Antibody Definition: An antibody, also known as an immunoglobulin, is a Y-shaped protein produced by the immune system that recognizes and binds to specific antigens on pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and fungi .
Structure:
Antibodies consist of two heavy chains and two light chains, each containing constant and variable regions .
The fragment antigen-binding (Fab) region contains the antigen-binding site within the variable fragment (Fv) region, characterized by complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) .
The fragment crystallizable (Fc) region contains constant heavy chain domains that interact with effector molecules to activate the complement system .
IgM Antibody:
IgM has a pentameric structure and is the first antibody produced by mature B cells during an immune response .
It comprises 5-10% of total serum immunoglobulin and is effective at binding antigens on bacterial surfaces, neutralizing pathogens, and initiating inflammatory responses .
IgA Antibody:
It is the primary immunoglobulin in external secretions like saliva, tears, and the digestive tract, providing a first line of defense against pathogens and limiting inflammation .
Monoclonal Antibodies in Therapy:
Monoclonal antibodies are being explored as therapies for diseases like Alzheimer's, targeting tau proteins and other factors .
They are also used in preventing and treating viral infections like SARS-CoV-2, with combinations of antibodies providing protection against variants .
Monoclonal antibodies like teplizumab are being studied for the treatment of type 1 diabetes .
Antibodies in Malaria Prevention:
Recombinant antibodies are being investigated for malaria prevention, with some showing reactivity to CSP (circumsporozoite protein) and HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) .
Antibodies Targeting SARS-CoV-2:
Many neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 target the receptor-binding domain (RBD) or the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the viral spike protein .
NTD-directed antibodies target a common surface bordered by glycans and can be highly effective in neutralization .
Recombinant Antibody Production:
Antibodies can be produced as recombinant proteins through gene synthesis and expression using IgG sequence data .
Inhibitors Discovery:
Open science initiatives have led to the discovery of noncovalent SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors, which are potential starting points for antiviral development .
KEGG: ath:AT5G39120
STRING: 3702.AT5G39120.1
At5g39120 is a gene in Arabidopsis thaliana that encodes an RmlC-like cupins superfamily protein (UniProt ID: Q9FIC9) . This protein family has significant research interest due to its potential roles in plant immunity and stress responses. The protein belongs to a structurally conserved class with a β-barrel core that may participate in diverse biochemical functions including enzymatic activities and protein-protein interactions in plant defense mechanisms .
At5g39120 antibodies are primarily utilized in:
Western blot analysis for protein expression and post-translational modification studies
ELISA assays for quantitative protein detection
Immunoprecipitation for protein-protein interaction studies
Immunohistochemistry for localization studies in plant tissues
These techniques are fundamental for understanding the protein's expression patterns during plant development and in response to biotic and abiotic stresses.
For proper validation, researchers should use:
Positive control: Wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana tissue samples where At5g39120 is expressed
Negative control: Knockout or knockdown lines of At5g39120 (if available)
Reference samples: Recombinant At5g39120 protein for establishing detection limits
Tissue samples from different plant organs (leaves, roots, stems) should be tested to establish expression patterns under various conditions (e.g., pathogen challenge, abiotic stress) .
For optimal detection:
Extract proteins using a buffer containing 50mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 150mM NaCl, 1% Triton X-100, and protease inhibitor cocktail
Homogenize plant tissue thoroughly at 4°C to prevent protein degradation
Centrifuge at 12,000 × g for 15 minutes to remove cellular debris
Quantify protein concentration using Bradford or BCA assay
Store protein samples at -80°C with 10% glycerol to maintain antibody epitope integrity
Researchers frequently encounter these challenges:
Non-specific binding due to the conserved nature of cupins superfamily proteins
Weak signal strength requiring optimization of antibody concentration
Background noise from secondary antibody cross-reactivity
To overcome these issues:
Use blocking solutions with 5% non-fat milk in TBST for 1 hour at room temperature
Optimize primary antibody dilutions (typically starting at 1:1000)
Include additional washing steps (5 × 5 minutes with TBST)
Consider using highly purified secondary antibodies with minimal cross-reactivity to plant proteins
Verification methods include:
Immunoblotting with recombinant protein: Compare detection of purified recombinant At5g39120 protein alongside plant extracts
Knockout/knockdown analysis: Compare antibody reactivity in wild-type versus At5g39120 mutant plants
Peptide competition assay: Pre-incubate antibody with the immunizing peptide before application to samples
Mass spectrometry validation: Confirm identity of immunoprecipitated proteins by MS analysis
To maintain antibody effectiveness:
Store antibody aliquots at -20°C or -80°C for long-term storage
Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles (limit to <5 cycles)
For short-term storage (1-2 weeks), keep at 4°C with 0.02% sodium azide
When handling, maintain sterile conditions and use low-protein binding tubes
Before use, centrifuge antibody solution briefly to collect contents at the bottom of the tube
For immunity research applications:
Pathogen challenge experiments: Monitor At5g39120 protein levels before and after inoculation with pathogens to determine involvement in immune responses
Co-immunoprecipitation studies: Identify potential interaction partners during immune activation using At5g39120 antibodies for pull-down assays
Comparative analysis: Examine At5g39120 expression across resistant and susceptible plant varieties during infection
Subcellular localization: Track protein redistribution upon immune activation using immunofluorescence with At5g39120 antibodies
Recent studies on plant immunity proteins demonstrate that interactions between proteins like ATG6 and NPR1 enhance Arabidopsis resistance to pathogens such as Pst DC3000/avrRps4 . Similar approaches could reveal whether At5g39120 participates in these or parallel immune pathways.
For interaction studies:
Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP): Using At5g39120 antibodies conjugated to agarose/magnetic beads
Protein extraction in non-denaturing conditions with 0.1% NP-40
Overnight incubation with antibody-conjugated beads at 4°C
Extensive washing with decreasing detergent concentrations
Western blot analysis for interacting proteins
Proximity ligation assay (PLA): For detecting in situ interactions
Fixation of plant tissue sections in 4% paraformaldehyde
Dual labeling with At5g39120 antibody and antibody against suspected interaction partner
Detection of proximal proteins (<40 nm) using species-specific secondary antibodies
Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BiFC): For validating interactions identified via Co-IP
For integrated multi-omics approaches:
Expression correlation analysis: Compare At5g39120 protein levels (determined by immunoblotting) with corresponding mRNA levels (from RNA-Seq or qRT-PCR)
Time-course studies: Track both protein and transcript dynamics during stress responses or developmental transitions
Pathway enrichment: Integrate At5g39120 protein expression data with transcriptomic datasets to identify coordinated regulatory networks
Post-translational modification mapping: Combine immunoprecipitation with mass spectrometry to identify modifications not apparent at the transcript level
For stress response studies:
Comparative stress analysis: Apply multiple stresses (drought, salt, pathogen) and monitor At5g39120 protein levels using quantitative Western blotting
Cellular localization changes: Track protein redistribution during stress using subcellular fractionation followed by immunoblotting
Transgenic approaches: Compare stress tolerance in plants with altered At5g39120 expression
Phosphorylation state analysis: Use phospho-specific antibodies (if available) to monitor activation status during stress
When transcript and protein levels don't correlate:
Post-transcriptional regulation: Consider microRNA-mediated silencing or mRNA stability factors
Translational efficiency: Examine polysome association of At5g39120 transcripts
Protein stability: Conduct protein half-life studies using cycloheximide chase assays
Compartmentalization: Assess whether protein localization (rather than absolute levels) is changing
Technical considerations: Verify antibody specificity under the specific experimental conditions
Research on plant immune proteins has shown that protein abundance can be regulated at multiple levels beyond transcription. For instance, ATG6 has been shown to increase NPR1 protein levels and stability in Arabidopsis, highlighting the importance of protein-level regulation in plant immunity .
Key experimental design factors:
Appropriate controls:
Technical: Secondary antibody only, pre-immune serum controls
Biological: Wild-type vs. gene knockout/knockdown lines
Loading: Total protein stains (Ponceau S) rather than single reference proteins
Replication strategy:
Minimum three biological replicates from independent plant populations
Technical replicates within each biological sample
Randomization of sample processing order
Quantification methods:
For cross-antibody comparisons:
Conduct side-by-side validation with recombinant At5g39120 protein
Determine epitope regions for each antibody and assess potential differences in detection
Perform peptide competition assays to confirm specificity
Test under identical conditions using the same biological samples
Consider using a normalization strategy based on recombinant protein standards
Plant-specific interfering compounds include:
Phenolic compounds: Add PVPP (polyvinylpolypyrrolidone, 2% w/v) to extraction buffers
Secondary metabolites: Include β-mercaptoethanol (5mM) to prevent oxidation
Polysaccharides: Use extraction buffers with higher detergent concentrations (1.5% Triton X-100)
Proteases: Add complete protease inhibitor cocktail freshly before extraction
Chlorophyll: Perform acetone precipitation of proteins or use TCA/acetone extraction methods
For subcellular localization studies:
Nucleus isolation:
Membrane fractionation:
Homogenize tissue in extraction buffer (50mM HEPES pH 7.5, 250mM sucrose, 15mM EDTA, 5% glycerol)
Remove debris by centrifugation at 2,000 × g for 5 minutes
Separate membranes by ultracentrifugation at 100,000 × g for 1 hour
Verify fractions using anti-H⁺-ATPase (plasma membrane) and anti-CFBPase (cytosolic) markers
The subcellular localization of At5g39120 can provide insights into its function, particularly if it changes during plant development or stress responses.
For quantitative tissue comparisons:
Sample preparation standardization:
Collect tissues at the same developmental stage
Use identical fresh weight-to-buffer ratios for extraction
Process all samples simultaneously
Quantification approaches:
ELISA with recombinant protein standards for absolute quantification
Li-COR infrared fluorescence imaging for wider dynamic range
Multiplex Western blotting with tissue-specific loading controls
Data normalization: