The MTMR12 Antibody, HRP conjugated, is a rabbit polyclonal antibody designed for high-sensitivity detection of myotubularin-related protein 12 (MTMR12) in biochemical assays. MTMR12, an adapter protein for phosphatases like MTM1, regulates phosphoinositide metabolism and skeletal muscle function . This HRP-conjugated variant enables enzymatic amplification in applications such as ELISA, enhancing signal detection for low-abundance targets. Below is a detailed analysis of its technical specifications, applications, and research relevance.
The MTMR12 HRP-conjugated antibody is primarily employed in ELISA for quantitative analysis of MTMR12 expression. Below are key findings from validation studies:
Protein Interactions: MTMR12 forms complexes with MTM1 (active phosphatase) and MTMR2 (inactive phosphatase) . The HRP-conjugated antibody aids in studying these interactions via co-immunoprecipitation (IP) or proximity ligation assays.
Muscle Pathology: MTMR12 stabilizes MTM1 in skeletal muscle, and its dysfunction is implicated in myotubular myopathy . ELISA using this antibody could quantify MTMR12 levels in disease models.
MTMR12 acts as an adapter for MTM1, localizing it to endosomal compartments and stabilizing its phosphatase activity . Key interactions include:
MTM1: Co-immunoprecipitation studies confirm MTMR12 binds MTM1 via its SH3 domain .
MTMR2: Forms heterodimers with MTMR12, though functional consequences remain unclear .
X-linked Myotubular Myopathy (XLMTM): MTMR12 binds MTM1, which is mutated in XLMTM. HRP-conjugated antibodies enable quantification of MTM1-MTMR12 complexes in muscle lysates .
Endosomal Trafficking: MTMR12 regulates PtdIns(3)P turnover; its depletion disrupts FYVE protein localization to endosomes .
MTMR12 (also known as 3-PAP or PIP3AP) functions as an adaptor subunit in a complex with active phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns(3)P) 3-phosphatase. The protein plays a critical role in regulating membrane-anchored phosphatidylinositides, which are essential for diverse cellular processes . As an experimental target, MTMR12 is particularly valuable for investigating phosphoinositide metabolism and cellular signaling pathways.
MTMR12 shows significant structural similarity to MTM1 and MTMR1, all belonging to the same phylogenetic subgroup. These proteins share 3-phosphatase activity towards PI3P and PI(3,5)P2, making them important regulators of phospholipid balance in cells . In research contexts, MTMR12 is frequently studied alongside MTM1 due to their functional relationship, particularly in muscle tissue where their interaction is critical.
MTMR12 contains several functional domains that influence epitope selection for antibody development:
GRAM domain: An N-terminal lipid or protein interacting domain
RID: Putative membrane targeting motif
PTP/DSP: Phosphatase domain
SID: Protein-protein interacting domain
CC: Coiled-coil domain
Researchers developing or selecting MTMR12 antibodies should consider which domain they wish to target. The search results indicate that available antibodies target different regions, including middle regions (amino acids 188-318) and other segments . The domain-specific targeting affects not only antibody specificity but also which protein interactions may be detected or disrupted in experimental systems.
HRP-conjugated MTMR12 antibodies have horseradish peroxidase directly linked to the antibody molecule, providing a convenient one-step detection system compared to unconjugated versions. The primary advantages in experimental workflows include:
Elimination of secondary antibody requirements, reducing protocol time and potential cross-reactivity
Enhanced sensitivity for detecting low-abundance MTMR12 protein
Compatibility with various chemiluminescent, colorimetric, and chemifluorescent substrates
More consistent signal generation due to defined HRP:antibody ratio
The available MTMR12 HRP-conjugated antibody (CSB-PA880158LB01HU-50) is a rabbit polyclonal antibody generated against recombinant Human MTMR12 protein (amino acids 188-318) . When designing experiments, researchers should consider that while HRP conjugation offers detection advantages, it may affect antibody binding kinetics or accessibility to certain epitopes compared to unconjugated versions.
Based on the search results, MTMR12 antibodies have been validated primarily for Western blotting (WB) . While specific protocols for the HRP-conjugated version are not detailed in the search results, a standard Western blot methodology for MTMR12 detection can be adapted as follows:
Sample preparation: Extract proteins from tissues or cells using standard lysis buffers containing protease inhibitors
Protein separation: Resolve 10-30 μg of protein lysate on SDS-PAGE (8-10% gel recommended for detecting the 86 kDa MTMR12 protein)
Transfer: Transfer proteins to PVDF or nitrocellulose membrane
Blocking: Block membrane with 50% TBS, 0.1% Tween 20, and 50% Odyssey blocking buffer for 60 minutes at room temperature
Primary antibody: Dilute HRP-conjugated MTMR12 antibody (typically 1:1000-1:5000) in TBS, 0.1% Tween 20, and 1% milk; incubate for 60 minutes at room temperature or overnight at 4°C
Washing: Wash membrane 3-5 times with TBST
Detection: Apply appropriate chemiluminescent substrate and image
Note that when using the HRP-conjugated antibody, the secondary antibody incubation step is eliminated, streamlining the protocol.
Validating antibody specificity is crucial for generating reliable data. For MTMR12 antibodies, implement these methodological approaches:
Positive controls: Use cell lysates known to express MTMR12, such as skeletal muscle tissue or C2C12 myoblasts
Knockdown validation: Perform siRNA-mediated knockdown of MTMR12 in relevant cell lines (e.g., C2C12 myoblasts) and confirm reduced antibody signal by Western blot
Peptide competition assay: Pre-incubate the antibody with the immunizing peptide (for the HRP-conjugated antibody, this would be the recombinant Human MTMR12 protein fragment, amino acids 188-318) before application to the membrane
Cross-species validation: The MTMR12 antibody described in search result shows predicted reactivity across multiple species including human, mouse, rat, cow, dog, horse, guinea pig, rabbit, and zebrafish. Testing the antibody in different species can help confirm specificity for conserved epitopes.
Molecular weight verification: Confirm that the detected band appears at the expected molecular weight of 86 kDa
The interaction between MTMR12 and MTM1 is physiologically significant and requires specific experimental approaches to study effectively:
Co-immunoprecipitation methodology: When designing co-IP experiments to study MTMR12-MTM1 interactions, consider that mutations in the GRAM or RID domains of MTM1 have been shown to disrupt the interactions between MTM1 and MTMR12 . This suggests these domains are critical for the protein-protein interaction.
Expression level considerations: Research shows that MTMR12 knockdown leads to decreased MTM1 protein levels, suggesting a stabilizing effect of MTMR12 on MTM1 . This interdependence must be accounted for when interpreting results:
| Experimental Condition | Effect on Protein Levels |
|---|---|
| MTMR12 siRNA knockdown in C2C12 myoblasts | Decreased MTM1 protein levels |
| MTMR12 siRNA knockdown in myotubes | Decreased MTM1 and increased desmin levels |
| MTM1 knockout mice | Highly reduced MTMR12 protein levels in skeletal muscle |
| MTM1 siRNA knockdown in C2C12 cells | No reduction in MTMR12 protein |
Developmental timing: The relationship between MTMR12 and MTM1 has been observed in both pre-symptomatic (2 weeks) and symptomatic stages (5 weeks) in knockout mouse models, indicating their interaction is developmentally regulated .
MTMR12 expression analysis in muscle differentiation requires careful experimental design and interpretation:
Differentiation markers: When analyzing MTMR12 expression during myoblast differentiation, researchers should concurrently examine established markers such as myogenin and desmin. Research has shown that while MTMR12 knockdown affects desmin levels, it doesn't significantly impact myogenin expression , suggesting pathway-specific effects.
Temporal analysis protocol:
Establish C2C12 myoblast cultures
Induce differentiation by switching to low-serum medium
Collect samples at defined time points (typically days 0, 2, 4, 6)
Process parallel samples for RNA (qPCR) and protein (Western blot) analysis
Use MTMR12 HRP-conjugated antibody for protein detection
Normalize expression to appropriate housekeeping controls (α-actinin has been used successfully)
Functional correlation: Link MTMR12 expression changes to functional outcomes using cellular assays that measure:
Myotube formation (fusion index)
Phosphoinositide levels (using specific probes)
Cell survival and proliferation metrics
Myotubular myopathy models provide valuable insights into MTMR12 function. The following methodological framework can guide research in this area:
Animal model selection:
Mtm1 knockout mice show reduced MTMR12 protein levels in skeletal muscle and can serve as models to study MTMR12 compensation mechanisms
Research has demonstrated that recombinant AAV9 vectors expressing MTMR2 (a protein closely related to MTMR12) can rescue muscle pathology in myotubular myopathy models
Therapeutic intervention assessment:
Intramuscular administration protocol: Inject 10 μl of viral vectors (2-3 × 10^10 vg) into the tibialis anterior muscle of 2-week-old animals
Systemic administration: Use intravenous injection at a dose of 2.4 × 10^14 vg/kg of body weight
Tissue collection: Harvest tissues after 2-4 weeks, quickly freeze in isopentane cooled with liquid nitrogen and store at -80°C
Protein complex analysis:
When studying MTMR12-MTM1 complexes, consider that:
These insights can inform experimental designs targeting therapeutic approaches
Understanding the enzymatic properties of MTMR12 relative to other family members requires specific experimental approaches:
Comparative phosphatase activity measurement:
MTMR12 belongs to the same phylogenetic subgroup as myotubularin (MTM1) and MTMR1
These proteins share 3-phosphatase activity towards PI3P and PI(3,5)P2
When designing experiments to measure phosphatase activity, researchers should:
Use purified recombinant proteins
Employ specific phosphoinositide substrates
Monitor product formation using HPLC, mass spectrometry, or colorimetric assays
Substrate specificity determination:
Complex formation effects on activity:
MTMR12 can form complexes with active phosphatases like MTM1
To study these interactions experimentally:
Express tagged versions of both proteins
Perform co-immunoprecipitation followed by phosphatase activity assays
Compare activity of individual proteins versus complexes
Researchers may encounter several challenges when working with MTMR12 HRP-conjugated antibodies:
High background signal:
Problem: Non-specific HRP activity causing elevated background
Solutions:
Multiple bands or unexpected molecular weights:
Problem: Detection of splice variants, degradation products, or non-specific binding
Solutions:
Weak or absent signal:
Problem: Low antibody affinity, low target expression, or inefficient transfer
Solutions:
Accurate quantification of MTMR12 expression changes requires careful methodological consideration:
Western blot quantification protocol:
Statistical analysis approach:
Validation across methods:
Complement protein expression data with mRNA analysis
Consider immunofluorescence to assess cellular localization changes
For knockdown experiments, verify reduction at both mRNA and protein levels
When studying the relationship between MTMR12 and MTM1, several critical controls must be incorporated:
Expression level controls:
Domain mutation controls:
Cell type considerations:
The MTMR12-MTM1 relationship may vary by cell type
Include multiple relevant cell types (myoblasts, myotubes, non-muscle cells)
In knockdown experiments, include rescue conditions by re-expressing the target protein
These methodological controls ensure that observed changes in MTMR12-MTM1 interactions are specific and physiologically relevant, rather than artifacts of experimental manipulation or cell-specific effects.
While traditional applications of MTMR12 antibodies focus on Western blotting, advanced imaging techniques offer new research possibilities:
Multiplex immunofluorescence protocol development:
The HRP-conjugated MTMR12 antibody can be used with tyramide signal amplification (TSA)
This approach allows for sequential staining of multiple proteins on the same tissue section
Workflow:
Apply MTMR12-HRP antibody (diluted 1:100-1:500)
Develop with tyramide-conjugated fluorophore
Inactivate HRP with hydrogen peroxide
Apply next primary antibody
Repeat steps 2-4 for additional targets
Co-localization analysis methodology:
For co-localization studies with MTM1, researchers should:
Use paraffin-embedded or frozen muscle sections from relevant models
Apply MTMR12-HRP antibody with TSA-fluorophore development
Counter-stain with antibodies against MTM1 and other interacting proteins
Image using confocal microscopy with appropriate controls for spectral overlap
Analyze using co-localization algorithms (e.g., Pearson's correlation coefficient)
Tissue-specific expression profiling:
MTMR12 antibodies can be used to create tissue-specific expression maps
This approach requires careful validation of antibody specificity across tissues
Include appropriate positive and negative control tissues
Gene therapy research for myopathies requires specific considerations when investigating MTMR12:
Vector design methodology:
Research has demonstrated that AAV9 vectors expressing MTMR2 (related to MTMR12) can rescue muscle pathology in myotubular myopathy models
When designing MTMR12-based vectors:
Consider using muscle-specific promoters (human desmin promoter has been used successfully)
Clone the complete MTMR12 coding sequence into AAV2 plasmid backbone
Package AAV2-ITR recombinant genomes into AAV9 capsids for optimal muscle targeting
Delivery protocol optimization:
Therapeutic efficacy assessment:
Measure MTMR12 and MTM1 protein levels by Western blot
Assess histopathological improvements in muscle tissue
Evaluate functional outcomes through strength testing and survival analysis
Compare efficacy to established treatments (e.g., MTM1 gene therapy)