GGCT2;3 belongs to the GGCT superfamily, which includes enzymes like γ-glutamyl cyclotransferase (GGCT) in humans and Arabidopsis. These enzymes hydrolyze γ-glutamyl bonds in GSH conjugates, influencing cellular redox balance and detoxification . In Arabidopsis, GGCT2;1 and GGCT2;2 are known to degrade cytosolic GSH, but GGCT2;3’s specific function remains unclear .
| Isoform | Function | Stress Response Role |
|---|---|---|
| GGCT2;1 | GSH degradation, arsenic tolerance | Arsenic detoxification |
| GGCT2;2 | GSH metabolism | Limited data |
| GGCT2;3 | Potential GSH turnover | Hypothetical (unstudied) |
GSH dynamics: Antibodies against GGCT enzymes enable immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry to localize enzyme activity .
Stress responses: GGCT2;1 antibodies confirmed its role in arsenic tolerance by detecting enzyme expression in Arabidopsis .
A hypothetical GGCT2;3 antibody would likely be used for:
Protein localization: Tracking GGCT2;3 in subcellular compartments (e.g., cytoplasm, nucleus).
Enzyme activity assays: Correlating GGCT2;3 expression with GSH levels in stress conditions.
Functional studies: Knockout or overexpression experiments to elucidate its role in GSH metabolism.
While GGCT2;3-specific data are absent, antibodies for similar enzymes provide a framework:
| Target | Antibody Type | Application | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GGCT2;1 | Polyclonal | Immunoblotting, IHC (arsenic studies) | |
| AIG2A/B | Monoclonal | Immunity regulation (salicylic acid) | |
| GGP1 | Polyclonal | TDSM biosynthesis (plant defense) |
AIG2A/B antibodies: Demonstrated that catalytic site mutations (E83A) abrogated function, suggesting GGCT activity is critical for enzyme roles .
GGCT2;1 antibodies: Revealed tissue-specific expression (e.g., high in roots under arsenic stress) .
GGCT2;3 may function analogously to GGCT2;1 and GGCT2;2 by:
Catalyzing γ-glutamyl bond hydrolysis: Liberating amino acids from GSH conjugates.
Regulating GSH turnover: Balancing redox potential during oxidative stress.
Interacting with stress pathways: Modulating arsenic tolerance or salicylic acid signaling (as seen in AIG2A/B) .
Antibody Development:
Specificity challenges: Distinguish GGCT2;3 from GGCT2;1/2 due to sequence homology.
Validation: Use knockout mutants for antibody testing.
Functional Studies:
Stress experiments: Assess GGCT2;3 expression under cadmium, arsenic, or pathogen exposure.
Metabolite profiling: Link GGCT2;3 activity to GSH, 5-oxoproline, and amino acid levels.
Here’s a structured FAQ collection for GGCT2;3 antibody research, synthesized from peer-reviewed studies and technical documentation:
Validation requires:
Knockdown/overexpression controls: Compare signal intensity in GGCT-depleted vs. overexpressing cell lines (e.g., PC3 prostate cancer cells) using Western blot (WB) .
Species cross-reactivity testing: Assess reactivity in human, mouse, and rat tissues via immunohistochemistry (IHC), noting cytoplasmic vs. nuclear localization patterns .
Negative controls: Include secondary antibody-only and isotype-matched IgG controls in IHC/WB .
| Assay | Human Reactivity | Mouse Reactivity | Recommended Dilution |
|---|---|---|---|
| WB | Confirmed | Not tested | 1:1,000–1:5,000 |
| IHC | Strong | Limited | 1:50–1:200 |
Functional studies: Investigate GGCT’s role in glutathione homeostasis using siRNA knockdown in Arabidopsis or cancer models .
Pathway analysis: Pair with phospho-STAT3 (Ser727) and c-Met antibodies to study GGCT-STAT3-c-Met signaling axis .
Immunohistopathology: Score GGCT expression in tumors using intensity/proportion metrics (e.g., high = score >3) .
Normalize to housekeeping genes: Use β-actin or GAPDH in WB, but avoid tubulin due to reported cross-reactivity .
Tissue-specific controls: Compare adjacent normal tissue in IHC to account for baseline epithelial expression .
IF optimization:
WB troubleshooting:
GSH modulation: Treat cells with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) to deplete glutathione, then quantify GGCT via WB. Expect increased 5-oxoproline levels via HPLC .
Stress assays: Combine with heavy metal exposure (e.g., arsenic) to study GGCT’s role in redox balance .