At5g23370 encodes GEm-Related 8 (GER8), a member of the GRAM domain protein family in Arabidopsis thaliana. This gene is significant in plant developmental biology research due to its relationship with other GEM-Related (GER) proteins that play roles in plant growth regulation, stress responses, and abscisic acid (ABA) metabolism . The GRAM domain proteins, including GER8, are implicated in membrane-associated processes and may function in signaling pathways related to plant development and stress adaptation. Understanding At5g23370's function provides insights into fundamental plant biological processes, particularly those related to stress responses and reproductive development.
At5g23370 antibodies are primarily available as polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbits against recombinant Arabidopsis thaliana At5g23370 protein . These antibodies are typically produced through a process that involves:
Expression and purification of recombinant At5g23370 protein
Immunization of rabbits with the purified protein
Collection and processing of antisera
Affinity purification of antibodies using the antigen
The resulting antibody preparation is suitable for applications such as ELISA and Western blot (WB) . Most commercially available At5g23370 antibodies are polyclonal, which recognize multiple epitopes of the target protein, providing robust signal detection but potentially higher background compared to monoclonal antibodies.
For optimal performance and longevity of At5g23370 antibodies, follow these research-validated storage and handling recommendations:
| Parameter | Recommendation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Storage temperature | -20°C or -80°C | Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles |
| Formulation | 50% Glycerol, 0.01M PBS, pH 7.4, 0.03% Proclin 300 | Preservative helps maintain antibody stability |
| Reconstitution | For lyophilized antibodies: add specified volume of sterile water | Mix gently to avoid denaturation |
| Aliquoting | Make single-use aliquots upon reconstitution | Minimizes freeze-thaw cycles |
| Working conditions | Keep on ice when in use | Return to -20°C promptly after use |
| Centrifugation | Brief spin before opening | Prevents loss from material adhering to cap |
Proper storage is critical for maintaining antibody function, as repeated freeze-thaw cycles can lead to denaturation and loss of activity .
At5g23370 antibodies have been validated for the following applications in plant research:
| Application | Recommended Dilution | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Western Blot (WB) | 1:1000 | Detect denatured At5g23370 protein in plant extracts |
| ELISA | Variable (optimization required) | Quantify At5g23370 protein levels |
When designing experiments:
For Western blot applications, use appropriate extraction buffers optimized for plant tissues
Validate specificity using appropriate positive and negative controls
Consider the developmental stage of the plant material, as expression may vary
For reproducible results, standardize protein extraction methods to ensure consistent yield and quality
Validating antibody specificity is crucial for obtaining reliable experimental results. For At5g23370 antibodies, consider these methodological approaches:
Positive controls: Use recombinant At5g23370 protein as a positive control in Western blots
Negative controls:
Omit primary antibody in parallel samples
Test with tissues/cells known not to express At5g23370
Use knockout or knockdown plant lines (e.g., T-DNA insertion lines) for At5g23370
Cross-reactivity assessment:
Test against closely related proteins (e.g., other GER family members)
Perform peptide competition assays where available blocking peptides competitively inhibit antibody binding
Multiple detection methods:
Compare results across different techniques (e.g., immunohistochemistry versus Western blot)
Correlate protein detection with mRNA expression data
Current evidence indicates that commercially available At5g23370 antibodies recognize recombinant At5g23370 protein but may require further validation for detecting endogenous protein in plant samples .
At5g23370 encodes a GRAM domain protein (GER8) that belongs to a family with roles in membrane interaction and signaling. Advanced research applications include:
Protein localization studies:
Immunohistochemistry to determine tissue-specific expression
Subcellular fractionation followed by Western blot to determine compartmentalization
Co-localization studies with markers for cellular compartments
Protein-protein interaction studies:
Co-immunoprecipitation to identify interaction partners
Pull-down assays to validate direct interactions
Combination with mass spectrometry for unbiased interactome analysis
Functional studies in stress responses:
Compare At5g23370 protein levels across different stress conditions
Correlate protein abundance with physiological responses
Analyze post-translational modifications under stress conditions
Research suggests GRAM domain proteins like At5g23370/GER8 may function similarly to GER5 in ABA signaling pathways and stress responses, making them valuable targets for understanding plant adaptation mechanisms .
Researchers face several technical challenges when working with antibodies against plant proteins:
Production challenges:
Plant proteins may have complex post-translational modifications
Expression of correctly folded plant proteins in heterologous systems can be difficult
Some plant proteins have high homology, making specific epitope selection crucial
Validation challenges:
Limited availability of knockout lines for negative controls
Plant tissues contain interfering compounds (phenolics, proteases)
Cross-reactivity with related family members
Technical considerations for plant samples:
Need for specialized extraction buffers containing protease inhibitors
High background in some plant tissues
Variable expression levels depending on developmental stage and environmental conditions
To address these challenges, researchers should consider:
Using recombinant antibody technology for increased specificity
Employing multiple validation approaches
Optimizing extraction conditions specifically for plant tissues
Recent research indicates GER family proteins, including At5g23370 (GER8), are involved in ABA signaling pathways. Key findings include:
Expression correlation:
GER family genes show differential expression in response to ABA treatment
Expression patterns vary between source and sink organs
At5g23370/GER8 expression may be coordinated with other ABA-responsive genes
Developmental regulation:
GER family proteins show tissue-specific expression patterns
At5g23370/GER8 may have roles in reproductive development similar to other GER proteins
Expression may change during seed development and maturation
Stress response correlation:
ABA is a key hormone in stress responses, particularly drought and osmotic stress
GER family proteins may mediate responses to these stresses
At5g23370/GER8 expression may be altered under stress conditions
Studies have shown that mutants in related GER genes (such as ger5-2) exhibit reduced sensitivity to ABA, suggesting At5g23370/GER8 may also function in ABA signaling pathways .
Researchers may encounter several challenges when using At5g23370 antibodies for Western blot:
| Issue | Possible Causes | Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| No signal | - Insufficient protein loading - Protein degradation - Inefficient transfer | - Increase protein concentration - Add protease inhibitors - Optimize transfer conditions |
| Multiple bands | - Cross-reactivity - Protein degradation - Post-translational modifications | - Use more stringent washing - Optimize extraction buffer - Consider using phosphatase inhibitors |
| High background | - Insufficient blocking - Antibody concentration too high - Non-specific binding | - Increase blocking time/concentration - Dilute antibody further - Add 0.1-0.5% Tween-20 to wash buffer |
| Inconsistent results | - Variability in extraction - Inconsistent transfer - Variable expression levels | - Standardize extraction protocol - Use transfer controls - Consider developmental stage of samples |
For plant tissues specifically:
Use extraction buffers containing PVPP to remove phenolic compounds
Include high concentrations of protease inhibitors
Consider using specialized plant protein extraction kits
The recommended 1:1000 dilution for At5g23370 antibodies in Western blot applications provides a starting point, but optimization may be required for specific experimental conditions .
While At5g23370 antibodies haven't been explicitly validated for immunohistochemistry, researchers can adapt protocols from other plant antibody studies:
Tissue preparation:
Fix tissues in 4% paraformaldehyde for 12-24 hours
Consider ethanol-acetic acid fixation for better epitope preservation
Use thin sections (5-10 μm) for optimal antibody penetration
Antigen retrieval:
Heat-induced epitope retrieval using citrate buffer (pH 6.0)
Enzymatic retrieval using proteinase K may improve accessibility
Blocking and antibody incubation:
Block with 3-5% BSA or normal serum (from secondary antibody species)
Extend primary antibody incubation (overnight at 4°C)
Use higher antibody concentrations than for Western blot (1:100-1:500)
Controls and validation:
Include no-primary-antibody controls
Use tissues from knockout plants or RNAi lines as negative controls
Compare with in situ hybridization data for mRNA expression
Detection optimization:
Consider using tyramide signal amplification for low-abundance proteins
Use confocal microscopy to improve signal-to-noise ratio
Counterstain nuclei with DAPI to provide cellular context
Research on other Arabidopsis proteins suggests these approaches can be adapted for At5g23370 detection .
At5g23370 (GER8) belongs to the GEM-Related (GER) family of GRAM domain proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana. Current research indicates:
Evolutionary relationships:
GER proteins share the conserved GRAM domain
Several GER family members (GER1, GER5, GEM) have been characterized
At5g23370/GER8 likely shares functional similarities with other family members
Functional associations:
GEM (GL2-expression modulator) influences cell division and differentiation
GEM interacts with CDT1 (DNA replication protein) and TTG1 (involved in cell fate decisions)
GER5 plays roles in reproductive development and shows ABA-responsive expression
Comparative expression patterns:
Different GER proteins show distinct but overlapping expression patterns
Expression may vary across developmental stages and tissues
Stress responses may induce different GER family members
Understanding At5g23370/GER8 within this family context provides insights into its potential functions in plant development and stress responses .
Several cutting-edge techniques offer new opportunities for studying At5g23370 function:
CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing:
Generation of precise knockouts or tagged variants
Creation of conditional mutants for temporal control
Introduction of specific mutations to study protein domains
Proximity labeling techniques:
BioID or TurboID fusions to identify proximal interacting proteins
Temporal mapping of protein interaction networks
Subcellular compartment-specific interaction studies
Advanced imaging methods:
Super-resolution microscopy for detailed subcellular localization
Live-cell imaging to track protein dynamics
FRET/FLIM for studying protein-protein interactions in vivo
Single-cell technologies:
Single-cell proteomics to examine cell type-specific expression
Spatial transcriptomics to correlate with protein localization
scRNA-seq to identify cell populations expressing At5g23370
Computational approaches:
Machine learning for predicting protein function
Molecular dynamics simulations to understand GRAM domain properties
Network analysis to position At5g23370 in regulatory pathways
These techniques would complement traditional antibody-based approaches and provide deeper insights into At5g23370 function in plant biology .
Research on At5g23370 and other GRAM domain proteins has significant implications for understanding plant stress adaptation:
Abiotic stress tolerance:
GRAM domain proteins may function in membrane remodeling during stress
At5g23370 might participate in ABA-mediated stress responses
Understanding these mechanisms could inform strategies for crop improvement
Developmental resilience:
Studies of related GER proteins indicate roles in reproductive development
At5g23370 may influence developmental responses to stress
This could help explain how plants maintain reproductive capacity under adverse conditions
Signaling integration:
GRAM domain proteins potentially function at the interface of different signaling pathways
At5g23370 might integrate stress signals with developmental programs
This could reveal key regulatory nodes for enhancing plant resilience
Translational applications:
Understanding At5g23370 function could inform genetic engineering strategies
Manipulation of GRAM domain proteins might enhance stress tolerance
Antibodies against At5g23370 could serve as tools for monitoring stress responses
Recent studies linking GER family proteins to abscisic acid metabolism suggest At5g23370 may participate in similar pathways, contributing to our understanding of how plants coordinate development with environmental challenges .
Researchers interested in At5g23370 can access various resources:
Antibody resources:
Genetic resources:
T-DNA insertion lines from stock centers (ABRC, NASC)
CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing services
Natural variation resources (1001 Genomes Project)
Bioinformatics resources:
TAIR (The Arabidopsis Information Resource)
BAR eFP Browser for expression data
UniProt (Q9FMW4) for protein information
Methodological resources:
Community resources:
Arabidopsis research community forums
Plant antibody validation initiatives
Collaborative research networks
These resources support comprehensive investigation of At5g23370 function in plant biology .