The identifier "At5g02995" follows the standard format for Arabidopsis thaliana gene loci:
At: Species prefix for Arabidopsis thaliana.
5g: Chromosome and gene position (Chromosome 5, gene group "g").
02995: Unique gene identifier.
While antibodies are often named after their target proteins (e.g., anti-PfRH5 for Plasmodium falciparum reticulocyte-binding homolog 5), the absence of At5g02995 in the provided literature suggests:
Limited characterization of the encoded protein.
No published studies validating antibody specificity or applications.
General antibody development principles from the literature highlight critical steps that may apply to At5g02995:
Studies on malaria antibodies highlight synergistic effects:
Neutralizing antibodies (e.g., targeting PfRH5) block pathogen invasion.
Non-neutralizing antibodies may potentiate neutralization by slowing invasion kinetics .
For At5g02995, analogous mechanisms could exist if the target protein is part of a multi-protein complex.
The absence of At5g02995 in the literature underscores broader challenges in antibody characterization:
Lack of Public Validation Data: Many antibodies lack rigorous specificity testing (e.g., KO cell line controls ).
Structural Diversity: Antibodies adopt conserved frameworks, but CDR regions determine antigen specificity .
Repertoire Bias: Public databases may underrepresent plant-specific antibodies.
To advance At5g02995 antibody studies:
Protein Characterization:
Antibody Production:
Functional Studies:
Assess antibody efficacy in perturbing At5g02995-mediated pathways.
Explore therapeutic or diagnostic potential if linked to disease-relevant processes.
At5g02995 is an Arabidopsis thaliana gene encoding a galactose oxidase/kelch repeat protein . Researchers develop antibodies against this protein primarily for plant molecular biology investigations, particularly in studies examining:
Protein expression patterns in different plant tissues
Protein localization studies
Protein-protein interaction analyses
Functional characterization of kelch repeat proteins in plant development and stress responses
The antibody allows detection of the native protein in its cellular context, providing insights into its biological role that genomic analysis alone cannot reveal .
Before using the At5g02995 antibody in critical experiments, researchers should perform multiple validation steps:
| Validation Method | Procedure | Expected Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Western blot with positive control | Run protein extract from wild-type Arabidopsis | Single band at predicted molecular weight |
| Negative control testing | Use protein extract from knockout/knockdown lines | Absence or reduced band intensity |
| Peptide competition assay | Pre-incubate antibody with immunizing peptide | Blocked or significantly reduced signal |
| Cross-reactivity assessment | Test against related species or proteins | Signal only in Arabidopsis samples |
| Reproducibility testing | Repeat experiments with different lots | Consistent results across experiments |
As indicated in the product specifications, this antibody has been validated for ELISA and Western blot applications, with specificity for Arabidopsis thaliana .
To maintain optimal activity of the At5g02995 antibody:
Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles that can cause protein denaturation
Store in the recommended buffer (50% Glycerol, 0.01M PBS, pH 7.4 with 0.03% Proclin 300)
For short-term use (1-2 weeks), aliquot and store at 4°C
For long-term stability, prepare small single-use aliquots before freezing
Document the number of freeze-thaw cycles in laboratory records
Proper storage is critical for maintaining binding affinity and preventing non-specific background signal in experiments .
Determining the optimal antibody concentration requires systematic titration:
Prepare a dilution series of the antibody (e.g., 1:500, 1:1000, 1:2000, 1:5000, 1:10000)
Use identical protein samples and blotting conditions for each dilution
Process all blots simultaneously with identical detection conditions
Evaluate signal-to-noise ratio across all dilutions
Select the highest dilution that provides clear specific signal with minimal background
This approach is preferable to using a single manufacturer-recommended dilution as optimal concentrations can vary based on:
Protein abundance in your specific samples
Detection method sensitivity (chemiluminescence vs. fluorescence)
Blocking reagents and incubation conditions used in your laboratory
For rigorous experimental design with the At5g02995 antibody, include these controls:
| Control Type | Purpose | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| Positive control | Confirm antibody functionality | Wild-type Arabidopsis extract with known At5g02995 expression |
| Negative control | Validate specificity | At5g02995 knockout/knockdown line or RNAi-mediated silencing line |
| Loading control | Ensure equal protein loading | Probe for housekeeping proteins (e.g., actin, tubulin) |
| Secondary antibody control | Detect non-specific binding | Omit primary antibody, apply only secondary antibody |
| Isotype control | Identify non-specific binding | Use rabbit IgG at equivalent concentration |
| Blocking peptide control | Confirm epitope specificity | Pre-incubate antibody with immunizing peptide |
These controls help distinguish genuine signals from artifacts and are essential for publication-quality data .
While the At5g02995 antibody is validated for ELISA and Western blot applications , its suitability for co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) requires empirical testing:
The antibody's affinity (which determines its ability to pull down target protein) is a critical factor
The epitope recognized must be accessible in the protein's native conformation
Test precipitation efficiency by performing a pilot IP followed by Western blot
Compare different lysis/binding buffers to optimize conditions
Consider crosslinking the antibody to beads to prevent antibody contamination in the eluate
Include appropriate negative controls (IgG control, lysate from knockout lines)
If the antibody successfully immunoprecipitates the target protein, proceed with co-IP experiments to identify interaction partners, followed by mass spectrometry or Western blot analysis .
The At5g02995 antibody has not been formally validated for immunohistochemistry (IHC) , but researchers can systematically optimize conditions:
Fixation optimization: Test multiple fixatives (4% paraformaldehyde, acetone, methanol) and fixation times
Antigen retrieval methods: Compare heat-induced epitope retrieval (citrate buffer, pH 6.0) versus enzymatic retrieval
Blocking optimization: Test different blockers (BSA, normal serum, commercial blocking reagents) to minimize background
Antibody concentration gradient: Create a dilution series starting higher than Western blot concentration
Signal amplification: Consider tyramide signal amplification if standard detection yields weak signals
Critical controls: Include tissue from At5g02995 knockout plants as negative control
Document all optimization steps systematically. Successful adaptation enables valuable spatial expression pattern analysis that complements biochemical data .
When At5g02995 interacts with other proteins, epitope masking can prevent antibody recognition, leading to false negative results. Consider these approaches:
Denaturing conditions: For Western blots, ensure complete protein denaturation with SDS and reducing agents
Native vs. denatured comparisons: Compare detection in native PAGE versus SDS-PAGE to identify masking
Epitope mapping: Determine which region(s) of At5g02995 are recognized by the antibody using truncated protein variants
Alternative antibodies: If available, use antibodies targeting different epitopes on the same protein
Protein complex dissociation: Modify extraction buffers with higher salt concentration or mild detergents
Crosslinking studies: Use reversible crosslinkers to capture complexes before disruption for analysis
These approaches help distinguish between protein absence and detection failure due to complex formation .
To develop quantitative fluorescence-based detection with the At5g02995 antibody:
Fluorophore selection: Choose fluorophores with appropriate spectral properties that don't overlap with plant autofluorescence
Signal-to-noise optimization:
Implement rigorous background subtraction methods
Use spectral unmixing to separate specific signal from autofluorescence
Standard curve generation: Create standards using recombinant At5g02995 protein
Dynamic range determination: Establish the linear range of detection through serial dilutions
Multiple technical replicates: Include at least 3-4 replicates per sample
Image acquisition standardization:
Maintain consistent exposure settings
Use identical gain and offset settings across all samples
Implement flat-field correction for microscopy applications
This approach enables reliable quantification of At5g02995 protein levels across different experimental conditions .
When Western blots show unexpected bands, systematic analysis is required:
| Observation | Possible Interpretation | Verification Method |
|---|---|---|
| Higher MW than predicted | Post-translational modifications | Treat with appropriate enzymes (phosphatases, glycosidases) |
| Higher MW than predicted | Protein-protein complexes resistant to denaturation | Increase SDS concentration, add reducing agents, heat samples longer |
| Multiple specific bands | Alternative splice variants | Compare to transcript data from RNA-seq, validate with RT-PCR |
| Lower MW than predicted | Protein degradation | Use fresh samples, add protease inhibitors, reduce sample processing time |
| Lower MW than predicted | Proteolytic processing in vivo | Literature search for known processing, N-terminal sequencing |
| No band detected | Low expression level | Increase protein loading, use more sensitive detection methods |
Always compare observed patterns with available literature and transcript data to distinguish between artifacts and biologically relevant signals .
When experiencing high background or non-specific binding:
Blocking optimization:
Test different blocking agents (5% milk, 5% BSA, commercial blockers)
Increase blocking time (overnight at 4°C)
Add 0.1-0.5% Tween-20 to reduce hydrophobic interactions
Antibody dilution adjustment:
Increase antibody dilution gradually (use 2-5× higher dilution)
Prepare antibody in fresh blocking buffer with 0.1% Tween-20
Washing modifications:
Increase number and duration of washes
Use higher salt concentration in wash buffers (up to 500 mM NaCl)
Add 0.1% SDS to wash buffer for stubborn non-specific binding
Pre-adsorption technique:
Incubate antibody with protein extract from knockout plants
Remove bound antibodies by centrifugation before using supernatant
Secondary antibody considerations:
Test alternative secondary antibodies
Use highly cross-adsorbed secondary antibodies
These approaches systematically identify and eliminate sources of non-specific binding .
Cross-reactivity with related proteins can complicate data interpretation. Address this through:
Sequence homology analysis:
Identify Arabidopsis proteins with sequence similarity to At5g02995
Focus on regions containing the immunizing peptide sequence
Control experiments:
Test antibody against protein extracts from plants overexpressing related proteins
Use genetic knockout lines of At5g02995 to identify non-specific signals
Competition assays:
Perform peptide competition with immunizing peptide
Include peptides from homologous regions of related proteins
Immunodepletion:
Pre-clear samples using recombinant At5g02995 protein
Compare binding patterns before and after depletion
Orthogonal detection methods:
Compare results with tagged protein expression
Use mass spectrometry to identify proteins in immunoprecipitated samples
This systematic approach distinguishes specific from cross-reactive signals, essential for accurate data interpretation .
To investigate protein-protein interactions involving At5g02995:
Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP):
Use the At5g02995 antibody to pull down the protein complex
Analyze co-precipitated proteins by mass spectrometry or Western blot
Validate with reverse Co-IP using antibodies against identified partners
Proximity labeling approaches:
Create fusion proteins of At5g02995 with BioID or APEX2
Use the antibody to confirm expression of the fusion protein
Compare biotinylated proteins between experimental and control samples
FRET-FLIM analysis:
Use the antibody to validate expression of fluorescently tagged At5g02995
Measure FRET between At5g02995 and candidate interaction partners
Split-reporter assays:
Validate expression of fusion proteins with the antibody
Correlate reporter signal with protein expression levels
These complementary approaches provide robust evidence for specific protein-protein interactions involving At5g02995 .
Combining the At5g02995 antibody with advanced microscopy enables detailed protein localization analysis:
Super-resolution microscopy:
Use fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibodies compatible with STORM, PALM, or STED
Implement drift correction and calibration standards for quantitative measurements
Compare apparent distributions between conventional and super-resolution imaging
Correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM):
Optimize fixation conditions compatible with both immunofluorescence and electron microscopy
Use gold-conjugated secondary antibodies for TEM visualization
Align fluorescence and EM images using fiducial markers
Live-cell imaging validation:
Compare antibody-based localization in fixed cells with fluorescent protein fusions in live cells
Use the antibody to validate expression levels of tagged proteins
Multiplexed imaging:
Combine the At5g02995 antibody with markers for specific subcellular compartments
Implement spectral unmixing for accurate signal separation
Quantify colocalization using appropriate statistical measures
These approaches provide complementary data on protein localization at different resolution scales .
Structural characterization of antibody-antigen interactions using cryoEM involves:
Sample preparation optimization:
Form complexes between purified At5g02995 protein and antibody Fab fragments
Screen buffer conditions to ensure complex stability and homogeneity
Optimize vitrification parameters for ice thickness and particle distribution
Data collection strategy:
Collect tilt series to address preferred orientation issues
Implement motion correction and CTF estimation protocols
Use appropriate electron dose to minimize radiation damage
Image processing workflow:
Perform reference-free 2D classification to identify homogeneous particle populations
Generate ab initio 3D reconstructions
Apply focused refinement on the antibody-epitope interface
Validation approaches:
Perform mutagenesis of predicted epitope residues to confirm structural model
Cross-validate with hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry
Compare with computational docking predictions
This approach reveals the structural basis of antibody specificity and can guide the development of improved antibodies with enhanced properties .