MTERF18 Antibody

Introduction to MTERF18 Antibody

MTERF18 Antibody is a research reagent designed to detect the protein MTERF18 (mitochondrial Transcription Termination Factor 18), also known as SHOT1 (Suppressor of HOT1-4 1) in Arabidopsis thaliana. This antibody facilitates studies on mitochondrial gene expression, nucleoid organization, and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complex assembly. MTERF18 is critical for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) regulation, interacting with mtDNA and proteins like ATAD3A homologs to maintain nucleoid structure and OXPHOS function .

Functional Role of MTERF18 Antibody

The MTERF18 Antibody is used to investigate:

1. Mitochondrial Nucleoid Organization: SHOT1 localizes to mitochondrial nucleoids, binding mtDNA and stabilizing nucleoid integrity. Mutations in SHOT1 disrupt nucleoid structure, impairing OXPHOS complex accumulation .

2. OXPHOS Complex Assembly: SHOT1 is required for proper assembly of complexes I, III, IV, and V, which contain mitochondria-encoded subunits. shot1 mutants exhibit reduced OXPHOS activity due to compromised complex stability .

3. Stress Tolerance: shot1 mutants show enhanced heat tolerance, likely due to reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and oxidative damage under stress .

Applications of MTERF18 Antibody

The antibody is validated for use in:

Mitochondrial Nucleoid Dynamics

• SHOT1-mtDNA Interaction: SHOT1 binds mtDNA and associates with mitochondrial nucleoids, which are fragmented in shot1 mutants. This disruption correlates with reduced OXPHOS complex I levels .

• ATAD3A Homologs: SHOT1 interacts with plant ATAD3A homologs, membrane ATPases linked to nucleoid organization. Disrupting these interactions mimics shot1 phenotypes .

OXPHOS Complex Defects

• Complex I Deficiency: shot1 mutants show ~70% reduction in OXPHOS complex I levels, impairing electron transport chain function .

• Heat Stress Response: Despite growth defects, shot1 mutants tolerate heat stress better than wild-type plants, attributed to lower ROS production .

Evolutionary Conservation

• Plant vs. Mammalian Systems: While mammalian MTERF proteins (e.g., MTERF1) regulate mitochondrial transcription termination, plant mTERFs like SHOT1 have distinct roles in nucleoid organization and OXPHOS assembly .

• Functional Grouping: SHOT1 belongs to the “mitochondria” group of plant mTERFs, which govern DNA/RNA metabolism in mitochondria .

Comparative Analysis of MTERF18 Studies