ISYNA1 (Inositol-3-Phosphate Synthase 1) is a rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo biosynthesis of myo-inositol, a critical component of membrane phospholipids and cellular signaling pathways . It catalyzes the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate to 1-myo-inositol 1-phosphate, a precursor for inositol-containing molecules . The enzyme is regulated by the tumor suppressor protein p53, which induces ISYNA1 expression in response to DNA damage, linking it to growth suppression and cancer biology .
The human ISYNA1 gene encodes three major isoforms (1, 2, and 4), sharing conserved domain structures but varying in tissue-specific expression . Isoform 1 is the predominant form in cancer cells, with localization observed in both cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments .
The antibody is utilized in:
Western blotting to quantify ISYNA1 protein levels in cancer cells .
Immunofluorescence to study subcellular localization (cytoplasm/nucleus) .
Immunohistochemistry to analyze tissue-specific expression (e.g., placenta, liver) .
Gene expression studies linking ISYNA1 to p53-mediated growth suppression .
High ISYNA1 expression correlates with:
Immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments (TME) in colorectal cancer (COAD), promoting resistance to anticancer drugs .
Prognostic significance as a biomarker for tumor progression and chemoresistance .
Therapeutic potential, as ISYNA1 inhibition may sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy .
p53-ISYNA1 pathway: Regulates myo-inositol biosynthesis and suppresses PI3K-Akt signaling, a mechanism with chemopreventive implications .
Immune modulation: ISYNA1 expression correlates with immune checkpoint proteins (e.g., PD-1, CTLA-4) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in COAD .
Drug resistance: High ISYNA1 levels predict reduced sensitivity to 26 anticancer drugs, as per GDSC database analysis .
When working with ISYNA1 antibodies, optimizing antibody dilutions is critical for experimental success. Based on validated protocols, the following dilutions are recommended for common applications:
| Application | Recommended Dilution | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Western Blot (WB) | 1:1000-1:6000 | |
| Immunohistochemistry (IHC) | 1:20-1:200 | |
| Immunofluorescence (IF)/ICC | 1:20-1:200 |
It's important to note that optimal dilutions may vary based on the specific antibody clone and experimental conditions. For example, the Proteintech 14142-1-AP antibody has demonstrated effective Western blot detection at dilutions from 1:1000 to 1:6000, but researchers should titrate the antibody in their specific testing systems to obtain optimal results .
ISYNA1 antibodies have been successfully validated in multiple species and sample types:
| Tested Reactivity | Positive WB Detection | Positive IHC Detection | Positive IF/ICC Detection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human | Cell lines (HepG2) | Pancreas cancer tissue | HepG2 cells |
| Mouse | Testis tissue | - | - |
| Rat | Testis tissue | - | - |
For immunohistochemistry applications with human pancreatic cancer tissue, antigen retrieval with TE buffer pH 9.0 is recommended, though citrate buffer pH 6.0 may also be used as an alternative . When studying ISYNA1 in pancreatic cancer models, researchers should be aware that ISYNA1 expression is lower in pancreatic cancer tissues (39.5%) compared to normal pancreatic tissues (57.9%) .
Proper validation of ISYNA1 antibody specificity is essential for reliable research outcomes:
Molecular weight confirmation: Verify that your antibody detects a protein at the expected molecular weight (approximately 61 kDa for full-length ISYNA1) .
Positive and negative controls: Include both positive controls (tissues/cells known to express ISYNA1, such as HepG2 cells, mouse/rat testis tissue) and negative controls (samples with ISYNA1 knockdown) .
siRNA knockdown validation: As demonstrated in multiple studies, siRNA-mediated knockdown of ISYNA1 can confirm antibody specificity. Researchers have successfully used this approach to verify antibody specificity in pancreatic cancer cell lines (Capan-2 and SW1990) .
Cross-reactivity testing: Test the antibody against samples from different species if conducting comparative studies. Many ISYNA1 antibodies show reactivity with human, mouse, and rat samples .
ISYNA1 displays both nuclear and cytoplasmic localization, which can be influenced by experimental conditions and cell types:
Immunofluorescence protocol for ISYNA1 localization:
Fix cells with 4% paraformaldehyde for 1 hour at room temperature
Permeabilize with 0.1% Triton X-100 for 5 minutes
Block with PBS containing 3% BSA, 1% fish gelatin, 50 mM NH₄Cl, and 5% goat serum overnight at 4°C
Incubate with primary ISYNA1 antibody at appropriate dilution (1:20-1:200) for 1 hour at room temperature
Wash three times with 1% BSA in PBS (pH 8.0)
Incubate with Alexa Fluor 488- or Alexa Fluor 546-conjugated secondary antibodies (1:1000) for 1 hour
Research has demonstrated that ISYNA1 is expressed in both the nucleus and cytoplasm of pancreatic cancer cell lines . When conducting immunofluorescence studies with HepG2 cells, researchers can effectively visualize ISYNA1 using antibody dilutions between 1:20 and 1:200 .
p53 has been identified as a key regulator of ISYNA1 expression, making this an important area for investigation:
p53 response element (RE) analysis: Two p53 response elements have been identified in the ISYNA1 gene - one in the promoter region (RE1) and another in the seventh exon (RE2). Luciferase reporter assays with these elements can be used to study p53-mediated transcriptional regulation of ISYNA1 .
Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP): Studies have demonstrated that p53 directly binds to the genomic fragment that includes RE2 in the seventh exon of ISYNA1. ChIP assays can be performed to assess p53 binding to these regions under different experimental conditions .
p53 knockdown and overexpression:
siRNA-mediated silencing of p53 inhibits the induction of ISYNA1 in p53 wild-type cells
Wild-type p53 overexpression using adenoviral vectors (Ad-p53) induces ISYNA1 expression
Importantly, wild-type p53 (wtp53) positively regulates ISYNA1, while mutant p53 (mtp53) does not show this regulatory effect
A key methodological consideration: when studying the p53-ISYNA1 relationship, researchers should consider the p53 status (wild-type vs. mutant) of their experimental cell lines. For example, Capan-2 and SW1990 cells express wild-type p53, while Miapaca-2 cells express mutant p53 .
ISYNA1 has been identified as a potential tumor suppressor, particularly in pancreatic cancer:
ISYNA1 silencing experiments: siRNA-mediated knockdown of ISYNA1 has been demonstrated to:
Colony formation assays: Overexpression of ISYNA1 suppresses cell proliferation in HCT116 and HepG2 cells, while ISYNA1 silencing increases resistance to adriamycin (ADR) treatment .
Flow cytometry for cell cycle analysis: ISYNA1 silencing decreases the proportion of cells in G1 phase in pancreatic cancer cell lines, indicating an effect on cell cycle regulation .
Combined analysis with other biomarkers: High MSI2 expression combined with low ISYNA1 expression correlates with worse prognosis in pancreatic cancer patients, suggesting the value of ISYNA1 as part of a prognostic biomarker panel .
Proper storage is essential for maintaining antibody performance:
Storage temperature: Store ISYNA1 antibodies at -20°C. They remain stable for one year after shipment when properly stored .
Buffer composition: Most commercial ISYNA1 antibodies are supplied in PBS with 0.02% sodium azide and 50% glycerol at pH 7.3 .
Aliquoting considerations: Aliquoting is generally unnecessary for -20°C storage, but may be advisable for antibodies that will be used repeatedly to avoid freeze-thaw cycles .
Special formulations: Some commercially available ISYNA1 antibodies (20μl sizes) contain 0.1% BSA, which should be considered when designing experiments that may be sensitive to BSA .
Effective antigen retrieval is critical for successful ISYNA1 immunohistochemistry:
Primary recommendation: Use TE buffer at pH 9.0 for antigen retrieval of ISYNA1 in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues .
Alternative method: Citrate buffer at pH 6.0 may also be used as an alternative for antigen retrieval, although this may result in different staining intensity compared to TE buffer .
Tissue-specific considerations: For pancreatic cancer tissues, the TE buffer method has been validated in multiple studies and appears to provide optimal results for ISYNA1 detection .
Validation approach: When implementing a new antigen retrieval protocol, compare the results with established positive controls, such as human pancreatic cancer tissue known to express ISYNA1 .
Several factors may influence ISYNA1 expression and detection:
Tissue-specific isoform expression: ISYNA1 displays tissue-specific isoform expression patterns. The brain and testis predominantly express the 68-kDa isoform, while the pancreas has a slightly smaller 67-kDa isoform. The intestine exhibits a unique profile with 62, 43, and 20 kDa isoforms .
p53 status influence: The p53 status of cell lines or tissues significantly affects ISYNA1 expression. Wild-type p53 positively regulates ISYNA1, while this regulation is absent in cells with mutant p53 .
Drug treatment effects: Mood-stabilizing drugs like valproate and lithium inhibit ISYNA1, which may affect experimental results if such compounds are present in experimental systems .
Subcellular localization variability: ISYNA1 can be detected in both the nucleus and cytoplasm, and its distribution may vary depending on cellular conditions and experimental treatments .
ISYNA1's role in inositol metabolism makes it relevant to several disease contexts:
Cancer research applications:
Neuropsychiatric disorder connections:
Metabolic pathway analysis:
For complex experimental designs requiring multiple markers:
Dual immunofluorescence protocols:
Sequential immunohistochemistry:
Co-localization studies:
For rigorous quantitative analysis:
Western blot quantification:
Immunohistochemistry scoring systems:
qRT-PCR analysis:
Based on current research trends:
Therapeutic target validation:
Biomarker development:
Inositol metabolism regulation:
When faced with contradictory findings: