Molecular Weight: 97.2 kDa (canonical isoform) with three splice variants .
Domain Composition: Contains proline-rich motifs (e.g., residues 532–544 and 547–552) that mediate interactions with SH3 domains of signaling proteins like Grb2 .
Post-Translational Modifications: Phosphorylated at Tyr-105 and Tyr-453, critical for binding Shp2 (a phosphatase involved in ERK activation) .
Signal Transduction: Acts as an adapter in EGF receptor-mediated signaling, promoting ERK1/2 activation and cell proliferation .
Oncogenic Potential: Overexpression in NIH3T3 cells enhances anchorage-independent growth, suggesting a role in tumorigenesis .
Applications : Western blotting
Sample type: RA-FLS
Review: Western blotting examined the expression of p38, p-p38, ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2, and GAREM1 in normal FLS and RA-FLS. **P < 0.01 compared to the normal FLS group. The results were the summatory of the three replicate experiments.
GAREM1 (GRB2 associated regulator of MAPK1 subtype 1) functions as an adapter protein involved in intracellular signaling cascades. The canonical human protein consists of 876 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 97.2 kDa. GAREM1 plays a critical role in signaling pathways triggered by the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation and/or cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinases. The protein undergoes post-translational modifications, most notably phosphorylation, which regulates its activity in signal transduction. As a member of the GAREM protein family, it serves as an important mediator in cellular communication networks that control cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival mechanisms .
Selection of the optimal GAREM1 antibody depends on multiple experimental parameters:
Experimental application: Different applications require specific antibody formats. For protein detection in cell lysates, choose antibodies validated for Western Blot. For localization studies, select antibodies validated for immunofluorescence (IF) or immunohistochemistry (IHC). Flow cytometry applications may require specifically conjugated antibodies.
Species reactivity: Ensure the antibody recognizes GAREM1 in your experimental model species. Available antibodies target human, mouse, rat, or zebrafish GAREM1 with varying cross-reactivity profiles .
Epitope specificity: Consider whether you need antibodies targeting specific regions (e.g., C-terminal antibodies) or isoforms of GAREM1. The human GAREM1 gene generates three alternative splice variants, which may necessitate isoform-specific antibodies for particular research questions .
Conjugation requirements: Determine whether your protocol requires unconjugated antibodies or those conjugated to specific labels (biotin, fluorophores like FITC, Cy3, Alexa Fluor 647) based on your detection system .
Recognize multiple epitopes on the GAREM1 protein
Typically provide stronger signals due to binding multiple sites
More tolerant of protein denaturation and modifications
May show higher background and potential cross-reactivity
Suitable for applications like Western blot and immunoprecipitation where signal amplification is beneficial
Target a single epitope with high specificity
Offer consistent lot-to-lot reproducibility
Provide cleaner background in applications like immunofluorescence
May be more sensitive to epitope masking or destruction
Preferable for quantitative applications and long-term studies requiring standardization
For initial characterization of GAREM1 expression in a new experimental system, polyclonal antibodies often provide higher sensitivity, while monoclonal antibodies offer advantages for specific epitope targeting and reproducibility in follow-up studies .
Optimizing Western blot protocols for GAREM1 detection requires attention to several critical parameters:
Sample preparation: GAREM1 undergoes phosphorylation and other post-translational modifications. Include phosphatase inhibitors in lysis buffers to preserve phosphorylation states. Use fresh samples when possible, as GAREM1 may be susceptible to degradation during storage.
Gel electrophoresis: Use 8-10% SDS-PAGE gels for optimal resolution of the 97.2 kDa GAREM1 protein. Extended run times improve separation from similarly sized proteins.
Transfer conditions: For large proteins like GAREM1, use wet transfer methods (rather than semi-dry) with methanol-free transfer buffer and longer transfer times (overnight at lower voltage or 2 hours at higher voltage).
Blocking conditions: 5% BSA in TBST is generally more effective than milk for phosphorylated proteins. Optimize blocking time (1-2 hours) to balance background reduction with epitope masking.
Antibody incubation: Primary antibody dilutions typically range from 1:500 to 1:2000. Overnight incubation at 4°C generally yields better results than shorter incubations at room temperature .
Signal development: For weakly expressed GAREM1, consider using high-sensitivity ECL substrates or fluorescent secondary antibodies with digital imaging systems.
Effective immunohistochemical detection of GAREM1 in tissues requires:
Fixation: 10% neutral buffered formalin for 24-48 hours provides optimal preservation of GAREM1 epitopes while maintaining tissue architecture.
Antigen retrieval: Heat-mediated antigen retrieval using citrate buffer (pH 6.0) or EDTA buffer (pH 9.0) for 20 minutes is typically effective for exposing GAREM1 epitopes. Compare both methods to determine optimal conditions for your specific antibody.
Blocking: Use 5-10% normal serum from the same species as the secondary antibody plus 1% BSA to minimize non-specific binding.
Primary antibody: Incubate with anti-GAREM1 antibody (typically at 1:100 to 1:500 dilution) overnight at 4°C. Several commercially available antibodies have been validated for IHC-p (paraffin sections) .
Detection system: For low abundance proteins like GAREM1, amplification systems such as polymer-HRP or tyramide signal amplification may improve sensitivity.
Controls: Always include positive control tissues (based on RNA expression databases) and negative controls (either isotype controls or primary antibody omission) to validate staining specificity.
GAREM1 subcellular localization studies via immunofluorescence require:
Cell preparation: Culture cells on coated coverslips or chamber slides to 60-80% confluence. Serum starvation for 4-6 hours before EGF stimulation (100 ng/ml for 5-30 minutes) can demonstrate GAREM1 translocation during signaling.
Fixation and permeabilization: 4% paraformaldehyde (15 minutes) followed by 0.2% Triton X-100 (10 minutes) typically preserves GAREM1 architecture and enables antibody access.
Blocking: Block with 5% normal serum and 1% BSA in PBS for 1 hour at room temperature.
Antibody incubation: Use anti-GAREM1 antibodies validated for IF applications at manufacturer-recommended dilutions (typically 1:100 to 1:500) . Co-stain with markers for specific cellular compartments (e.g., phalloidin for actin cytoskeleton, DAPI for nucleus).
Mounting and imaging: Mount with anti-fade reagent containing DAPI. Image using confocal microscopy for optimal resolution of subcellular structures.
Quantitative analysis: Use image analysis software to quantify colocalization with subcellular markers or to measure nuclear/cytoplasmic ratios of GAREM1 under different experimental conditions.
Multiple bands in GAREM1 Western blots can result from several biological and technical factors:
Alternative splicing: GAREM1 has three reported splice variants that may appear as distinct bands. The canonical isoform is 97.2 kDa, but shorter isoforms will produce additional bands .
Post-translational modifications: Phosphorylated forms of GAREM1 often migrate at slightly higher apparent molecular weights than unphosphorylated forms. Treatment with lambda phosphatase before electrophoresis can confirm if bands represent phosphorylated variants.
Proteolytic degradation: GAREM1 may undergo degradation during sample preparation. Ensure protease inhibitors are fresh and samples are kept cold throughout processing.
Non-specific binding: Some antibodies may cross-react with related proteins. Validate specificity using GAREM1 knockout cell lines as negative controls .
Compare observed bands with predicted molecular weights of known isoforms
Use phosphatase treatment to identify phosphorylated forms
Confirm specificity using siRNA knockdown or GAREM1 knockout cells
Compare results using antibodies targeting different epitopes of GAREM1
When facing weak or inconsistent GAREM1 immunostaining:
Optimize antigen retrieval: Test multiple methods (heat-induced versus enzymatic) and buffers (citrate pH 6.0, EDTA pH 8.0 or 9.0) with varying incubation times.
Increase antibody sensitivity:
Try different anti-GAREM1 antibodies targeting different epitopes
Implement signal amplification systems (biotin-streptavidin, tyramide)
Extend primary antibody incubation (overnight at 4°C rather than 1 hour at room temperature)
Reduce background interference:
Include additional blocking steps (avidin/biotin blocking for biotin-based detection)
Pre-absorb secondary antibodies with tissue powder
Include detergents (0.1-0.3% Triton X-100) in antibody diluents
Tissue preparation considerations:
Minimize fixation time (excessive fixation can mask epitopes)
Use freshly cut sections (epitope availability decreases in stored sections)
Consider testing frozen sections if paraffin processing affects antigenicity
Controls and validation:
Use positive control tissues with known GAREM1 expression
Include absorption controls with recombinant GAREM1 protein
Addressing cross-reactivity in GAREM1 antibody applications:
Validate antibody specificity:
Optimize blocking conditions:
Extend blocking time (2-3 hours)
Test different blocking agents (BSA, normal serum, commercial blocking reagents)
Include 0.1-0.3% Triton X-100 in blocking solutions
Adjust antibody conditions:
Increase antibody dilution to reduce non-specific binding
Add 0.1-0.5% Tween-20 to antibody diluent
Pre-absorb antibody with cell/tissue lysates from species of interest
Implement more stringent washing:
Increase wash buffer stringency (higher salt concentration)
Extend wash steps (5-6 washes of 10 minutes each)
Include detergents in wash buffers
Consider alternative detection methods:
Switch from colorimetric to fluorescent detection for better signal-to-noise ratio
Use highly cross-adsorbed secondary antibodies to minimize species cross-reactivity
Studying GAREM1 in EGF receptor signaling requires sophisticated approaches:
Co-immunoprecipitation studies:
Use anti-GAREM1 antibodies to pull down protein complexes
Identify binding partners via Western blot or mass spectrometry
Confirm interactions with reciprocal co-IPs using antibodies against suspected partners
Phosphorylation dynamics:
Perform time-course experiments after EGF stimulation (0, 5, 15, 30, 60 minutes)
Use phospho-specific antibodies or anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies followed by GAREM1 immunoblotting
Quantify phosphorylation changes using densitometry normalized to total GAREM1
Subcellular translocation studies:
Use immunofluorescence to track GAREM1 movement after EGF stimulation
Perform subcellular fractionation and immunoblot for GAREM1 in cytoplasmic, membrane, and nuclear fractions
Quantify redistribution using imaging software
Signaling pathway analysis:
Proximity ligation assays:
Use anti-GAREM1 antibodies together with anti-EGFR antibodies
Visualize and quantify direct interactions in intact cells
Compare interaction frequencies under different stimulation conditions
Advanced proteomic approaches using GAREM1 antibodies include:
Immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry (IP-MS):
Perform IP with anti-GAREM1 antibodies under various conditions (basal, EGF stimulation)
Analyze precipitated complexes using LC-MS/MS
Compare protein profiles between experimental conditions to identify dynamic interactions
Validate candidates using co-IP and Western blotting
Proximity-dependent biotin identification (BioID):
Generate GAREM1-BioID fusion proteins
Identify biotinylated proteins (proximal to GAREM1 in living cells) using streptavidin pulldown and MS
Validate spatial relationships using GAREM1 antibodies in co-localization studies
Cross-linking MS approaches:
Stabilize protein complexes with chemical crosslinkers
Immunoprecipitate with anti-GAREM1 antibodies
Identify crosslinked peptides by MS to map interaction interfaces
Affinity purification with quantitative MS:
Use SILAC or TMT labeling to quantify differences in GAREM1 interactomes
Compare wild-type versus phosphorylation-site mutants
Identify interaction partners dependent on specific phosphorylation events
Validation pipeline:
Integrating GAREM1 antibodies with CRISPR/Cas9 approaches enables powerful functional studies:
Validation of knockout efficiency:
Rescue experiments:
Re-express wild-type or mutant GAREM1 in knockout backgrounds
Use antibodies to confirm expression levels comparable to endogenous protein
Assess functional rescue by measuring downstream signaling restoration
Protein domain function analysis:
Generate CRISPR knockin cell lines with domain-specific mutations
Use antibodies to confirm mutant protein expression and stability
Compare signaling outcomes between domain mutations
Tagged endogenous GAREM1:
Create knockin cell lines with epitope tags on endogenous GAREM1
Use both anti-tag and anti-GAREM1 antibodies to validate proper tagging
Perform live cell imaging and immunoprecipitation studies
Analysis of compensatory mechanisms:
Antibody-based proximity labeling represents a frontier for GAREM1 research:
Antibody-conjugated APEX2 approach:
Conjugate anti-GAREM1 antibodies to APEX2 peroxidase
Apply to fixed cells/tissues followed by biotin-phenol labeling
Identify proteins in close proximity to endogenous GAREM1 through streptavidin pulldown and MS
Split-APEX systems:
Generate GAREM1 fusion with half of a split-APEX system
Express potential interaction partners fused to complementary APEX fragment
Use antibodies to validate expression and localization of fusion proteins
GAREM1 TurboID applications:
Create TurboID-GAREM1 fusions for rapid biotin labeling of proximal proteins
Use anti-GAREM1 antibodies to confirm fusion protein localization matches endogenous patterns
Compare dynamic interactomes under various stimulation conditions
Spatially-restricted enzymatic tagging:
Combine GAREM1 antibodies with compartment-specific targeting sequences
Investigate compartment-specific interaction networks
Map the spatial organization of GAREM1 signaling hubs
In vivo proximity labeling:
Develop mouse models expressing engineered GAREM1
Apply proximity labeling in physiologically relevant contexts
Validate findings with antibody-based approaches in primary tissues
Emerging single-cell approaches with GAREM1 antibodies include:
Single-cell Western blotting:
Separate single cells in microfluidic devices
Perform electrophoresis and immunoblotting with anti-GAREM1 antibodies
Quantify cell-to-cell variation in GAREM1 expression and phosphorylation
Mass cytometry (CyTOF):
Use metal-conjugated anti-GAREM1 antibodies
Simultaneously measure multiple phosphorylation sites and proteins
Identify distinct cellular subpopulations based on GAREM1 signaling states
Imaging mass cytometry:
Visualize GAREM1 expression and activation in tissue microenvironments
Maintain spatial context while achieving single-cell resolution
Correlate GAREM1 signaling with cellular phenotypes
Proximity ligation assays in tissue:
Apply PLA with anti-GAREM1 and interaction partner antibodies
Quantify interaction frequencies at single-cell level
Map spatial heterogeneity of GAREM1 signaling complexes
Single-cell RNA-seq with protein detection:
Combine transcriptome analysis with antibody-based GAREM1 protein detection
Correlate protein levels with gene expression signatures
Identify transcriptional consequences of GAREM1 signaling variations
Machine learning approaches for GAREM1 immunostaining analysis:
Automated quantification of expression patterns:
Train algorithms to recognize subcellular GAREM1 distribution patterns
Classify cells based on nuclear/cytoplasmic ratios automatically
Process thousands of cells for statistical power
Multiplex image analysis:
Integrate GAREM1 staining with multiple markers simultaneously
Identify cell types with distinct GAREM1 expression patterns
Discover novel associations between GAREM1 and cellular phenotypes
Predictive modeling for patient outcomes:
Correlate GAREM1 expression patterns with disease progression
Develop predictive algorithms for treatment response
Identify novel biomarker combinations including GAREM1
Deep learning for 3D tissue analysis:
Apply neural networks to analyze GAREM1 distribution in whole tissue volumes
Reconstruct signaling networks across entire tissue architectures
Identify spatial relationships invisible to conventional analysis
Transfer learning approaches:
Adapt pre-trained networks to recognize specific GAREM1 patterns
Reduce the need for extensive manual annotation
Improve consistency and reproducibility in GAREM1 immunostaining interpretation