NAA15 (N-alpha-acetyltransferase 15) functions as the auxiliary subunit of the NatA complex, a major N-terminal acetyltransferase that modifies approximately 40-50% of mammalian proteins. NAA15 is also known by several alternative names including gastric cancer antigen Ga19 (GA19), NMDA receptor-regulated protein 1 (NARG1), and Tbdn100 . The protein positions the catalytic subunits (primarily NAA10) in proximity to nascent polypeptides emerging from the ribosome exit tunnel, modulating substrate specificity and facilitating N-terminal acetylation .
Research significance:
NAA15 haploinsufficiency has been linked to congenital heart defects and neurodevelopmental disorders
NAA15 knockdown has been shown to enhance C2C12 myoblast fusion
NAA15 forms complexes not only with NAA10 but also with NAA11, NAA12, and other proteins
These diverse functions make NAA15 antibodies valuable tools for investigating protein acetylation mechanisms, developmental biology, and disease pathogenesis.
Biotin-conjugated NAA15 antibodies offer several methodological advantages:
Enhanced signal amplification: The biotin-avidin/streptavidin system provides one of the strongest non-covalent biological interactions (Kd ≈ 10^-15 M), allowing for significant signal enhancement in detection systems.
Compatibility with multiple detection systems: The biotin tag enables versatile detection methods including:
Streptavidin-HRP for chemiluminescent detection
Streptavidin-fluorophore conjugates for fluorescent detection
Streptavidin-gold for electron microscopy applications
Reduced background in tissue samples: The biotin-conjugated format often produces cleaner results in immunohistochemistry by avoiding direct enzyme conjugation to the primary antibody.
Stable conjugation chemistry: The biotin moiety maintains stability during storage and experimental conditions, providing reliable detection capabilities .
Multiplexing capability: The biotin tag facilitates incorporation into multi-antibody detection systems without interfering with antigen recognition sites.
For maximum retention of immunoreactivity, NAA15 antibodies should be stored according to these guidelines:
Short-term storage (up to 1 week): Store at 4°C in their original buffer containing preservatives (typically PBS with 0.02% sodium azide) .
Long-term storage: Aliquot and store at -20°C. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles as these significantly diminish antibody activity .
Working solution preparation: Dilutions should be prepared fresh before use and generally should not be stored for future applications.
Buffer composition: The typical storage buffer contains PBS with 0.02-0.05% sodium azide and may include 50% glycerol for cryoprotection .
Proper storage significantly affects experimental reproducibility, particularly for quantitative applications such as western blotting or ELISA where signal intensity directly correlates with functional antibody concentration.
Based on the technical specifications, the following dilution ranges are recommended for biotin-conjugated NAA15 antibodies:
These dilutions serve as starting points and should be optimized for each experimental system. Researchers should perform dilution series to determine the optimal antibody concentration that produces specific signal with minimal background.
The epitope recognized by the NAA15 antibody significantly impacts experimental results:
N-terminal vs. internal epitopes: The biotin-conjugated NAA15 antibody specified in the search results targets N-terminal epitopes , which may be less accessible when NAA15 is incorporated into the NatA complex with NAA10 or NAA12 . This potential masking effect should be considered when studying protein interactions.
Isoform detection: NAA15 has multiple reported isoforms , and epitope selection determines which variants can be detected. Antibodies targeting amino acids 225-269 of human NAA15 will detect the canonical 866 amino acid form but may miss shorter isoforms.
Cross-species reactivity: The homology between human, mouse, and rat NAA15 affects epitope conservation. When working with animal models, researchers should verify reactivity through preliminary experiments or western blotting of tissue lysates .
Post-translational modifications: Epitopes containing modification sites may affect antibody recognition depending on the protein's modification state. For accurate interpretation, researchers should consider potential phosphorylation, acetylation, or other modifications near the epitope region.
Rigorous validation is essential for reliable research outcomes. The following approaches are recommended:
Peptide competition assays: Pre-incubate the NAA15 antibody with blocking peptides containing the epitope sequence. This neutralizes specific binding, allowing differentiation between specific and non-specific signals. As noted in search result , "Specific binding will be absent from the western blot or IHC performed with the neutralized antibody."
Genetic approaches:
Cross-validation with multiple antibodies: Use antibodies targeting different NAA15 epitopes to confirm consistent detection patterns.
Immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry: Confirm the identity of immunoprecipitated proteins to verify antibody specificity.
Western blot analysis: Verify detection of the expected ~101 kDa band for full-length NAA15 , along with any known isoforms. Example western blot data from search result demonstrates detection of NAA15 in:
A549 whole cell lysate (20μg)
L02 whole cell lysate (20μg)
Mouse testis tissue lysate (40μg)
Rat testis tissue lysate (40μg)
NAA15 has been implicated in both congenital heart defects (CHD) and neurodevelopmental disorders. Methodological approaches using NAA15 antibodies include:
Tissue expression profiling:
Immunohistochemistry of cardiac tissue sections at different developmental stages
Comparison of NAA15 expression in normal versus CHD-affected tissues
Brain region-specific expression analysis in neurodevelopmental contexts
Mechanistic studies:
Co-immunoprecipitation using NAA15 antibodies to identify protein interaction partners in cardiac and neural tissues
Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) to investigate transcriptional regulation if NAA15 shows nuclear localization
Protein acetylation profiling to correlate with NAA15 expression levels
iPSC-based disease modeling:
Protein complex analysis:
Research has shown that NAA15 haploinsufficiency leads to variable levels of intellectual disability, delayed speech and motor milestones, autism spectrum disorder, and in some cases, congenital cardiac anomalies .
When incorporating biotin-conjugated NAA15 antibodies into multiplex detection systems:
Endogenous biotin interference:
Tissues with high endogenous biotin (brain, liver, kidney) may produce background signal
Pretreatment with avidin/biotin blocking systems is essential for these samples
Heat-induced epitope retrieval may alter endogenous biotin accessibility
Panel design considerations:
Avoid other biotin-conjugated antibodies in the same panel unless using sequential detection methods
Ensure secondary detection reagents (streptavidin conjugates) don't cross-react with other primary antibodies
Consider steric hindrance when NAA15 is part of larger protein complexes
Signal amplification optimization:
Titrate streptavidin detection reagents to prevent signal saturation
When using tyramide signal amplification (TSA), carefully control reaction times
Use appropriate negative controls to establish baseline signal
Cross-reactivity assessment:
Detection system compatibility:
Ensure imaging systems can accommodate detection wavelengths for chosen streptavidin conjugates
Consider spectral overlap when designing multiplex panels
Validate signal separation through single-stain controls
NAA15 antibodies provide valuable tools for investigating acetylation mechanisms:
Co-immunoprecipitation approaches:
Use NAA15 antibodies to pull down NatA complexes
Identify substrate proteins via mass spectrometry
Compare acetylated protein profiles between wild-type and NAA15-deficient samples
Acetylation site mapping:
Combine NAA15 immunoprecipitation with acetylome analysis
Correlate NAA15 expression levels with changes in N-terminal acetylation patterns
Identify NAA15-dependent acetylation sites through differential analysis
Subcellular localization studies:
Functional impact assessment:
Compare protein stability in NAA15 knockdown versus control cells
Investigate protein-protein interaction differences based on acetylation status
Analyze downstream signaling pathway alterations following NAA15 modulation
Developmental regulation:
Track NAA15 expression during differentiation processes
Correlate with changes in substrate protein acetylation patterns
Investigate temporal regulation of NatA complex formation
Research has shown that mass spectrometry analyses reveal approximately 80% of identified iPSC NatA targeted proteins displayed partial or complete N-terminal acetylation, with N-terminal acetylation levels of 32 and 9 NatA-specific targeted proteins reduced in null and haploinsufficient NAA15 cells, respectively .
While the search results primarily discuss rabbit polyclonal NAA15 antibodies , comparing antibody sources provides important methodological context:
The rabbit polyclonal format provides advantages for detecting low-abundance proteins and offers flexibility across applications, but requires careful validation for specificity.
When facing technical challenges with NAA15 antibody experiments:
No signal detected:
Verify NAA15 expression in the sample type (NAA15 is notably expressed at high levels in testis and ocular endothelial cells)
Increase antibody concentration or extend incubation time
Check detection system functionality with positive controls
Consider epitope accessibility issues if samples are fixed or cross-linked
Try alternative epitope retrieval methods
Multiple unexpected bands:
High background:
Increase blocking concentration or time
For biotin-conjugated antibodies, use avidin/biotin blocking in tissues with high endogenous biotin
Reduce primary antibody concentration
Extend washing steps duration and number
Consider alternative detection methods
Cross-reactivity concerns:
NAA15 has several paralogs and interaction partners that can be studied using antibody-based approaches:
Differential expression analysis:
Complex formation studies:
Use co-immunoprecipitation with NAA15 antibodies to pull down different NatA complexes
Compare complex composition between tissues/developmental stages
Identify tissue-specific interaction partners
Functional complementation analysis:
Developmental regulation:
Track expression timing of NAA15 versus paralogs during embryonic development
Correlate with phenotypic outcomes in genetic models
Analyze tissue-specific expression patterns
Cross-species comparative studies:
Use NAA15 antibodies that cross-react with multiple species to compare conservation of expression patterns
Analyze differences in complex formation across evolutionary distance
Correlate with functional conservation of N-terminal acetylation machinery
The discovery of NAA12 adds complexity to our understanding of N-terminal acetylation machinery, as mice deficient for NAA10 show no globally apparent in vivo amino-terminal acetylation impairment, likely due to compensation by NAA12 .
Building on the finding that NAA15 knockdown enhances C2C12 myoblast fusion , researchers can implement these antibody-based protocols:
Temporal expression profiling:
Track NAA15 protein levels during myoblast differentiation using western blotting
Correlate expression changes with fusion index measurements
Compare with markers of myogenic differentiation (MyoG, MCK)
Subcellular localization analysis:
Use immunofluorescence with NAA15 antibodies to track protein distribution before and during fusion
Co-stain with markers of the secretory pathway to investigate potential involvement in fusion-related trafficking
Analyze relocalization during fusion events
Protein complex immunoprecipitation:
Use NAA15 antibodies to immunoprecipitate protein complexes at different stages of myoblast differentiation
Identify fusion-specific interaction partners through mass spectrometry
Validate interactions using reciprocal co-immunoprecipitation
Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP):
If NAA15 shows nuclear localization, investigate potential transcriptional regulatory roles
Target fusion-related gene promoters to assess NAA15 occupancy
Correlate with expression changes in fusion-related genes
Rescue experiments:
After NAA15 knockdown, reintroduce wild-type or mutant NAA15
Use antibodies to confirm expression levels
Correlate with restoration or enhancement of fusion phenotypes
The C2C12-MCK:GFP mouse myoblast cell line provides an excellent model system for these studies, as the GFP reporter enables monitoring of differentiation in parallel with NAA15 detection .
For effective immunoprecipitation with biotin-conjugated NAA15 antibodies:
Capture strategy optimization:
Direct approach: Use streptavidin-coated magnetic beads to capture biotin-conjugated NAA15 antibodies bound to target protein
Indirect approach: Pre-bind biotin-conjugated antibodies to streptavidin beads before sample addition
Compare efficiency of both methods in your experimental system
Buffer composition considerations:
For NatA complex isolation: Use buffers that preserve protein-protein interactions (150-300mM NaCl, 0.1-0.5% NP-40)
For stringent conditions: Increase salt concentration (up to 500mM) and detergent percentage
Include protease inhibitors to prevent complex degradation
Consider adding N-acetylation inhibitors to preserve modification states
Sequential elution strategies:
For complex analysis: Use mild elution conditions to maintain interactions
For interactome studies: Use biotin for competitive elution to preserve antibody-antigen binding
For subsequent mass spectrometry: Consider on-bead digestion to minimize sample loss
Validation approaches:
Cross-linking options:
Consider membrane-permeable crosslinkers for capturing transient interactions
Optimize crosslinking time to balance capturing complexes versus creating non-specific aggregates
Include appropriate controls for crosslinking efficiency
When incorporating NAA15 antibodies into iPSC disease modeling experiments:
Temporal analysis requirements:
Monitor NAA15 expression throughout differentiation processes
Compare expression timing between wild-type and disease-relevant NAA15 variant lines
Correlate with developmental markers to identify critical expression windows
Differentiation protocol influences:
Validation in multiple iPSC lines:
Use multiple patient-derived and control lines to account for genetic background effects
Include isogenic controls (CRISPR-corrected lines) when possible
Compare with embryonic stem cell lines as reference standards
Technical controls:
Functional readouts:
Research has demonstrated that NAA15 iPSCs can differentiate into cardiomyocytes, unlike NAA15-null iPSCs, highlighting the importance of careful genetic model selection for these studies .