The At4g27270 Antibody is a monoclonal antibody targeting the Arabidopsis thaliana protein encoded by the At4g27270 gene. This protein, annotated as Probable NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (quinone) FQR1-like 1 (UniProt: Q6NQE2), functions as an oxidoreductase involved in electron transfer processes, specifically interacting with flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and exhibiting NAD(P)H dehydrogenase activity . The antibody is widely used in plant molecular biology to study protein localization, expression dynamics, and functional roles under stress conditions such as iron deficiency .
Two commercial providers offer At4g27270-specific antibodies:
Epitopes: Designed against synthetic peptides representing N-terminal (amino acids 1–50), C-terminal (156–205), or middle (non-terminal) regions .
Sensitivity: Detects ~1 ng of target protein in WB under optimized conditions .
At4g27270 was identified in proteomic studies of Beta vulgaris (sugar beet) root tips under iron (Fe)-deficient conditions. Key findings include:
Protein Downregulation: At4g27270 homologs showed decreased abundance in Fe-deficient root tips compared to Fe-sufficient controls, as detected via 2D gel electrophoresis and MALDI-MS .
Functional Implications: The protein’s oxidoreductase activity and FMN-binding capacity suggest involvement in redox homeostasis during Fe stress .
| Condition | Change in At4g27270 | Associated Metabolites | Biological Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fe deficiency | ↓ 50–70% | ↓ Oxalic acid; ↑ Citric/Aconitic acid | Disrupted electron transport chains |
| Fe resupply (72h) | Partial recovery | Normalized organic acid levels | Restoration of redox balance |
Western Blot: Used to confirm protein expression patterns in Arabidopsis and heterologous systems (e.g., Beta vulgaris) .
ELISA: Quantifies antibody-antigen interactions with titers up to 10,000 .
| Package (Abmart) | Components | Price | Delivery Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| X2-Q6NQE2 (WB) | N + C terminus antibodies | $899 | 30 days |
| Single combination | N, C, or M terminus | $599 | 30 days |
Custom antibody development is available for specialized needs (e.g., blocking assays, epitope specificity) .
Further studies should explore:
Cross-Species Reactivity: Validate antibody efficacy in non-model plants.
Stress-Specific Roles: Link At4g27270 dynamics to abiotic stresses beyond Fe deficiency.
Structural Analysis: Resolve 3D conformation to map FMN-binding sites.
Antibody validation is a critical first step before conducting extensive experiments. For At4g27270 antibodies, validation should include multiple complementary approaches:
Western blot analysis comparing wild-type samples with knockout/knockdown controls
Immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry confirmation
Immunofluorescence with appropriate positive and negative controls
Cross-reactivity testing with closely related proteins
The gold standard validation approach involves comparing antibody binding in samples with and without the target protein. For example, research on other antibodies has demonstrated the importance of rigorous specificity testing. The A4 antibody developed for detecting neuraminidase mutations showed approximately 600 times stronger binding affinity for its target mutant protein compared to wild-type, providing clear specificity validation .
At4g27270 antibodies can be utilized across multiple detection platforms, each with distinct advantages:
Immunoblotting/Western blot for protein size and expression level analysis
Immunofluorescence microscopy for localization studies
Flow cytometry for quantitative cell population analysis
ELISA for quantitative detection in solution
Research demonstrates that antibodies can be adapted to numerous sensing platforms. For instance, the A4 antibody has been successfully implemented in naked-eye detection, surface-enhanced Raman scattering-based immunoassay, and lateral flow systems . Similar approaches could be adapted for At4g27270 antibodies, depending on your specific research requirements.
Optimal fixation and permeabilization protocols for plant tissue immunolocalization with At4g27270 antibodies typically include:
Paraformaldehyde fixation (4%) for 1-2 hours to preserve protein structure
Controlled cell wall digestion using a combination of cellulase and pectolyase
Membrane permeabilization with 0.1-0.5% Triton X-100
Blocking with BSA or normal serum to reduce non-specific binding
The fixation and permeabilization procedures should be optimized based on tissue type and subcellular localization of the target protein. Research on plant proteins such as MPKs has demonstrated the importance of tailored fixation protocols that preserve epitope accessibility while maintaining tissue structure .
Real-time antibody internalization monitoring requires specialized approaches:
Conjugate At4g27270 antibodies with pH-sensitive fluorescent dyes that brighten in acidic compartments
Establish baseline measurements in non-expressing control cells
Capture time-lapse images at appropriate intervals (15-30 minutes) for at least 12 hours
Normalize fluorescence measurements to cell density
Research on internalization assays with other antibodies has shown that fluorescent signals should be observed in the cytosolic compartment but not in the nucleus, consistent with the expected localization of internalized antibodies to lysosomes and endosomes . Time-dependent increases in fluorescence can be quantified using area measurements (μm²/well) .
When designing such experiments, it's important to include appropriate controls. For example, in similar studies, mouse IgG1 isotype controls were used alongside target-specific antibodies to confirm signal specificity .
Detecting conformational changes requires sophisticated biophysical techniques:
Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) to map dynamic regions
Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) for monitoring distance changes between domains
Single-molecule FRET to observe individual antibody molecules during binding events
Distance Constraint Model (DCM) computational analysis to characterize mechanical properties
Research has demonstrated that antibodies undergo significant conformational changes during maturation and binding. Analysis of antibody flexibility using computational Distance Constraint Models has revealed that germline antibodies typically display greater conformational flexibility compared to affinity-matured variants . When studying At4g27270 antibodies, researchers should consider that different domains may show variable flexibility patterns, with changes often concentrated in CDR loops .
High-precision epitope mapping requires multi-faceted approaches:
X-ray crystallography of antibody-antigen complexes provides atomic-level resolution
Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry identifies protected regions upon binding
Peptide array scanning with overlapping peptides spanning the entire protein sequence
Alanine scanning mutagenesis to identify critical binding residues
Research on antibody-antigen interactions has shown that multiple complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) typically contribute to binding. For example, studies have demonstrated that antigens can interact directly with CDR-H3 and CDR-L3 loops, with additional contacts involving CDR-H1 and CDR-H2 loops . When mapping At4g27270 antibody epitopes, researchers should examine all potential interaction surfaces.
Cell density significantly impacts antibody internalization measurements:
Test a range of cell densities (1,000-20,000 cells/well) to determine optimal conditions
Normalize internalization signals to phase contrast area for accurate comparisons
Consider that both too low and too high cell densities can produce suboptimal results
Monitor time-course data over at least 12 hours to capture complete internalization kinetics
Research with other antibodies has demonstrated that internalization response size is dependent on cell number, with signal intensity increasing with cell density . Below is a representation of how cell density affects internalization measurements:
| Cell Density (cells/well) | Normalized Internalization Signal at 12h | Signal-to-Background Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | Low | <5:1 |
| 5,000 | Moderate | ~10:1 |
| 10,000 | Optimal | >15:1 |
| 20,000 | High (potential crowding) | >15:1 |
For At4g27270 antibody studies, establishing this relationship for your specific experimental system is crucial for reliable data interpretation.
Fluorescent labeling of At4g27270 antibodies requires careful optimization:
Select pH-sensitive dyes for internalization studies or standard fluorophores for other applications
Determine optimal dye-to-antibody ratio (typically 2-8 dye molecules per antibody)
Purify labeled antibodies to remove free dye molecules
Validate that labeling doesn't impair antibody binding affinity
Research with antibody labeling has shown that effective concentrations typically range around 4 μg/mL for cell-based assays . When labeling At4g27270 antibodies, researchers should validate retention of specificity after conjugation by comparing binding of labeled and unlabeled antibodies.
Optimizing antibody stability requires addressing multiple factors:
Store antibodies at appropriate concentrations (0.5-1.0 mg/mL) to prevent aggregation
Add stabilizing agents such as glycerol (50%) for freezer storage
Consider lyophilization with appropriate cryoprotectants for long-term preservation
Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles by preparing single-use aliquots
Research on antibody flexibility and stability has shown that conformational flexibility is an intrinsic property of antibodies, particularly in the complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) . Stabilizing conditions should aim to prevent conformational changes that could affect binding properties.
Distinguishing specific from non-specific binding requires appropriate controls and analysis:
Include isotype control antibodies matched to your At4g27270 antibody
Test binding in tissues/cells known to lack At4g27270 expression
Perform competitive binding assays with unlabeled antibodies or purified antigen
Compare signal patterns across multiple detection methods
Research with other antibodies has demonstrated that proper controls provide confidence in signal specificity. For example, studies using CD marker antibodies showed that anti-CD20 was internalized only in B cell lines but not T cell lines, while anti-CD3 showed the opposite pattern, confirming specificity of detection .
Multiple factors contribute to antibody rigidity and flexibility:
Hydrogen bonding networks throughout the antibody structure
Salt bridges, particularly those involving Arg and Asp residues
Somatic mutations accumulated during affinity maturation
CDR loop composition and length
Research using Distance Constraint Models has shown that affinity maturation typically leads to rigidification of the VH domain while the VL domain and CDR L2 loop often become more flexible . The redistribution of conformational flexibility is largely controlled by nonspecific changes in the hydrogen bond network, with certain salt bridges creating highly localized rigidity increases .
When facing contradictory results across detection methods:
Examine epitope accessibility differences between methods (native vs. denatured conditions)
Consider fixation and sample preparation effects on epitope presentation
Evaluate potential cross-reactivity with related proteins
Assess antibody batch variability and storage conditions
Research has shown that antibodies can perform differently across various platforms. For example, the A4 antibody demonstrated specificity across multiple detection platforms but with varying sensitivity . When working with At4g27270 antibodies, researchers should validate performance across all intended applications rather than assuming uniform behavior.
Developing modification-specific antibodies requires specialized approaches:
Immunize with synthetic peptides containing the specific modification
Implement negative selection strategies against unmodified peptides/proteins
Characterize cross-reactivity with related modifications
Validate specificity using samples with controlled modification states
Research on antibody development has demonstrated the feasibility of creating highly specific antibodies that distinguish subtle differences in target proteins. For example, the A4 antibody was specifically developed to recognize and bind to mutant I223R/H275Y neuraminidase with approximately 600 times stronger binding affinity compared to wild-type neuraminidase .
Designing effective sandwich immunoassay pairs requires:
Selecting antibodies recognizing distinct, non-overlapping epitopes
Testing capture antibody orientation and density optimization
Evaluating detection antibody labeling strategies
Determining optimal buffer conditions to minimize non-specific interactions
Research with other antibody pairs has shown that optimal performance requires comprehensive testing of multiple combinations. When developing At4g27270 sandwich assays, researchers should consider that conformational changes upon initial antibody binding may affect accessibility of secondary epitopes .
Affinity maturation impacts multiple antibody properties:
Binding affinity and specificity typically increase with maturation
Conformational flexibility generally decreases in CDR H3 regions
Off-target binding usually decreases with maturation
Temperature and pH stability often improve through maturation
Research has shown that germline antibodies are typically more polyspecific due to increased conformational flexibility . During affinity maturation, accumulated mutations (typically 10-20) lead to significant conformational changes, especially in the H3 loop . These changes typically enhance specificity but may affect performance across different applications in unpredictable ways.