Target Protein: NES1/KLK10 (Normal Epithelial Cell-Specific 1/Kallikrein-10) is a secreted protease with tumor-suppressive roles .
Antibody Specificity: The antibody binds to the immunogen range spanning residues 65–165/276 of human NES1 .
Conjugation: Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is covalently linked to the antibody’s lysine residues, enabling enzymatic detection in assays .
The NES antibody is validated for:
Western Blotting (WB): Detects NES1 in lysates (1:300–5000 dilution) .
Immunohistochemistry (IHC): Localizes NES1 in tumor tissues (1:200–400 for paraffin-embedded sections) .
Tumor Suppression: NES1 expression inversely correlates with cancer progression, suggesting its role as a diagnostic biomarker .
Conjugation Efficiency: Site-specific methods (e.g., oYo-Link) avoid antibody polymerization, ensuring consistent labeling .
Signal-to-Noise Optimization: Purification steps (e.g., Q spin filters in SoluLINK) eliminate excess HRP, reducing background noise .
Glycosylation Issues: Recombinant HRP conjugates expressed in Pichia pastoris may exhibit excessive glycosylation, reducing yield .
Cross-Reactivity: Polyclonal antibodies may bind non-target epitopes, necessitating cross-adsorption steps .
Nestin is essential for brain and eye development. It facilitates the depolymerization of phosphorylated vimentin intermediate filaments (IFs) during mitosis and may contribute to the trafficking and distribution of IF proteins and other cellular factors to daughter cells during progenitor cell division. Nestin is also crucial for the survival, renewal, and mitogen-stimulated proliferation of neural progenitor cells.
The following studies highlight the diverse roles of Nestin:
NES/KLK10 (Normal epithelial cell-specific 1/Kallikrein-10) is a serine protease that functions as a tumor suppressor gene in breast and prostate cancers . The protein is secreted and has been identified to have altered expression patterns in various cancer types. The significance of NES/KLK10 lies in its potential as both a biomarker and therapeutic target due to its involvement in cancer progression pathways.
The protein has several synonyms including PRSSL1 (Protease serine-like 1) which can sometimes cause confusion in the literature . Research using NES antibodies has demonstrated that this protein plays regulatory roles in cellular processes related to tumor suppression, though the exact mechanisms remain under investigation by multiple research groups.
Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugation to antibodies involves the covalent attachment of the enzyme to surface-exposed lysine residues on the antibody molecule . The reaction typically employs activated forms of HRP that can form stable bonds with primary amines present in lysine side chains.
HRP-conjugated antibodies provide several advantages for immunodetection:
| Feature | Advantage | Application Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Signal Amplification | Single HRP molecule can process multiple substrate molecules | Enhanced sensitivity for low-abundance targets |
| Stability | Longer shelf-life compared to fluorophores | Reliable results across experimental timeframes |
| Versatility | Compatible with multiple detection substrates | Flexible experimental design options |
| Cost-effectiveness | Inexpensive detection reagents | Reduced experimental costs |
| Permanence | Creates permanent records with chromogenic substrates | Long-term data storage |
These properties make HRP-conjugated antibodies particularly valuable for applications requiring high sensitivity and quantitative analysis, such as Western blotting and immunohistochemistry .
Optimal conditions for Western blotting with NES Antibody, HRP conjugated typically include:
Dilution ratio: For NES/KLK10 polyclonal antibody (HRP conjugated), a recommended dilution range of 1:300-5000 has been established for Western blot applications .
Blocking conditions: A TBS buffer (pH 7.4) containing 1% BSA is generally effective for reducing background .
Incubation parameters: Optimal incubation is typically performed at 4°C overnight or at room temperature for 1-2 hours, though specific optimization may be required for individual experimental systems.
Detection substrate: For high sensitivity detection, enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) substrates are recommended, with exposure times adjusted based on protein abundance and antibody dilution.
Sample preparation: Reducing conditions are generally used, similar to those described for other HRP-conjugated detection systems .
Researchers should note that these parameters serve as starting points and may require further optimization based on specific experimental requirements and protein expression levels.
For immunohistochemistry applications using NES Antibody, HRP conjugated, consider the following methodological approach:
Dilution determination: Start with the recommended range of 1:200-400 for paraffin-embedded sections (IHC-P) and 1:100-500 for frozen sections (IHC-F) .
Antigen retrieval: Heat-induced epitope retrieval (HIER) using citrate buffer (pH 6.0) is typically effective, though this should be optimized based on tissue type and fixation method.
Detection system: DAB (3,3'-diaminobenzidine) chromogen produces a brown precipitate and is commonly used with HRP-conjugated antibodies, as demonstrated in detection protocols .
Controls: Always include appropriate positive and negative controls. Negative controls should include omission of primary antibody while maintaining all other steps, as described in protocols for similar HRP-conjugated antibody systems .
Counterstaining: Hematoxylin counterstaining (blue) provides good contrast with the brown DAB precipitate for morphological context .
Tissue-specific optimization may be necessary, especially when working with tissues that express varying levels of the target protein.
Various substrates can be used with HRP-conjugated antibodies, each offering different sensitivity levels and detection modalities:
| Substrate Type | Detection Method | Sensitivity | Best Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAB (3,3'-diaminobenzidine) | Colorimetric (brown) | Moderate | IHC, routine visualization |
| AEC (3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole) | Colorimetric (red) | Moderate | IHC with blue counterstains |
| TMB (3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine) | Colorimetric (blue) | High | ELISA, blotting |
| Luminol-based ECL | Chemiluminescence | Very high | Western blotting, low abundance targets |
| Tyramide signal amplification | Fluorescence or chromogenic | Ultra-high | Very low abundance targets |
The choice of substrate affects not only sensitivity but also the signal-to-noise ratio and detection stability. For quantitative applications, chemiluminescent substrates offer the widest dynamic range, while colorimetric substrates like DAB provide permanent records suitable for long-term archiving .
High background in Western blots can result from several factors that researchers should systematically address:
Insufficient blocking: The recommended storage buffer containing 0.01M TBS (pH 7.4) with 1% BSA may need to be adjusted for blocking concentration .
Antibody concentration: Over-concentration of antibody can lead to non-specific binding; consider testing dilutions at the higher end of the recommended range (closer to 1:5000) .
Cross-reactivity: Although NES/KLK10 antibody is designed for human and mouse samples, it may show predicted reactivity with rat and cow samples that could contribute to background in certain experimental systems .
Washing stringency: Insufficient washing between steps can leave residual unbound antibody. Implement additional washing steps with 0.05% Tween-20 in TBS.
Membrane handling: Physical contamination of the membrane through improper handling can create artifactual signals.
Systematic optimization by modifying one variable at a time will help identify and resolve specific causes of high background.
Proper storage is crucial for maintaining the activity of HRP-conjugated antibodies:
Temperature conditions: Store at -20°C for long-term storage. The addition of 50% glycerol as a cryoprotectant is recommended for freezing HRP conjugates .
Avoid freeze-thaw cycles: Aliquot the antibody into multiple vials upon receipt to minimize repeated freeze-thaw cycles, which can significantly reduce activity .
Short-term storage: For periods up to 6 months, storage at 2-8°C is generally sufficient for HRP-conjugated antibodies .
Critical precaution: Never freeze HRP secondary antibodies without cryoprotectant, as indicated by manufacturer warnings ("Do not freeze") .
Buffer composition: The storage buffer containing 0.01M TBS (pH 7.4) with 1% BSA, 0.03% Proclin300, and 50% Glycerol helps maintain antibody stability .
The optimal storage conditions may vary between specific antibody preparations, and researchers should follow manufacturer recommendations for their particular antibody.
Several factors can inhibit or interfere with HRP enzymatic activity in experimental applications:
| Interfering Factor | Mechanism of Interference | Mitigation Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium azide | Inhibits HRP enzyme activity | Avoid buffers containing sodium azide |
| Reducing agents (DTT, β-mercaptoethanol) | Disrupt disulfide bonds in HRP | Remove reducing agents before HRP detection |
| Metal ions | Compete with active site | Use chelating agents in buffers if necessary |
| Excessive detergent | Denatures enzyme structure | Keep detergent concentrations below 0.1% |
| Peroxidase inhibitors from samples | Competitively inhibit HRP | Pre-treat samples to remove endogenous inhibitors |
Additionally, some antibodies may have lysine residues in their antigen-binding sites, and conjugation may therefore affect binding activity, requiring validation of antibody performance after conjugation .
The conjugation of HRP to NES antibodies can impact binding characteristics through several mechanisms:
Researchers should validate HRP-conjugated antibodies against unconjugated versions when possible, particularly for quantitative applications where binding affinity directly impacts results interpretation.
Multiplexing experiments with HRP-conjugated antibodies require careful planning to avoid cross-reactivity and signal interference:
Sequential detection: When multiple HRP-conjugated antibodies are used, complete signal development and quenching of the first antibody must occur before introducing the second antibody.
Alternative enzymes: Consider using HRP for one target and alternative enzymes like alkaline phosphatase (AP) for others, as they use different substrates and generate distinct signals .
Antibody stripping: For sequential detection on the same membrane, stripping protocols must be validated to ensure complete removal of the first antibody-HRP complex without damaging the immobilized proteins.
Cross-reactivity assessment: Validate that the NES antibody does not cross-react with other targets or secondary antibodies in the multiplexing panel.
Species considerations: When designing panels, select primary antibodies from different host species to enable species-specific secondary antibodies, similar to approaches used with other HRP-conjugated systems .
These considerations are particularly important when studying NES/KLK10 in complex tissue environments where multiple markers may need to be evaluated simultaneously.
Quantitative analysis of results from NES Antibody, HRP conjugated experiments requires rigorous methodological approaches:
Standard curves: For ELISA applications, establish standard curves using purified recombinant NES/KLK10 protein at known concentrations.
Densitometry: For Western blots, use densitometry software to quantify band intensity relative to loading controls, similar to techniques used with other HRP-conjugated detection systems .
Digital image analysis: For IHC applications, employ image analysis software to quantify DAB staining intensity and distribution, referencing techniques used in other HRP-conjugated antibody applications .
Statistical validation: Always include biological and technical replicates to enable statistical analysis of quantitative data.
Dynamic range consideration: Ensure signal intensity falls within the linear range of detection to avoid saturation, which invalidates quantitative comparisons.
For experiments investigating NES/KLK10 as a potential biomarker, these quantitative approaches are essential for establishing clinical correlations and statistical significance.