MTMR9 is an enzymatically inactive member of the myotubularin family, known for forming heteromeric complexes with catalytically active phosphatases like MTMR6 and MTMR8. These complexes enhance enzymatic activity and substrate specificity, particularly in dephosphorylating phosphoinositides such as phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns(3)P) and PtdIns(3,5)P₂ . The biotin-conjugated MTMR9 antibody enables targeted detection in assays like Western blotting (WB), ELISA, and immunofluorescence .
Immunofluorescence/Immunohistochemistry: Validated for subcellular localization studies in HeLa cells .
Specificity: Recognizes MTMR9 in human, mouse, and rat tissues .
Sensitivity: Detects MTMR9 at concentrations as low as 0.057 ng/mL in ELISA .
Precision:
| Recovery Rates | Serum | EDTA Plasma | Heparin Plasma |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Recovery | 100% | 97% | 94% |
Complex Formation: MTMR9 stabilizes MTMR6/8, increasing their catalytic activity by up to 84-fold in vitro .
Substrate Specificity:
Cellular Stability: Co-expression of MTMR9 with MTMR6/8 reduces protein degradation, enhancing cellular levels of both proteins .
Apoptosis Regulation: Co-expression of MTMR6 and MTMR9 reduced etoposide-induced apoptosis by 40% in HeLa cells .
Autophagy Inhibition: MTMR8/MTMR9 complexes decreased autophagosome formation by 50% in COS-7 cells .
Western Blot: Boster Bio provides validation images demonstrating reactivity in extracts from HeLa, A549, and NIH/3T3 cell lines .
Cross-Reactivity: Predicted reactivity with bovine (92%) and confirmed in mouse tissues .
Storage: Stable at -20°C for 12 months; avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles .
Complex Dynamics: MTMR9 binding reconfigures MTMR6/8 substrate preferences, shifting their roles in lipid signaling .
Therapeutic Potential: Targeting MTMR9 complexes could modulate phosphoinositide levels in diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration .
MTMR9 (Myotubularin-related protein 9) is a 549 amino acid protein belonging to the protein-tyrosine phosphatase family and non-receptor class myotubularin subfamily. Unlike other members of the myotubularin family, MTMR9 lacks a dual-specificity phosphatase domain and functions as a pseudophosphatase. It contains a double-helical motif similar to the SET interaction domain and is believed to play a role in cell proliferation control . MTMR9 forms functional heteromeric complexes with catalytically active myotubularins (particularly MTMR6, MTMR7, and MTMR8), enhancing their enzymatic activity, stability, and cellular functions . This protein is widely expressed in various tissues, including brain, making it a significant target for studying phosphoinositide signaling and regulation.
Biotin-conjugated MTMR9 antibodies offer several methodological advantages:
Enhanced sensitivity through biotin-streptavidin interaction, which provides signal amplification
Versatility in detection systems as biotin can be detected with various streptavidin-conjugated reporters
Compatibility with multi-color immunofluorescence studies as the biotin-streptavidin system can be combined with directly labeled antibodies
Reduced background in tissue sections due to the high affinity and specificity of the biotin-streptavidin interaction
Stability of conjugate, as biotin conjugation typically preserves antibody functionality better than some direct fluorophore conjugations
Selection should be guided by the specific region of MTMR9 you wish to target and your experimental context:
When studying MTMR9-MTMR6 interactions, antibodies targeting AA 322-549 may be particularly useful as this region contains domains involved in protein-protein interactions that affect enzymatic activity .
A comprehensive control strategy should include:
Positive control: Cell lines or tissues with known MTMR9 expression (human brain tissue extracts are recommended)
Negative control: Samples from MTMR9 knockout models or cells treated with MTMR9-specific siRNA
Isotype control: Biotin-conjugated isotype-matched immunoglobulin (same host species and IgG subclass) to detect non-specific binding
Blocking control: Pre-incubation with the immunizing peptide to confirm specificity
Endogenous biotin blocking: Treatment with avidin/biotin blocking kit when working with tissues containing endogenous biotin
Secondary-only control: When using secondary detection methods to assess background
These controls help distinguish true signals from artifacts, particularly important when investigating the subtle co-localization patterns of MTMR9 with binding partners like MTMR6 .
For optimal detection in different applications:
For Western Blotting:
Lyse cells in buffer containing phosphatase inhibitors since MTMR9 is involved in phosphoinositide metabolism
Use fresh samples when possible; avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles
For Immunofluorescence/Immunohistochemistry:
Fixation: 4% paraformaldehyde is preferred for preserving protein epitopes
Permeabilization: 0.1-0.5% Triton X-100 for cytoplasmic proteins like MTMR9
Blocking: Use BSA or serum plus biotin blocking reagents to minimize background
Note: When examining MTMR9-MTMR6 co-localization, maintaining physiological protein levels is crucial to avoid artifacts from overexpression
For ELISA:
Follow sandwich ELISA format for quantitation
Use biotin-conjugated detection antibody followed by streptavidin-HRP
Sample types validated: serum, plasma, cell culture supernatants
For investigating MTMR9-MTMR6 interactions:
Co-immunoprecipitation approach:
Lyse cells in non-denaturing buffer containing protease inhibitors
Perform initial IP with anti-MTMR6 antibodies
Detect co-precipitated MTMR9 using biotin-conjugated anti-MTMR9 antibody
Visualize with streptavidin-HRP or fluorescently labeled streptavidin
Proximity Ligation Assay (PLA):
Fix cells in 4% paraformaldehyde
Permeabilize with 0.1% Triton X-100
Incubate with primary antibodies targeting MTMR9 and MTMR6
Use biotin-conjugated anti-MTMR9 with streptavidin-linked PLA probe
Perform ligation and amplification according to PLA protocol
This technique allows visualization of endogenous protein interactions in situ
Interactions should be validated under conditions that preserve native protein conformations, as heteromer formation substantially affects both proteins' stability .
Validating antibody specificity requires a multi-faceted approach:
Immunoblotting with recombinant proteins:
siRNA/shRNA knockdown validation:
Peptide competition assay:
Pre-incubate antibody with immunizing peptide
Expected result: significant reduction or elimination of specific signal
Cross-reactivity testing:
Comparison with multiple antibodies:
Several challenges may arise when using biotin-conjugated antibodies in tissue samples:
For perinuclear staining patterns typical of MTMR9, carefully optimize fixation protocols to preserve subcellular localization patterns while maintaining antigenicity .
To investigate MTMR9's regulatory effects on phosphoinositide metabolism:
Biochemical approaches:
Perform lipid binding assays to assess how MTMR9 affects MTMR6 binding to phospholipids
Use biotin-conjugated MTMR9 antibodies in pull-down experiments followed by lipid extraction and analysis
Quantify specific phosphoinositides (PtdIns3P, PtdIns3,5P₂) in samples with normal or altered MTMR9 expression
Cellular localization studies:
Use biotin-conjugated MTMR9 antibodies with fluorescent phosphoinositide sensors
Co-staining with markers for specific subcellular compartments where phosphoinositide metabolism occurs
Implement super-resolution microscopy techniques to visualize precise co-localization patterns
Enzymatic activity assessment:
Protein stability analysis:
For investigating MTMR9's role in apoptosis regulation:
Apoptosis induction studies:
Time-course experiments:
Monitor MTMR9 and MTMR6 levels at different time points after apoptosis induction
Utilize biotin-conjugated antibodies in flow cytometry to correlate MTMR9 levels with apoptotic markers
Subcellular redistribution analysis:
Track potential changes in MTMR9 localization during apoptosis
Use confocal microscopy with biotin-conjugated MTMR9 antibodies and streptavidin-fluorophore detection
Co-stain with markers for apoptotic structures
Protein-protein interaction dynamics:
Analyze how MTMR9-MTMR6 interaction changes during apoptosis
Implement FRET-based approaches using biotin-conjugated antibodies and appropriate fluorescent streptavidin conjugates
Research has shown that RNAi of both MTMR9 and MTMR6 leads to increased cell death in response to etoposide compared to MTMR6 knockdown alone .
When interpreting MTMR9 detection results across different platforms:
Western blot vs. immunofluorescence discrepancies:
ELISA vs. other techniques:
Species-specific considerations:
Technical validation metrics:
Signal-to-noise ratio >3:1 indicates reliable detection
Coefficient of variation <15% for quantitative applications
Linear dynamic range should be established for each application
For effective multiplex detection strategies:
Sequential detection approach:
Tyramide signal amplification:
Use biotin-conjugated MTMR9 antibody with HRP-streptavidin
Develop with tyramide-fluorophore
Heat-inactivate HRP
Proceed with next antibody
Enables detection of low-abundance interactions
Spectral unmixing techniques:
Use streptavidin conjugates with narrow emission spectra
Apply spectral imaging and computational unmixing
Allows discrimination of closely overlapping fluorophores
Quantum dot-based multiplexing:
Utilize streptavidin-conjugated quantum dots with narrow emission profiles
Different sized quantum dots can be excited with single wavelength
Particularly valuable for studying MTMR9 interactions with multiple partners simultaneously
When studying MTMR9-MTMR6 complexes, consider the co-dependent stability of these proteins when designing experimental workflows .
Biotin-conjugated MTMR9 antibodies can advance understanding of disease mechanisms through:
Cancer research applications:
MTMR9's role in cell proliferation control suggests oncogenic potential
Biotin-conjugated antibodies enable sensitive detection of expression changes in tumor samples
Correlation of MTMR9 levels with B-cell chronic lymphoid leukemia resistance to apoptosis
Potential therapeutic target assessment through antibody-based screening platforms
Neurodegenerative disease investigations:
Metabolic disorder studies:
MTMR9's interaction with lipid metabolism pathways
Potential links to insulin signaling and metabolic syndrome
Antibody-based screens for identifying regulatory pathways
Tissue-specific expression profiling:
Biotin-conjugated antibodies enable high-sensitivity tissue microarray analysis
Correlation of expression patterns with disease progression markers
Identification of tissue-specific heteromeric complexes with therapeutic potential
Innovative approaches for MTMR9 interaction studies include:
Proximity-dependent labeling techniques:
BioID or TurboID fusion with MTMR9
Detection of biotinylated proteins using anti-biotin antibodies
Identification of transient MTMR9 interactors beyond known MTMR6/7/8 partners
Maps the complete MTMR9 protein interaction network
Single-molecule imaging:
Use biotin-conjugated antibodies with quantum dot-streptavidin for single-molecule tracking
Analyze dynamics of MTMR9-MTMR6 interactions in living cells
Quantify heteromer formation/dissociation kinetics
Correlative light-electron microscopy:
Microfluidic antibody-based assays:
Develop chip-based systems for rapid quantification of MTMR9 and binding partners
Single-cell analysis of expression heterogeneity
Real-time monitoring of interaction dynamics during cellular responses