ITPR1 (inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor, type 1) is a calcium channel receptor that mediates calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum upon binding with inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. This receptor plays critical roles in numerous cellular signaling pathways that regulate neuronal function and development. The protein has a calculated molecular weight of 314 kDa, though it typically demonstrates an observed weight of 290-300 kDa in experimental conditions .
ITPR1 is abundantly expressed in cerebellar Purkinje cells but is also found in various other tissues including human brain tissue, testis tissue, mouse brain tissue, and liver tissue . Significantly, autoantibodies against ITPR1 have been identified in patients with autoimmune cerebellar ataxia, and mutations in ITPR1 have been implicated in spinocerebellar ataxia with and without cognitive decline . This makes ITPR1 detection particularly important for research into neurological disorders.
Biotin conjugation of ITPR1 antibodies creates a powerful research tool by exploiting the strong affinity between biotin and streptavidin/avidin. This conjugation enhances detection sensitivity through signal amplification, as multiple streptavidin molecules (conjugated to reporters like enzymes or fluorophores) can bind to each biotin molecule. For ITPR1 research, this is particularly valuable when:
Detecting low-abundance ITPR1 in certain tissues or under specific conditions
Performing multi-step labeling protocols where signal enhancement is needed
Conducting ELISA assays, where biotin-conjugated ITPR1 antibodies show optimal performance
Creating detection systems with flexible reporter options by changing only the streptavidin conjugate
The biotin-conjugated ITPR1 antibody (product code CSB-PA614538LD01HU) is specifically recommended for ELISA applications, where its binding characteristics provide reliable and sensitive detection of the target protein .
For optimal detection of ITPR1 using biotin-conjugated antibodies, tissue preparation varies by application:
For immunohistochemistry of brain tissue:
Fixation: 4% paraformaldehyde is recommended for preserving ITPR1 epitopes
Antigen retrieval: Use TE buffer at pH 9.0 as the primary method; alternatively, citrate buffer at pH 6.0 may be used
Blocking: Employ 10% goat or donkey serum (depending on secondary antibodies) to reduce non-specific binding
Section thickness: 5-10 μm sections typically provide optimal resolution for detecting ITPR1 in cerebellar tissues
For cell culture applications:
Cells should be fixed with acetone for 10 minutes at room temperature
For flow cytometry with intracellular staining, permeabilization with gentle detergents is essential
These protocols minimize autofluorescence and maximize signal-to-noise ratio when working with biotin-conjugated ITPR1 antibodies in neurological tissue samples.
Proper experimental controls are critical when using biotin-conjugated ITPR1 antibodies:
Positive controls:
Mouse brain tissue (particularly cerebellum) and liver tissue have been validated for ITPR1 detection
Human brain and testis tissues have confirmed ITPR1 expression
Negative controls:
Antibody omission control (all reagents except primary antibody)
Blocking peptide control: Pre-adsorption of the antibody with purified ITPR1 protein before staining should eliminate specific signals
Non-expressing tissue or knockout samples where available
Specificity validation:
Dot-blot assay using purified ITPR1 protein with increasing dilutions (1:1.5, 1:3, 1:6, 1:12) to confirm binding specificity
Western blot to verify the expected molecular weight (290-300 kDa)
Comparison with alternative ITPR1 antibody clones to confirm staining pattern
While specific dilution guidelines for biotin-conjugated ITPR1 antibody (CSB-PA614538LD01HU) focus on ELISA applications , general dilution guidelines for ITPR1 antibodies that can inform biotin-conjugated applications include:
It is strongly recommended to titrate the biotin-conjugated antibody in each specific experimental system to obtain optimal results, as sensitivity can vary between tissue types and detection methods .
Signal amplification with biotin-conjugated ITPR1 antibodies can be optimized through several advanced techniques:
Tyramide Signal Amplification (TSA):
After primary biotin-conjugated ITPR1 antibody binding, use streptavidin-HRP
Apply tyramide solution to deposit additional biotin molecules at binding sites
Follow with a second round of streptavidin-reporter detection
This approach can increase sensitivity by 10-100 fold
Multi-layer Streptavidin Systems:
Use alternating layers of biotin-labeled reagents and streptavidin
Each layer increases available binding sites for signal molecules
Particularly useful for detecting low ITPR1 expression in non-neuronal tissues
Polymer-Based Detection:
Employ streptavidin-polymer conjugates carrying multiple reporter molecules
Reduces background while enhancing specific signal
Useful for colocalization studies with other calcium channel markers
Optimization of Reaction Conditions:
These techniques should be validated with appropriate controls to ensure that amplification does not introduce artifacts.
When encountering contradictory results in ITPR1 expression studies using biotin-conjugated antibodies, consider these methodological approaches:
Antibody Validation:
Sample Preparation Assessment:
Expression Analysis Through Multiple Methods:
Quantitative Standardization:
Develop calibration curves using purified ITPR1 protein
Implement digital image analysis with standardized intensity measurements
Use reference tissues with known ITPR1 expression levels
Isoform-Specific Analysis:
Determine if contradictions stem from detection of different ITPR1 splice variants
Use computational analysis to predict epitope accessibility in different conformational states
Consider post-translational modifications that might affect antibody binding
Multiplex detection involving biotin-conjugated ITPR1 antibody requires careful technical planning:
Preventing Cross-Reactivity:
Fluorophore Selection:
When using streptavidin-fluorophore conjugates with biotin-ITPR1 antibody, select fluorophores with minimal spectral overlap
For ITPR1 detection in brain tissue, conjugates with excitation/emission away from tissue autofluorescence (avoid 350-450 nm range)
The CoraLite® Plus 488 conjugate (excitation/emission: 493 nm/522 nm) offers good separation from other common fluorophores
Sequential Detection Protocols:
Apply biotin-conjugated ITPR1 antibody first when combining with non-biotinylated antibodies
Block all biotin binding sites before introducing other biotinylated reagents
Use streptavidin-conjugates last in the sequence to prevent cross-binding
Imaging Considerations:
Employ spectral unmixing for closely overlapping signals
Use sequential scanning rather than simultaneous acquisition
Establish signal thresholds based on single-stained controls
A recommended multiplex panel for cerebellar studies would include biotin-conjugated ITPR1 antibody detected with streptavidin-far red, combined with direct-labeled antibodies for neuronal markers (e.g., calbindin-D) and glial markers (e.g., GFAP) .
Quantitative assessment of ITPR1 expression using biotin-conjugated antibodies can be performed through several methodological approaches:
ELISA-Based Quantification:
Develop a standard curve using recombinant ITPR1 protein at known concentrations
Biotin-conjugated ITPR1 antibody is particularly suited for sandwich ELISA systems
Implement four-parameter logistic regression for accurate concentration determination
Expected sensitivity can reach picogram levels with optimized protocols
Image Analysis of Immunohistochemistry/Immunofluorescence:
Use digital image analysis software to measure:
Integrated optical density (IOD) of ITPR1 staining
Area percentage with positive staining
Mean fluorescence intensity in defined cellular compartments
Normalize to internal control proteins or housekeeping genes
Apply threshold consistency across all samples
Flow Cytometry Quantification:
Western Blot Densitometry:
Each quantification method should include technical replicates and appropriate statistical analysis to ensure reproducibility.
Differentiating between ITPR1 isoforms and post-translational modifications requires specialized analytical approaches:
Isoform Discrimination:
High-resolution SDS-PAGE with extended separation time for the high molecular weight range (290-300 kDa)
Complementary RT-PCR analysis with isoform-specific primers
Mass spectrometry analysis of immunoprecipitated ITPR1 to identify specific peptide sequences
Recombinant expression systems with defined ITPR1 variants for comparison
Phosphorylation Analysis:
Combined use of biotin-conjugated ITPR1 antibody with phospho-specific antibodies
Phosphatase treatment controls to confirm phosphorylation-dependent signals
Phos-tag™ SDS-PAGE to separate phosphorylated from non-phosphorylated forms
Correlation with functional calcium imaging to connect modification status with channel activity
Other Post-Translational Modifications:
Glycosylation assessment through lectin binding assays or deglycosylation enzymes
Ubiquitination detection using co-immunoprecipitation with ubiquitin antibodies
S-nitrosylation analysis with biotin-switch technique
Correlation of modifications with cellular compartmentalization using subcellular fractionation
Functional Correlations:
Patch-clamp electrophysiology to correlate modifications with channel conductance
Calcium imaging to assess channel functionality in relation to modifications
Protein-protein interaction studies to identify modification-dependent binding partners
These advanced analyses provide deeper insights into ITPR1 regulation beyond simple expression levels, which is particularly relevant for neurological disease research.
Comparative analysis of different ITPR1 antibody conjugates reveals application-specific advantages:
For neurological tissue samples, biotin-conjugated ITPR1 antibody offers superior sensitivity when detecting low-abundance targets, while HRP conjugates may be preferable for rapid screening. The choice should be guided by specific experimental requirements and available detection systems.
Transitioning ITPR1 detection methods from animal to human tissues requires specific methodological adaptations:
Antigen Retrieval Optimization:
Antibody Validation Strategies:
Background Reduction Techniques:
Human tissues often exhibit higher autofluorescence and endogenous biotin
Implement blocking of endogenous biotin/avidin using commercial blocking kits
Consider extended blocking (10% normal serum) to reduce non-specific binding
Use Sudan Black B or TrueBlack® to reduce autofluorescence in brain tissue
Ethical and Methodological Considerations:
Account for post-mortem interval effects on epitope preservation
Consider fixation differences between clinical specimens and research samples
Address batch effects through standardized processing
Increase technical replicates when working with limited human samples
When transitioning to human cerebellum samples for ITPR1 detection, researchers should expect similar staining patterns as seen in animal models, with strong signals in the molecular layer, Purkinje cell layer, and white matter , though signal intensity may require optimization.
Integration of biotin-conjugated ITPR1 antibody data with functional calcium imaging creates powerful research synergies:
Sequential Analysis Protocols:
Perform live calcium imaging with indicators like Fluo-4 or GCaMP
Fix and process the same samples for ITPR1 immunodetection
Use registration algorithms to align functional and immunohistochemical datasets
Correlate ITPR1 expression levels with calcium response amplitudes and kinetics
Combined Imaging Approaches:
Implement fixable calcium indicators compatible with subsequent immunostaining
Use spectral separation to distinguish calcium indicator signals from ITPR1 detection
Design experimental timelines that capture both acute calcium dynamics and long-term ITPR1 expression changes
Analytical Integration Frameworks:
Develop computational models correlating ITPR1 density with calcium oscillation patterns
Implement machine learning algorithms to identify relationships between ITPR1 distribution and functional responses
Create visualization tools that overlay functional activity maps with ITPR1 expression maps
Experimental Design Considerations:
Include pharmacological manipulations targeting ITPR1 (e.g., 2-APB, xestospongin C)
Compare wild-type with ITPR1 variant or knockdown models
Design longitudinal studies to track changes in both ITPR1 expression and calcium dynamics
For cerebellar studies, this integrated approach can reveal how ITPR1 expression patterns in Purkinje cells correlate with their calcium signaling properties, providing insights into how alterations in ITPR1 might contribute to cerebellar ataxia .