The FBXO3 antibody (e.g., ab224603 from Abcam) is a rabbit polyclonal antibody designed to detect FBXO3 in human and mouse samples . It targets a recombinant fragment of human FBXO3 (amino acids 250–400) and is validated for:
Western blot (WB)
Immunohistochemistry (IHC-P)
Immunofluorescence (ICC/IF)
FBXO3 is a substrate-recognition component of the SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, regulating protein degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. It mediates ubiquitination of targets such as FBXL2, HIPK2, and EP300, influencing inflammation, immune responses, and cancer progression .
The FBXO3 antibody has been utilized in diverse experimental models:
Cancer Metastasis: FBXO3 stabilizes Twist1, a transcription factor driving epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), facilitating breast cancer cell migration .
Inflammatory Disorders:
Lysophagy: FBXO3 recruits TAX1BP1 to damaged lysosomes via TMEM192 ubiquitination, critical for lysosomal repair .
Western Blot: Detects FBXO3 at ~55 kDa in mouse kidney and human cell lysates .
Immunofluorescence: Localizes FBXO3 in HeLa cell nuclei and cytoplasm .
IHC-P: Strong staining in human skeletal muscle and tumor tissues .
FBXO3 contains:
F-box domain: Binds SKP1 for SCF complex assembly.
ApaG domain: Critical for substrate recognition (e.g., FBXL2) .
| Domain | Function | Experimental Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| F-box | SCF complex recruitment | Deletion abolishes ligase activity . |
| ApaG | Substrate binding (e.g., FBXL2, TMEM192) | BC-1215 inhibits ApaG, blocking FBXO3-FBXL2 binding . |
Applications : Immunofluorescence (IF) Analysis
Sample type: cells
Review: Treatment of si-FBXO3 inhibited inflammatory response induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in vivo.
FBXO3 antibodies are primarily used in the following experimental applications:
Western Blot (WB): Recommended dilution ranges from 1:500-1:3000, with optimal results at sample-dependent concentrations
Co-Immunoprecipitation (CoIP): For studying FBXO3 protein interactions with substrates like FBXL2
Immunohistochemistry-Paraffin (IHC-P): For detection in fixed tissue samples
Immunocytochemistry/Immunofluorescence (ICC/IF): For subcellular localization studies
Different applications require specific sample preparation techniques and antibody concentrations for optimal results .
Validation should include:
Knockout/Knockdown controls: Compare results with FBXO3 knockout/knockdown cells as negative controls
Molecular weight verification: Confirm detection at the expected molecular weight (48-50 kDa observed; 55 kDa calculated)
Cross-reactivity testing: Test antibody reactivity across different species (human, mouse, rat)
Epitope mapping: Verify recognition of the target epitope region (antibodies like ab224603 target amino acids 250-400)
For optimal Western blot results with FBXO3 antibodies:
Sample preparation:
Lyse cells in appropriate buffer with protease inhibitors
Load 20-40 μg of total protein per lane
Electrophoresis and transfer:
Separate proteins on 10% SDS-PAGE gel
Transfer to PVDF membrane at 100V for 60-90 minutes
Antibody incubation:
Block membrane with 5% non-fat milk in TBST for 1 hour
Incubate with primary FBXO3 antibody (1:500-1:3000 dilution) overnight at 4°C
Wash 3x with TBST
Incubate with HRP-conjugated secondary antibody for 1 hour at room temperature
Detection:
To investigate FBXO3-substrate interactions:
Co-immunoprecipitation strategy:
Treat cells with proteasome inhibitor (MG132, 10 μM) for 6-10 hours before harvesting
Immunoprecipitate using anti-FBXO3 antibody coupled to Protein A/G beads
Detect potential substrates in the immunoprecipitated complex
In vitro binding assays:
Purify FBXO3 using immunoprecipitation with HA-tagged FBXO3
Incubate with potential substrate proteins
Analyze binding using Western blot
Mutational analysis:
For example, studies have shown that the ApaG domain (amino acids 294-303, loop 1) is critical for FBXL2 binding, whereas ΔNp63α degradation requires the F-box domain but not the ApaG domain .
Experimental design for studying FBXO3 in inflammation:
Cell culture models:
Stimulate human blood mononuclear cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
Compare cytokine production in FBXO3 knockdown vs. control conditions
Measure cytokine secretion by ELISA or multiplex assays
Genetic manipulation approaches:
Generate stable cell lines expressing:
Wild-type FBXO3
FBXO3 ΔF-box (E3 ligase-defective mutant)
FBXO3 ΔApaG (FBXL2 binding-defective mutant)
Compare effects on TRAF protein levels and cytokine secretion
Pharmacological inhibition:
| FBXO3 Construct | Effect on FBXL2 | Effect on TRAFs | Effect on Cytokines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild-type FBXO3 | Degradation | Stabilization | Increased secretion |
| FBXO3 ΔF-box | No degradation | No effect | No effect |
| FBXO3 ΔApaG | No degradation | No effect | No effect |
Essential controls for FBXO3-mediated degradation studies:
Proteasome inhibition controls:
Compare substrate levels with/without MG132 (10 μM, 6-10 hours)
Verify accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins in presence of MG132
Protein half-life determination:
Cycloheximide chase assay (100 μg/ml) with timepoints at 0, 1, 4, and 8 hours
Compare substrate half-life in FBXO3 knockdown vs. control conditions
Ubiquitination specificity controls:
Common challenges and solutions:
Weak interaction detection:
Pre-treat cells with proteasome inhibitor (MG132, 10 μM) for 6-10 hours
Use cell-permeable crosslinkers for transient interactions
Reduce washing stringency (use 0.1% instead of 0.5% Triton X-100)
High background issues:
Increase blocking duration (1 hour minimum with 5% BSA)
Use more stringent washing buffers
Include pre-clearing step with protein A/G beads
Domain-specific interactions:
Protocol optimization table:
| Issue | Optimization Strategy | Technical Parameters |
|---|---|---|
| Weak signal | Proteasome inhibition | MG132 (10 μM, 6-10h) |
| High background | Pre-clearing | 1h with protein A/G beads |
| Non-specific binding | Washing optimization | 0.1-0.5% Triton X-100 in PBS |
Strategies for isoform discrimination:
Epitope mapping approach:
Select antibodies targeting regions that differ between isoforms
Verify epitope recognition using deletion mutants in overexpression systems
Molecular weight analysis:
Full-length FBXO3: Expected 55 kDa (calculated), observed 48-50 kDa
Verify band pattern using FBXO3 knockout controls
Run high-resolution SDS-PAGE (8-10%) to separate closely-sized isoforms
Functional validation:
For successful immunofluorescence with FBXO3 antibodies:
Cell preparation:
Culture cells on appropriate substrates (e.g., Collagen I coated coverslips)
Fix with 4% formaldehyde for 30 minutes at room temperature
Permeabilize with 0.2% Triton X-100 in PBS for 5 minutes
Antibody incubation:
Block with 5% BSA in PBS for 1 hour
Dilute primary antibody in 1% BSA/PBS (typically 1:100-1:500)
Incubate at 4°C overnight
Use appropriate fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibodies (e.g., Alexa Fluor 488 or 594)
Incubate for 2 hours at room temperature
Controls and co-staining:
The structural features of FBXO3 that impact antibody recognition:
Domain architecture considerations:
The ApaG domain (C-terminal region) forms a compact structure consisting of seven β-strands
Structural differences between human and bacterial ApaG domains include an additional N-terminal β-strand in human FBXO3
Antibodies targeting flexible loop regions (particularly loop 1, residues 294-303) may have variable accessibility depending on binding partners
Post-translational modification effects:
Phosphorylation states may alter epitope accessibility
Interaction with substrates like FBXL2 may mask certain epitopes
Consider native vs. denatured detection methods when selecting antibodies
Structure-function implications:
Resolving conflicting experimental results:
Substrate-specific considerations:
Different FBXO3 substrates utilize distinct recognition mechanisms:
FBXL2 degradation requires the ApaG domain
ΔNp63α degradation requires the F-box domain but not the ApaG domain
Confirm which domain is involved in your specific substrate interaction
Experimental context differences:
Cell type-specific effects: Validate findings across multiple cell lines
Stimulation conditions: LPS treatment may alter FBXO3 activity
Temporal dynamics: Consider kinetics of substrate degradation
Technical validation approach:
| Substrate | Required FBXO3 Domain | Detection Method | Degradation Kinetics |
|---|---|---|---|
| FBXL2 | ApaG domain | WB, CoIP | Rapid after LPS stimulation |
| ΔNp63α | F-box domain | WB, IF | Requires SAM domain (aa 473-513) |
| HIPK2 | Not specified | WB | Prevented by PML |
Disease-specific methodological approaches:
Inflammatory disorders:
Models: LPS-induced inflammation, viral pneumonia, septic shock, colitis
Readouts: Cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6)
Intervention: FBXO3 inhibitors (benzathine derivatives) targeting the ApaG domain
Controls: Compare with established anti-inflammatory agents
Cancer models:
Tissue-specific considerations: Different expression patterns in leukemia, pituitary adenoma, oral squamous cell carcinoma
Signaling pathway analysis: TGF-β signaling, NF-κB pathway activation
Prognostic correlation: Correlate FBXO3 expression with patient outcomes
Intervention: siRNA knockdown, CRISPR/Cas9 knockout, small molecule inhibitors
Methodological adaptations:
Cutting-edge structural approaches:
Cryo-electron microscopy applications:
Visualize FBXO3 in complex with SCF components and substrates
Determine conformational changes upon substrate binding
Identify novel epitopes for antibody development
Structure-guided antibody design:
Target specific functional domains (F-box vs. ApaG)
Develop conformation-specific antibodies to detect active vs. inactive FBXO3
Create antibodies that selectively recognize FBXO3 in complex with specific substrates
Technical considerations:
Research strategies for therapeutic applications:
Inhibitor development methodology:
Structure-based design targeting the ApaG domain
Screening approaches:
Protein interaction assays (Fbxo3-Fbxl2 binding)
IC50 determination (10^-11 to 10^-4 M concentration range)
Virtual screening using LigandFit (Discovery Studio)
Target validation techniques:
In vitro validation using purified proteins
Cellular models with cytokine readouts
Animal models of inflammation (viral pneumonia, septic shock, colitis)
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies
Biomarker development:
| Inhibitor Class | Target Domain | IC50 Range | Experimental Readout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benzathine derivatives | ApaG domain | nM range | FBXO3-FBXL2 binding |
| BC-1215 | ApaG domain | Varies by cell type | Cytokine production |
Integrated omics strategies:
Multi-omics experimental design:
RNA-seq to identify FBXO3-dependent gene expression
Proteomics to identify novel substrates and interaction networks
Phosphoproteomics to map regulatory post-translational modifications
ChIP-seq to identify transcriptional targets affected by FBXO3 activity
Cellular context considerations:
Compare findings across multiple cell types
Analyze under both basal and stimulated conditions
Consider time-course experiments to capture dynamic changes
Data integration approaches: