N-ethylmaleimide | MG-132 treatment, leupeptin treatment | FBXL19 is polyubiquitinated and degraded via proteasome |
Acetylation | IP followed by Western blot with anti-acetylated lysine | Acetylated lysine antibody | TSA treatment, C646 treatment | Acetylation reduces ubiquitination and increases stability |
Phosphorylation | Not specifically described in search results | - | - | Not addressed in the provided materials |
SUMOylation | Not specifically described in search results | - | - | Not addressed in the provided materials |
This table summarizes validated methods for studying post-translational modifications of FBXL19 based on the search results, providing researchers with experimental approaches and appropriate controls .