KCNA7 (potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily A member 7) is a member of the voltage-gated potassium channel family that mediates the voltage-dependent potassium ion permeability of excitable membranes. It assumes opened or closed conformations in response to voltage differences across the membrane, forming potassium-selective channels through which potassium ions may pass in accordance with their electrochemical gradient .
KCNA7 belongs to the shaker-related subfamily of potassium channels. Unlike other Kv1-family genes that contain intronless coding regions, KCNA7 is encoded by two exons separated by a conserved intron . This structural distinction makes it unique among the potassium channel family.
The protein plays crucial roles in:
Regulating neurotransmitter release
Controlling neuronal excitability
Mediating electrolyte transport
Contributing to muscle contraction and cell volume regulation
HRP-conjugated KCNA7 antibodies typically consist of:
Recognition domain: Polyclonal antibodies raised against specific peptide regions of human KCNA7, commonly using recombinant human potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily A member 7 protein (amino acids 1-143) as the immunogen .
Host origin: Predominantly raised in rabbits, though other species may be used depending on the manufacturer .
Conjugation chemistry: Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is covalently linked to the antibody molecule, typically through controlled chemical conjugation methods that preserve both antibody binding and enzymatic activity.
Buffer composition: Most commercially available HRP-conjugated KCNA7 antibodies are supplied in a buffer containing:
Purity level: These antibodies are typically purified using Protein G chromatography, achieving >95% purity .
ELISA: The primary application with recommended dilutions between 1:2000-1:10000 . This is particularly valuable for quantitative measurements of KCNA7 protein levels in tissue or cell lysates.
Western Blotting: While not all HRP-conjugated KCNA7 antibodies are validated for western blotting, those that are typically require dilutions of approximately 1:500 to 1:1000 . The expected molecular weight for KCNA7 is approximately 50 kDa .
Immunohistochemistry: Some KCNA7 antibodies show good performance in IHC applications at dilutions of 1:50-1:200, particularly in human tissues such as liver cancer and colon cancer samples .
When using these antibodies, researchers should:
Validate specificity using appropriate controls
Optimize dilutions for their specific experimental system
Consider the buffer conditions that may affect antibody performance
Proper experimental controls are critical for interpreting results with KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated:
Positive tissue controls:
Negative controls:
Technical controls:
Secondary antibody-only controls to assess background.
Endogenous peroxidase blocking verification.
Gradient dilution series to determine optimal antibody concentration.
Biological validation:
Compare results with gene expression data from RT-PCR.
Consider using tissues from different species to verify cross-reactivity claims.
For example, in immunohistochemistry applications, researchers have demonstrated that KCNA7 antibody staining at 1:40 dilution shows specific staining in human liver cancer and colon cancer tissues that can be abolished by treatment with the synthetic peptide used for immunization .
To preserve the activity and specificity of KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated, follow these evidence-based storage and handling guidelines:
Long-term storage:
Short-term storage:
Working dilutions:
Prepare fresh dilutions on the day of use.
Use buffers containing 1-5% BSA or non-fat dry milk as blockers to reduce non-specific binding.
For Western blot applications, consider adding 0.1% Tween-20 to reduce background.
Handling precautions:
Centrifuge the vial prior to opening to ensure collection of all material.
Avoid microbial contamination which can degrade the antibody and introduce proteases.
Do not expose to strong oxidizing agents that can affect HRP activity.
The shelf life under optimal storage conditions is typically 12-24 months from the date of receipt .
While some KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated preparations are primarily validated for ELISA, researchers may adapt them for Western blot applications by following this optimized protocol derived from literature on similar antibodies:
Sample preparation:
Extract proteins using N-PER Protein Extraction Reagent supplemented with protease inhibitor cocktail .
Determine protein concentration using BCA or Bradford assay.
Denature samples in Laemmli buffer (with β-mercaptoethanol) at 95°C for 5 minutes.
Gel electrophoresis and transfer:
Load 20-50 μg of protein per lane on a 4-12% Bis-Tris gel.
Run at constant 125V for approximately 3 hours for optimal separation .
Transfer to PVDF membrane (preferable over nitrocellulose for potassium channel proteins).
Antibody incubation:
Block membrane in TBS-T with 5% non-fat milk for 1.5 hours at room temperature .
Incubate with KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated at 1:500-1:1000 dilution in blocking buffer overnight at 4°C.
Detection:
Since the antibody is HRP-conjugated, proceed directly to chemiluminescent detection.
Use SuperSignal West Atto Ultimate Sensitivity ECL reagents for optimal detection .
Expose for 30 seconds initially, then adjust exposure time as needed.
Troubleshooting steps:
If high background is observed, increase washing time and detergent concentration.
If signal is weak, consider using a signal enhancer compatible with HRP.
The expected molecular weight for KCNA7 is ~50 kDa , but post-translational modifications may result in higher apparent molecular weights.
KCNA7 has been implicated in several neurological conditions, and HRP-conjugated antibodies can be valuable tools for investigating these associations:
Neurodevelopmental disorders:
Research has identified KCNA7 as differentially expressed in neurons derived from patients with certain neurodevelopmental syndromes. For example, comparative studies of neurons from ROHHAD (Rapid-onset Obesity with Hypothalamic dysfunction, Hypoventilation, and Autonomic Dysregulation), CCHS (Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome), and PWS (Prader-Willi Syndrome) patients revealed transcriptional changes in potassium channel genes .
Methodological approach:
Spatial expression patterns:
Co-localization studies:
Dual staining with markers of neuronal subtypes
Analysis of subcellular localization in relation to synaptic markers
Assessment of KCNA7 distribution in relation to other ion channels
This approach has revealed that KCNA7 expression changes may contribute to the neuronal dysfunction observed in certain disorders, particularly those affecting autonomic nervous system regulation .
Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) with KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated presents unique challenges but can be effectively implemented using this optimized protocol based on literature for similar ion channel antibodies:
Pre-clearing the lysate:
Prepare cell/tissue lysate in a non-denaturing buffer containing:
Pre-clear by incubating with Protein A/G beads for 1 hour at 4°C.
Remove beads by centrifugation (14,000g for 10 minutes).
Immunoprecipitation:
For direct IP (not recommended with HRP-conjugated antibodies):
For indirect IP (recommended approach):
First capture KCNA7 using unconjugated antibody.
Detect associated proteins using KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated in Western blot analysis.
Key controls to include:
Western blot detection:
Prepare samples as described in standard western blot protocols.
Probe with KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated at 1:500 dilution.
Develop with chemiluminescent substrate suitable for HRP.
This approach has been successfully used to investigate interactions between potassium channels and associated proteins, including other Kv channel subunits like KCNA2, KCNA4, KCNA5, and KCNA6 .
When comparing polyclonal KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated to monoclonal alternatives, researchers should consider several performance parameters:
Recommendations based on application:
For quantitative ELISA: Polyclonal HRP-conjugated antibodies generally provide better sensitivity for detecting KCNA7 in solution.
For Western blotting: Monoclonal antibodies may provide cleaner results with less background, though polyclonal HRP-conjugated antibodies can be suitable when optimized.
For immunohistochemistry: The choice depends on the specific research question:
Polyclonal antibodies may detect KCNA7 even if partially denatured or modified
Monoclonal antibodies provide more consistent staining patterns across experiments
For co-immunoprecipitation: Monoclonal antibodies are generally preferred due to their higher specificity and lower background.
For most critical applications requiring validation of findings, researchers should consider using both antibody types to confirm results.
Rigorous validation of KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated specificity is essential for reliable research outcomes. Implement these comprehensive validation approaches:
Genetic approaches:
Biochemical validation:
Peptide competition: Pre-incubate antibody with immunizing peptide (synthetic peptide of human KCNA7) before application
Multiple antibody comparison: Test parallel detection with antibodies targeting different KCNA7 epitopes
Mass spectrometry: Confirm identity of immunoprecipitated proteins detected by the antibody
Cross-reactivity assessment:
Recombinant protein array: Test against related Kv channel proteins (KCNA1-6)
Tissue panel screening: Evaluate antibody performance across tissues with known KCNA7 expression patterns
Species cross-reactivity: Test on samples from different species to confirm conservation of recognized epitopes
Correlation with transcript expression:
Validation case example:
In immunohistochemistry applications, researchers have demonstrated validation by showing that KCNA7 antibody staining at 1:40 dilution produces specific staining in human liver cancer and colon cancer tissues that can be abolished by pre-treatment with the synthetic peptide used for immunization, confirming specificity to the target epitope .
Emerging multiplexed detection systems offer powerful approaches for studying KCNA7 in complex biological contexts. KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated can be integrated into these systems through:
Sequential multiplexed immunohistochemistry:
First detection: Use KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated with DAB substrate (brown precipitate)
Stripping/blocking: Inactivate HRP and remove antibody using glycine-SDS buffer (pH 2.0)
Subsequent detection: Apply antibodies against other targets with alternative chromogens
This method allows visualization of multiple proteins on the same tissue section with spatial context
Tyramide signal amplification (TSA) multiplexing:
KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated catalyzes the deposition of fluorophore-labeled tyramide
The covalently bound fluorophore remains after antibody stripping
Multiple proteins can be sequentially detected on the same sample
This method is particularly valuable for detecting low-abundance proteins like KCNA7
Multiplex Western blotting strategies:
Size-based multiplexing: Detect KCNA7 (~50 kDa) alongside proteins of different molecular weights
Fluorescent multiplexing: Combine with antibodies labeled with different fluorophores
Strip-and-reprobe: Use KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated first, then strip and reprobe with antibodies against other proteins
Microfluidic-based approaches:
Integrate KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated into microfluidic devices for spatial protein profiling
Combine with single-cell analysis techniques for heterogeneity assessment
Develop automated, high-throughput KCNA7 detection platforms
These approaches allow researchers to investigate KCNA7 in the context of other ion channels, regulatory proteins, and cell-type markers, providing deeper insights into its functional relationships and regulatory networks.
KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated can be a powerful tool for investigating KCNA7 protein expression changes in neurological disorders when integrated with comprehensive methodological approaches:
Patient-derived cellular models:
Dental pulp stem cell (DPSC) approach: Isolate and differentiate patient-derived DPSCs into neuronal cultures for protein analysis
iPSC neuronal differentiation: Generate disease-specific neurons from patient fibroblasts
Protein extraction protocol: Use N-PER with protease inhibitors, resolve on 4-12% Bis-Tris gels, and transfer to PVDF membrane
Detection strategy: KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated (1:500 dilution) with SuperSignal West Atto ECL reagents
Multi-omics correlation analysis:
Integrated approach: Correlate protein expression detected by KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated with:
Validation strategy: Confirm protein-level changes observed with antibody detection match transcript-level changes
Disease-specific considerations:
As shown in recent research, KCNA7 expression changes have been observed in several neurological conditions:
Methodological controls:
Data analysis framework:
Normalize KCNA7 expression to housekeeping proteins
Perform statistical analysis appropriate for sample size
Consider patient heterogeneity in interpretation of results
Correlate protein expression with clinical phenotypes when available
This integrated approach allows researchers to establish meaningful connections between KCNA7 expression changes and neurological disease mechanisms, potentially identifying new therapeutic targets or biomarkers.
The following technical specifications are compiled from multiple commercial sources of KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated products:
Additional Technical Notes:
These antibodies target Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily A member 7, also known as Voltage-gated potassium channel subunit Kv1.7
Unlike other Kv1-family genes with intronless coding regions, KCNA7 is encoded by two exons separated by a conserved intron
These specifications provide researchers with comprehensive information needed to evaluate the suitability of KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated for their specific experimental applications.
The sensitivity and detection limit of KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated varies significantly depending on the detection system employed. Understanding these differences is critical for experimental design and data interpretation:
Performance factors affecting sensitivity:
Antibody affinity and specificity: The polyclonal nature of KCNA7 Antibody, HRP conjugated provides recognition of multiple epitopes, potentially enhancing sensitivity but requiring careful optimization to minimize background .
Antigen accessibility: Membrane proteins like KCNA7 may require optimization of sample preparation:
For Western blots: Complete denaturation in SDS buffer is critical
For IHC/ICC: Appropriate antigen retrieval methods must be employed
HRP enzyme activity:
Preserve activity by avoiding sodium azide in working solutions
Prepare fresh working dilutions
Store at recommended temperatures (-20°C for long term)
Detection reagent quality:
Use high-sensitivity ECL reagents for Western blotting
For colorimetric detection, use premium-grade DAB substrates
Consider signal enhancers for low-abundance targets