FTSZ2-2 Antibody

Introduction

The FTSZ2-2 antibody is a critical tool for studying chloroplast division mechanisms in plants. It specifically targets the FtsZ2-2 protein, a nuclear-encoded, chloroplast-localized GTPase essential for plastid division. This antibody has been instrumental in elucidating the functional roles of FtsZ2-2 in diverse plant species, including Arabidopsis thaliana, and its interactions with other division machinery components. Below, we synthesize data from peer-reviewed studies and commercial sources to provide a comprehensive overview.

Research Applications of FTSZ2-2 Antibody

The FTSZ2-2 antibody has been employed in diverse experimental contexts:

3.1. Immunoblotting

• Detects FtsZ2-2 in leaf extracts, distinguishing allelic variants (e.g., a 2 kD smaller protein in the Cvi-1 ecotype due to a C-terminal truncation) .

• Quantifies FtsZ2-2 levels in mutants, such as ftsZ2-1 and ftsZ2-2 knockouts, to study dose-dependent effects on chloroplast division .

3.2. Immunofluorescence

• Localizes FtsZ2-2 to mid-plastid Z-rings in chloroplasts, often colocalizing with FtsZ1 .

• Reveals aberrant Z-ring structures in mutants like arc3-2, which display multiple rings due to disrupted division regulation .

3.3. Co-Immunoprecipitation (Co-IP)

• Identifies interaction partners, such as ARC6, confirming FtsZ2-2’s role in stabilizing division complexes .

4.1. Functional Redundancy and Specificity

• Redundancy with FtsZ2-1: FtsZ2-2 can partially compensate for FtsZ2-1 loss when total FtsZ2 levels approximate wild-type concentrations .

• Non-redundancy with FtsZ1: FtsZ2-2 cannot substitute for FtsZ1, underscoring distinct roles in Z-ring assembly and dynamics .

4.2. Allelic Variation and Phenotypic Effects

• A natural deletion polymorphism in FtsZ2-2 exon 8 (Cvi-1 ecotype) correlates with enlarged chloroplasts, demonstrated via immunoblotting and sequencing .

• Transgenic complementation experiments show that FtsZ2-2 truncations impair chloroplast division efficiency .

4.3. Dynamic Filament Assembly

• In vitro studies in Schizosaccharomyces pombe reveal that FtsZ2-2 forms stable filaments, while FtsZ1 promotes filament remodeling. Coassembly produces hybrid filaments with FtsZ2-2-dominant morphology .