At1g79010 Antibody

Molecular and Functional Characteristics

The At1g79010 antibody is directed against the NDUFS8.2 protein (AT1G79010), a nuclear-encoded subunit of Complex I in Arabidopsis thaliana. Complex I (NADH dehydrogenase) is a critical enzyme in the electron transport chain, catalyzing NADH-quinone oxidoreduction .

Role in Mitochondrial Complex I Assembly

NDUFS8.2 is essential for the proper assembly and function of Complex I. Mutants deficient in NDUFS8.2 or its homolog NDUFS8.1 (AT1G16700) exhibit severe Complex I defects:

• Reduced CI Abundance: Mutants show diminished monomeric Complex I and supercomplex I+III in BN-PAGE assays .

• Impaired Activity: Deamino-NADH:Q reductase activity, a marker for Complex I function, is significantly reduced in mutants .

• Compensatory Pathways: Increased activity of alternative electron transport chains (e.g., cytochrome c oxidase, AOX) may mitigate energy deficits in mutants .

Table 1: Impact of NDUFS8.2 Deficiency on Complex I

Research Applications and Findings

The At1g79010 antibody has been utilized in studies to:

Investigate Complex I Assembly Factors

• CIAF1 (At1g76060): A LYR-motif protein required for Complex I assembly. Mutants lacking CIAF1 show reduced Complex I abundance and activity, paralleling NDUFS8.2-deficient phenotypes .

• Immunodetection: The antibody is used to monitor NDUFS8.2 levels in BN-PAGE and Western blotting to assess assembly defects .

Study Mitochondrial Stress Responses

• Photoperiod Effects: Mutants with NDUFS8.2 deficiency show altered growth and Complex I activity under varying light conditions, highlighting environmental modulation of mitochondrial function .

Cross-Species Comparisons

While primarily studied in Arabidopsis, NDUFS8.2 homologs exist in other organisms. For example, yeast and fungal LYR proteins (e.g., YALI0D07216g) share functional parallels in Complex I biogenesis .

Table 2: Key Research Applications

Cross-Reactivity and Specificity

The antibody shows high specificity to NDUFS8.2 with no reported cross-reactivity to other mitochondrial proteins (e.g., COX II, SDH1-1) in immunoblotting . This specificity is critical for distinguishing Complex I subunits from other respiratory chain components.

Broader Implications

• Plant Bioenergetics: Insights from NDUFS8.2 studies inform strategies to enhance crop resilience under stress.

• Human Disease Models: Complex I dysfunction is linked to neurodegenerative diseases; plant models provide tractable systems for studying mitochondrial pathology .