NAA50 is a catalytic subunit of the NatE complex, responsible for N-terminal acetylation—a post-translational modification influencing protein stability, localization, and interactions . In humans, NAA50 is overexpressed in multiple cancers and linked to poor prognosis, particularly in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) . Its enzymatic activity regulates cell cycle progression and immune evasion mechanisms .
The NAA50 antibody is utilized to investigate its expression patterns and functional roles in cancer. Key applications include:
Immunohistochemistry (IHC): Detects cytoplasmic NAA50 overexpression in tumor tissues compared to normal tissues .
Western Blotting: Validates NAA50 knockout efficiency in in vitro studies, confirming its role in LUAD proliferation .
Immune Infiltration Analysis: Quantifies correlations between NAA50 levels and immune cell populations (e.g., myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and T cells) .
| Cancer Type | Hazard Ratio (OS) | p-Value | Prognostic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| LUAD | 1.42 | 0.018 | Poor |
| LGG | 1.67 | 0.031 | Poor |
| KIRC | 0.58 | 0.00017 | Favorable |
NAA50 expression inversely correlates with antitumor immune responses :
| Immune Cell Type | Correlation (rho) | p-Value |
|---|---|---|
| Bone Marrow MDSCs | +0.52 (pan-cancer) | 7.46e-70 |
| NK T Cells | -0.48 (pan-cancer) | 8.54e-06 |
| CD8+ T Cells (LUAD) | +0.27 | 1.70e-09 |
Functional studies using NAA50 antibodies highlight its role in:
Cell Cycle Regulation: Enrichment in pathways like DNA replication () and mitotic checkpoints .
Immune Evasion: Negative correlation with MHC class II molecules (e.g., HLA-DMA, rho = -0.313) and chemokines .
Methylation Dysregulation: Hypermethylation of the NAA50 promoter in tumors, suggesting epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressors .
NAA50 is a promising biomarker and target for immunotherapy. Knockout experiments (validated via NAA50 antibody-based assays) show:
Proliferation Inhibition: NAA50 deletion reduces LUAD cell growth by 60% (p < 0.001) .
Immune Modulation: High NAA50 levels correlate with immunosuppressive MDSC infiltration, suggesting combinational targeting with immune checkpoint inhibitors .
While human studies dominate, plant models (e.g., Arabidopsis) reveal NAA50’s evolutionary conservation. Its enzymatic activity in plants influences stress responses, though human-specific roles in cancer remain distinct .
Current research gaps include:
Tissue-specific NAA50 interaction networks.
Clinical validation of NAA50-targeted therapies.
Mechanistic links between acetylation and immune evasion.
NAA50 is an enzymatically active Nα-acetyltransferase that functions as the catalytic subunit of the NatE complex in eukaryotes . This 19.4 kilodalton protein is also known by several alternative names including HSAN, San, MAK3, NAT13, and N-acetyltransferase 13 (GCN5-related) . NAA50 plays a critical role in N-terminal acetylation (NTA), a prevalent protein modification that affects approximately 40% of the eukaryotic proteome .
Research significance stems from NAA50's involvement in critical biological processes. In plants like Arabidopsis thaliana, knockout of NAA50 causes severe growth retardation and infertility, suggesting its importance in development . Unlike the embryo-lethal phenotype caused by absence of core NatA complex components (NAA10 and NAA15), NAA50 appears to have independent functions, particularly in stress responses . NAA50 displays both N-terminal acetyltransferase activity and lysine-ε-autoacetyltransferase activity in vitro, making it a multifunctional enzyme worthy of detailed study .
NAA50 antibodies support multiple experimental applications, with effectiveness varying by antibody clone and experimental design. The most common applications include:
Western Blot (WB): Most commercially available NAA50 antibodies (>90%) are validated for western blotting, making this the most reliable application for detecting NAA50 protein expression and analyzing molecular weight .
Immunohistochemistry (IHC): Many NAA50 antibodies support tissue localization studies, allowing researchers to visualize NAA50 distribution across different cell types .
Immunofluorescence (IF): For subcellular localization studies, approximately 70% of available antibodies are suitable for immunofluorescence, helping researchers determine that NAA50 localizes primarily to the cytosol and endoplasmic reticulum, with additional nuclear presence .
Immunoprecipitation (IP): Select antibodies are specifically validated for pulldown experiments, enabling protein-protein interaction studies involving NAA50 and potential binding partners .
ELISA: Many NAA50 antibodies support quantitative analysis through ELISA-based detection systems .
The experimental context should guide antibody selection. For instance, studies examining NAA50's role in stress response pathways would benefit from antibodies validated for both western blotting and immunohistochemistry to correlate expression levels with cellular localization patterns .
Thorough validation of NAA50 antibodies is essential before conducting critical experiments. A comprehensive validation approach should include:
Positive and negative controls: Test the antibody against samples with known NAA50 expression (positive control) and samples where NAA50 is absent or knocked down (negative control). The antibody should detect the expected 19.4 kDa band in positive samples and show significantly reduced or absent signal in negative samples .
Cross-reactivity assessment: Since NAA50 shares sequence homology with other N-acetyltransferases, validate specificity by testing the antibody against recombinant NAA50 alongside other NAT family members (especially NAA10, another acetyltransferase) .
Species reactivity verification: If working across species, verify antibody performance in each organism. Many NAA50 antibodies recognize human, mouse, and rat orthologs, but performance may vary .
Application-specific optimization: For each application (WB, IHC, IF), optimize conditions including antibody dilution, incubation time/temperature, blocking reagents, and detection methods. What works for western blotting may not be optimal for immunofluorescence .
Peptide competition assay: Pre-incubate the antibody with a blocking peptide containing the epitope sequence. This should abolish specific signals, confirming antibody specificity .
Comparison of multiple antibodies: When possible, compare results from antibodies targeting different epitopes of NAA50 to ensure consistent observations .
Proper validation ensures experimental reliability and reproducibility, which is particularly important when studying NAA50's roles in complex biological processes like stress responses .
Optimizing Western blot protocols for NAA50 detection requires attention to several technical considerations:
Sample preparation: For optimal NAA50 detection, lyse cells in a buffer containing 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 150 mM NaCl, 1% Triton X-100, and protease inhibitor cocktail. Since NAA50 can localize to multiple cellular compartments including cytosol, ER, and nucleus, ensure complete cellular disruption .
Gel selection: Use 12-15% polyacrylamide gels for better resolution of the 19.4 kDa NAA50 protein. Consider gradient gels (4-20%) if simultaneously detecting interaction partners of varying molecular weights .
Transfer optimization: Use PVDF membranes with 0.2 μm pore size (rather than 0.45 μm) for better retention of small proteins like NAA50. Transfer at lower voltage (30V) overnight at 4°C to prevent protein loss .
Blocking optimization: Test both BSA and non-fat dry milk as blocking agents. Some NAA50 epitopes may be masked by milk proteins, potentially reducing antibody binding efficiency .
Antibody selection and dilution: Primary antibody selection should consider the specific experimental context. Polyclonal antibodies often provide stronger signals but may have higher background, while monoclonal antibodies offer greater specificity .
Signal enhancement strategies: For low-abundance detection, consider using HRP-conjugated secondary antibodies with enhanced chemiluminescence substrates. Signal accumulation methods (longer exposure times or digital integration) may be necessary for detecting low NAA50 expression levels .
Stripping and reprobing considerations: If planning to strip and reprobe membranes, use gentle stripping methods to preserve the NAA50 signal, as harsh conditions may remove the relatively small protein from the membrane .
When investigating NAA50's role in stress response pathways, comparing stressed versus non-stressed samples on the same blot improves quantitative accuracy for detecting expression changes .
Studying NAA50's enzymatic activity and substrate specificity requires specialized approaches beyond simple protein detection:
In vitro acetyltransferase assays: To directly measure NAA50's enzymatic activity, immunoprecipitate NAA50 using validated antibodies and conduct in vitro acetyltransferase assays with [14C]-acetyl-CoA and synthetic peptide substrates. NAA50 has demonstrated both Nα-terminal acetyltransferase and lysine-ε-autoacetyltransferase activity in vitro .
Substrate identification: Combine antibody-based NAA50 purification with mass spectrometry approaches to identify acetylated substrates. Global N-acetylome profiling has revealed conservation of NatE substrate specificity between plants and humans .
Active site mutation studies: Use site-directed mutagenesis to create NAA50 variants with altered catalytic properties, then use antibodies to confirm expression levels before assessing enzymatic activity changes .
Orthogonal validation of acetylation: Complement antibody-based detection with mass spectrometry to unambiguously identify acetylated residues on target proteins .
Species comparison: Use antibodies recognizing NAA50 from different species to immunoprecipitate the protein for comparative enzymatic assays. For example, human NAA50 (HsNAA50) can rescue phenotypes in Arabidopsis NAA50 knockout lines, while yeast NAA50 (ScNAA50), which is catalytically inactive, cannot complement these phenotypes .
Interaction with NatA complex: Investigate NAA50's association with the NatA complex (NAA10-NAA15) using co-immunoprecipitation with NAA50 antibodies followed by detection of associated proteins .
This integrated approach helps elucidate NAA50's enzymatic properties and biological roles beyond simple protein detection.
NAA50 has been implicated in stress response pathways, making this an important area for antibody-based investigations. Effective approaches include:
Stress-induced expression changes: Use validated NAA50 antibodies for western blotting to quantify expression changes under various stress conditions. In Arabidopsis, loss of NAA50 causes accumulation of proteins involved in stress responses, suggesting regulatory connections .
Stress-dependent localization: Employ immunofluorescence with NAA50 antibodies to track potential subcellular relocalization under stress conditions. NAA50 normally localizes to the cytosol, endoplasmic reticulum, and nucleus, but stress might alter this distribution .
Co-immunoprecipitation under stress: Use NAA50 antibodies for pulldown experiments under normal and stress conditions to identify stress-specific interaction partners .
Phospho-specific detection: Consider whether post-translational modifications of NAA50 occur during stress responses. This might require phospho-specific antibodies or a combination of immunoprecipitation with phospho-staining .
Tissue-specific responses: Use immunohistochemistry to evaluate tissue-specific changes in NAA50 expression during systemic stress responses .
NAA50 knockout in Arabidopsis causes accumulation of proteins involved in specific stress response pathways, as shown in this table extracted from research data:
| Biological Process | Count | P-Value | Fold Enrichment | False Discovery Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systemic acquired resistance | 14 | 7.4E−07 | 4.73 | 1.3E−03 |
| Response to salicylic acid | 15 | 9.0E−06 | 3.76 | 1.5E−02 |
| Response to ER stress | 10 | 9.3E−06 | 4.47 | 1.5E−02 |
This data suggests that NAA50 may negatively regulate these stress response pathways under normal conditions, making stress response studies a particularly promising area for NAA50 antibody applications .
When using NAA50 antibodies across different model organisms, researchers should consider several important factors:
Sequence homology assessment: Before selecting an antibody, compare NAA50 protein sequences across target species. While NAA50 is conserved, epitope regions may vary. Many commercial antibodies recognize human, mouse, and rat orthologs, but testing in other species requires validation .
Cross-reactivity validation: Always validate antibodies in each species of interest, even when manufacturers claim cross-reactivity. Western blotting with positive and negative controls from each species provides the most reliable validation .
Functional conservation analysis: NAA50's function is not identical across all species. In humans and Arabidopsis, NAA50 possesses acetyltransferase activity, while yeast NAA50 is catalytically inactive and mainly positions NatA at the ribosome tunnel exit . These functional differences should inform experimental design and interpretation.
Complementation studies: When studying NAA50 function across species, consider complementation approaches. For example, human NAA50 (HsNAA50) can rescue phenotypes in Arabidopsis NAA50 knockout lines, while catalytically inactive yeast NAA50 (ScNAA50) cannot . This suggests functional conservation between human and plant NAA50 despite evolutionary distance.
Species-specific cellular contexts: The subcellular localization and interaction partners of NAA50 may vary between species. In Arabidopsis, NAA50-EYFP localizes to the cytosol, endoplasmic reticulum, and nuclei , but this pattern should be verified in each organism of interest.
Protocol optimization: Fixation methods, blocking reagents, and detection systems may require species-specific optimization, particularly for immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence applications .
Alternative approaches: When antibody performance is suboptimal in certain species, consider epitope tagging of the endogenous protein or generating species-specific antibodies against unique epitopes .
These considerations help ensure reliable results when studying NAA50 across evolutionary boundaries, enabling meaningful comparative studies.
Distinguishing NAA50 from other N-acetyltransferase (NAT) family members requires careful experimental design:
Antibody selection strategy: Choose antibodies raised against unique regions of NAA50 that share minimal sequence homology with other NAT proteins (particularly NAA10, which is also part of the NatE complex). C-terminal antibodies often provide better specificity since this region tends to be less conserved among NAT family members .
Validation with recombinant proteins: Test antibody specificity against recombinant NAA50 alongside other recombinant NAT family proteins (NAA10, NAA20, NAA30, NAA40, etc.) to confirm recognition of only the intended target .
Knockout/knockdown controls: Include samples from NAA50 knockout or knockdown systems as negative controls. The antibody should show significantly reduced or absent signal in these samples while continuing to detect other NAT family members if cross-reactivity exists .
Molecular weight distinction: NAA50 has a molecular weight of approximately 19.4 kDa, which differs from other NAT family members. NAA10 is approximately 26 kDa, allowing distinction on western blots with adequate resolution .
Immunoprecipitation specificity: When using NAA50 antibodies for immunoprecipitation, validate pulled-down proteins by mass spectrometry to confirm identity and assess potential co-precipitation of other NAT family members due to physical interactions rather than antibody cross-reactivity .
Subcellular localization patterns: Different NAT family members may have distinct subcellular localization patterns. NAA50 localizes to the cytosol, endoplasmic reticulum, and nucleus, which may differ from other NAT proteins, providing another layer of discrimination in immunofluorescence studies .
Functional assays: Complement antibody-based detection with functional assays that distinguish between different NAT activities. NAA50 has both N-terminal acetyltransferase and lysine-ε-autoacetyltransferase activities with specific substrate preferences that differ from other NAT enzymes .
These approaches help ensure experimental observations are specifically attributed to NAA50 rather than other NAT family members.
Researchers working with NAA50 antibodies frequently encounter several technical challenges that can be addressed with specific optimization strategies:
Low signal intensity:
Challenge: NAA50's relatively small size (19.4 kDa) and moderate expression levels can result in weak signals.
Solution: Increase sample concentration, optimize antibody concentration, extend primary antibody incubation time (overnight at 4°C), use high-sensitivity detection systems, and consider signal amplification methods such as tyramide signal amplification for immunohistochemistry .
Non-specific bands in Western blots:
Challenge: Some NAA50 antibodies show cross-reactivity with other proteins.
Solution: Optimize blocking conditions (test both BSA and milk at different concentrations), increase washing stringency, test different antibody dilutions, and consider more specific monoclonal antibodies. Always include positive and negative controls to identify true NAA50 bands .
Variable results across applications:
Challenge: An antibody performing well in Western blotting may fail in immunoprecipitation or immunofluorescence.
Solution: Verify each antibody is specifically validated for your application of interest. Some suppliers offer application-specific validation data. Consider using different antibodies optimized for each application .
Species cross-reactivity issues:
Challenge: Antibodies raised against human NAA50 may not recognize orthologs in all model organisms despite sequence conservation.
Solution: Test each antibody with positive controls from your species of interest. If cross-reactivity is poor, consider species-specific antibodies or epitope tagging approaches .
Detecting post-translational modifications:
Preserving NAA50's enzymatic activity during immunoprecipitation:
Detecting NAA50 in fixed tissues:
Each of these challenges requires methodical troubleshooting to achieve optimal results when working with NAA50 antibodies.
Proper storage and handling of NAA50 antibodies is crucial for maintaining their specificity and sensitivity:
Temperature considerations:
Store antibody stock solutions at -20°C for long-term storage, divided into single-use aliquots to avoid freeze-thaw cycles.
Working dilutions can be stored at 4°C for up to one week, but sensitivity may gradually decrease.
Never freeze diluted antibody solutions as this can lead to significant activity loss .
Aliquoting strategy:
Upon receiving a new antibody, immediately prepare 10-20 μl aliquots in sterile microcentrifuge tubes.
Record the date of aliquoting and track usage to monitor performance over time.
This approach prevents contamination of the entire stock and minimizes freeze-thaw cycles, which can denature antibody proteins .
Buffer composition:
Contamination prevention:
Tracking performance:
Include positive controls in each experiment to monitor antibody performance over time.
If signal intensity decreases despite consistent sample preparation, prepare fresh working dilutions from frozen stocks.
Document lot numbers and observe for lot-to-lot variations that might affect experimental consistency .
Transportation considerations:
Reconstitution of lyophilized antibodies:
Proper storage and handling practices significantly extend antibody shelf-life and ensure consistent experimental results when working with NAA50.
Designing effective co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) experiments to study NAA50's protein interaction network requires careful consideration of multiple factors:
Antibody selection for IP:
Choose antibodies specifically validated for immunoprecipitation. Not all NAA50 antibodies that work for Western blotting will perform well in IP applications .
Consider using both N-terminal and C-terminal targeting antibodies in parallel experiments, as epitope accessibility may differ depending on interaction partners.
For maximum pulldown efficiency, use antibodies with high affinity (low nanomolar Kd values) .
Lysis buffer optimization:
For studying stable interactions, use RIPA buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 1% NP-40, 0.5% sodium deoxycholate, 0.1% SDS, plus protease inhibitors).
For preserving weaker or transient interactions, use milder lysis conditions with lower detergent concentrations (0.1% NP-40 or Digitonin) .
Include phosphatase inhibitors if studying phosphorylation-dependent interactions.
Control experiments:
Cross-linking considerations:
Sequential co-IP strategy:
Mass spectrometry analysis:
Complement targeted Western blot analysis of known interactors with unbiased proteomics.
Use stable isotope labeling approaches (SILAC) to distinguish specific interactions from background.
Focus analysis on acetylation-related proteins and stress response pathway components based on NAA50's known functions .
Reciprocal confirmation:
This comprehensive approach allows researchers to map NAA50's interaction network and connect it to biological functions such as N-terminal acetylation and stress response regulation .
Investigating the relationship between NAA50 and the NatA complex requires specialized approaches that can distinguish functional dependencies from physical interactions:
Structural analysis of the NAA50-NatA complex:
Use co-immunoprecipitation with NAA50 antibodies followed by Western blotting for NatA components (NAA10 and NAA15) to confirm interaction .
Compare antibodies targeting different NAA50 epitopes to identify regions potentially involved in NatA binding based on differential pulldown efficiency .
Consider cross-linking approaches to stabilize the complex before immunoprecipitation for more complete complex recovery .
Functional independence assessment:
In Arabidopsis, loss of NAA50 expression does not affect N-terminal acetylation of known NatA substrates, suggesting functional independence .
Design experiments to compare substrate acetylation in wild-type, NAA50-knockout, and NatA-compromised (NAA10 or NAA15 knockdown) conditions using antibodies to track protein expression levels .
Use acetylation-specific detection methods to monitor NatA-dependent and NAA50-dependent acetylation events separately .
Subcellular co-localization studies:
Employ dual immunofluorescence using antibodies against NAA50 and NatA components to assess co-localization patterns across cellular compartments .
NAA50 localizes to the cytosol, endoplasmic reticulum, and nuclei, patterns that should be compared with NatA distribution .
Consider stress conditions that might alter co-localization dynamics .
Complementation analysis:
Unlike the embryo-lethal phenotype caused by absence of NatA components (NAA10 and NAA15), loss of NAA50 results in severe growth retardation but not lethality in Arabidopsis .
Compare phenotypes of single and double knockouts/knockdowns to assess genetic interactions.
Use antibodies to confirm expression levels of rescue constructs in complementation studies .
Species-specific functional analysis:
In yeast, NAA50 appears to be catalytically inactive but helps position NatA at the ribosome tunnel exit .
In humans and plants, NAA50 has enzymatic activity and a potentially more independent role .
Use antibodies to track expression of heterologous NAA50 proteins in cross-species complementation studies (e.g., human NAA50 rescues Arabidopsis naa50-2 phenotype, but yeast NAA50 does not) .
Ribosomal association studies:
These approaches allow researchers to distinguish between physical association and functional dependence in the NAA50-NatA relationship, providing insight into both conserved and species-specific aspects of NAT complex biology .
Several emerging research areas present promising opportunities for NAA50 antibody applications:
Stress response pathway elucidation:
NAA50 knockout in Arabidopsis causes accumulation of proteins involved in systemic acquired resistance, salicylic acid response, and ER stress pathways, with significant enrichment factors (3.76-4.73) .
Antibody-based approaches can help map the regulatory connections between NAA50 and these stress pathways across different model systems.
Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) with transcription factor antibodies combined with NAA50 expression analysis could reveal regulatory mechanisms .
Non-canonical acetylation targets:
Beyond N-terminal acetylation, NAA50 demonstrates lysine-ε-autoacetyltransferase activity in vitro .
Antibodies recognizing acetylated lysine residues, combined with NAA50 manipulation, could help identify non-canonical acetylation targets in vivo.
Proximity labeling approaches using NAA50 fusion proteins followed by antibody-based purification might reveal transient substrates .
Developmental biology applications:
The severe growth retardation and infertility in NAA50 knockout Arabidopsis suggest important developmental roles .
Antibody-based tissue profiling across developmental stages could reveal spatial and temporal expression patterns correlating with specific developmental processes.
Similar approaches in animal models might uncover conserved developmental functions .
Cross-species comparative studies:
The observation that human NAA50 can rescue plant NAA50 knockout phenotypes while yeast NAA50 cannot suggests evolutionarily divergent functions .
Antibodies recognizing NAA50 across multiple species enable comparative studies of expression, localization, and interaction partners.
These approaches could illuminate how NAA50 function has evolved from catalytically inactive (yeast) to enzymatically active (humans, plants) forms .
Cancer and disease connections:
Subcellular dynamics under environmental changes:
These emerging research directions highlight the continuing value of NAA50 antibodies as vital tools for exploring fundamental biological processes and potential disease connections.
Emerging antibody technologies promise to significantly advance NAA50 research capabilities:
Single-domain antibodies (nanobodies):
These small (~15 kDa) antibody fragments derived from camelid heavy-chain antibodies offer advantages for NAA50 research including:
Better accessibility to sterically hindered epitopes when NAA50 is bound to interaction partners
Superior performance in intracellular applications for tracking NAA50 in living cells
Potential for site-specific labeling to minimize interference with NAA50's enzymatic activity
Recombinant antibody engineering:
Antibody-enzyme proximity labeling:
Fusion of peroxidase enzymes (APEX) or biotin ligases (TurboID) to NAA50 antibodies enables:
Spatially-restricted labeling of proteins in proximity to NAA50
Identification of transient interaction partners difficult to capture with traditional co-IP
Mapping NAA50's microenvironment in different subcellular compartments
Bi-specific and multi-specific antibodies:
Split-epitope complementation systems:
Degradation-inducing antibodies:
High-throughput antibody validation platforms:
These technological advancements will expand the experimental toolkit available for NAA50 research, enabling more sophisticated investigations into its biological functions and mechanisms of action.