MEKK2 is a kinase involved in stress-activated signaling cascades, particularly in response to osmotic stress, dehydration, and abscisic acid (ABA) signaling . Key roles include:
Phosphorylation Regulation: MEKK2 modulates downstream targets like SnRK2 kinases and transcription factors .
Stress Adaptation: It coordinates cellular responses to water deficit by regulating ion transport, stomatal closure, and gene expression .
The antibody is custom-generated for detecting MEKK2 in Arabidopsis tissues. Applications include:
Western Blotting: Quantifying MEKK2 protein levels under stress conditions .
Immunoprecipitation: Isolating MEKK2-interacting proteins in kinase assays .
Targeted Proteomics: Validating phosphorylation changes via Selected Reaction Monitoring (SRM) mass spectrometry .
| Sample | MEKK2 Peptide (SLDFPNR) | Abundance (pmol/μg) | Coefficient of Variation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control | Detected | 0.45 ± 0.07 | 15% |
| Osmotic Stress | Detected | 1.12 ± 0.15 | 13% |
| ABA-Treated | Detected | 0.98 ± 0.12 | 14% |
Specificity: The antibody exhibits high affinity for MEKK2’s C-terminal domain, validated using mekk2 knockout mutants .
Limitations: Cross-reactivity with MEKK1/3 homologs was observed at high concentrations, necessitating stringent dilution protocols .
Drought Tolerance: Overexpression of MEKK2 in transgenic Arabidopsis correlates with reduced transpirational water loss and improved survival under drought .
Pathogen Defense: MEKK2 phosphorylation cascades intersect with immune signaling pathways, suggesting dual roles in biotic/abiotic stress .
Structural Studies: Cryo-EM or crystallography could resolve MEKK2’s activation mechanism.
Crop Engineering: Transferring MEKK2 regulatory modules to crops may enhance climate resilience.
AT3G63000 (also known as NPL41 or NPL4-like protein 1) is a protein-coding gene in Arabidopsis thaliana that belongs to the NPL4 protein family . This protein is significant in plant research because:
It is expressed in 25 plant structures across 15 growth stages
According to SUBAcon consensus data, it localizes predominantly to the cytosol
It appears in sulfenome mining studies, suggesting a role in redox regulation
It may participate in endoplasmic reticulum-mediated protein quality control pathways similar to the ERAD (Endoplasmic Reticulum-Associated Degradation) system
The protein contains 413 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of approximately 46.5 kDa and an isoelectric point of 5.12 . Understanding AT3G63000 contributes to our knowledge of plant stress responses and protein quality control mechanisms.
Detection of AT3G63000 requires selecting appropriate antibody-based techniques:
Western blotting: The most common approach for detecting AT3G63000 protein expression in plant tissue extracts. Based on antibody protocols for other plant proteins , use the following methodology:
Extract total protein using a buffer containing reducing agents
Separate proteins on 10-12% SDS-PAGE gels
Transfer to PVDF membranes using standard protocols
Block with 5% non-fat milk or BSA
Incubate with primary AT3G63000 antibody (typically at 1-5 μg/mL)
Detect using appropriate HRP-conjugated secondary antibodies
Visualize using chemiluminescence
Immunohistochemistry (IHC): For tissue localization studies:
Fix plant tissues with paraformaldehyde
Embed in paraffin and section (5-10 μm)
Perform antigen retrieval using heat-induced epitope retrieval with basic buffer (pH 9.0)
Block with appropriate serum
Incubate with AT3G63000 antibody (10-15 μg/mL overnight at 4°C)
Detect using HRP-DAB staining system with hematoxylin counterstain
Immunofluorescence: For subcellular localization:
For rigorous experimental design, include these essential controls:
Positive control:
Wild-type Arabidopsis tissues known to express AT3G63000
Recombinant AT3G63000 protein (if available)
Negative controls:
Specificity controls:
Pre-absorption of antibody with recombinant AT3G63000 protein
Western blot showing single band at expected molecular weight (~46.5 kDa)
Comparison with protein expression patterns in published literature
When selecting an antibody against AT3G63000, researchers should consider:
Antibody type:
Host species:
Immunogen design:
Full-length recombinant protein (Ile22-Leu413) would be ideal
Alternatively, unique peptide sequences from AT3G63000 can be used
Avoid regions with high homology to other NPL4-family proteins
Validation data:
Request evidence of specificity via Western blot
Check for cross-reactivity testing
Review immunohistochemistry images if available
Application compatibility:
A systematic validation approach includes:
Western blot analysis:
Test on wild-type plant extracts versus knockout/knockdown lines
Expected band size: ~46.5 kDa
Test different tissue types to confirm expression patterns
Immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry:
Immunostaining patterns:
Genetic knockdown validation:
Recombinant protein testing:
For investigating protein interactions involving AT3G63000:
Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP):
Lyse plant tissues in appropriate buffer (e.g., 50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 1% NP-40, protease inhibitors)
Incubate lysate with AT3G63000 antibody
Capture antibody-protein complexes using Protein A/G beads
Wash extensively and elute
Analyze by Western blot or mass spectrometry
Look for known ERAD pathway components that might interact with AT3G63000
Proximity labeling combined with immunoprecipitation:
Immunofluorescence co-localization:
Co-stain cells with AT3G63000 antibody and antibodies against suspected interaction partners
Analyze using confocal microscopy
Quantify co-localization using Pearson's correlation coefficient
Based on its potential involvement in ERAD-like pathways , consider:
Stress response experiments:
Ubiquitylation analysis:
Immunoprecipitate with AT3G63000 antibody
Probe Western blots with anti-ubiquitin antibodies
Alternatively, perform tandem ubiquitin binding entity (TUBE) pulldowns
Compare ubiquitylation patterns between wild-type and stress conditions
Proteasome inhibition studies:
Treat plants with MG132 (proteasome inhibitor)
Examine changes in AT3G63000 protein levels and interacting partners
Look for accumulated ERAD substrates
Cycloheximide chase assays:
Treat plant cells with cycloheximide to inhibit protein synthesis
Monitor AT3G63000 protein degradation over time by Western blot
Compare degradation rates under normal and stress conditions
Given AT3G63000's identification in sulfenome mining studies :
Detection of oxidative modifications:
Redox proteomics workflow:
Treat plants with oxidative stress inducers (H₂O₂, paraquat)
Immunoprecipitate AT3G63000 using specific antibodies
Analyze post-translational modifications by mass spectrometry
Compare redox states using isotope-coded affinity tags
Monitoring redox-dependent subcellular localization:
Perform immunofluorescence under normal and oxidative stress conditions
Quantify changes in subcellular distribution
Co-stain with organelle markers
Based on AT3G63000's presence in sulfenome datasets and potential ERAD involvement :
Mechanistic hypothesis:
Experimental approach:
Advanced analytical methods:
Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry to analyze conformational changes
NMR studies of oxidized versus reduced protein
Proximity ligation assays to detect stress-dependent interactions in situ
For comparative studies of NPL4-family proteins:
Phylogenetic analysis:
Functional redundancy testing:
Generate single and double knockout lines using CRISPR/Cas9
Compare phenotypes of single mutants versus double mutants
Use AT3G63000-specific antibodies to confirm protein absence
Cross-reactivity assessment:
Test AT3G63000 antibodies against recombinant NPL4-family proteins
Perform epitope mapping to identify unique regions
Develop antibodies against unique epitopes if cross-reactivity occurs
Transcript-protein correlation analysis:
Compare mRNA expression (via RT-qPCR) with protein levels (via antibody detection)
Analyze across different tissues and stress conditions
Identify post-transcriptional regulation mechanisms
| NPL4 Family Protein | Gene ID | Molecular Weight | Subcellular Localization | Known Functions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPL41 | AT3G63000 | 46.5 kDa | Cytosol | Potential ERAD involvement, redox regulation |
| NPL4 | AT2G47970 | Similar | Nuclear pore | Nuclear protein localization |
To investigate AT3G63000's role in stress adaptation:
Stress response profiling:
Protein quality control assessment:
Measure accumulation of ubiquitylated proteins in wild-type versus mutant plants
Monitor ER stress markers (e.g., BiP, PDI)
Analyze unfolded protein response activation
Quantify protein aggregation under stress conditions
Systems biology approach:
Perform RNA-Seq and proteomics on wild-type versus mutant plants
Construct protein-protein interaction networks
Identify pathways affected by AT3G63000 deletion
Validate key interactions using co-immunoprecipitation with AT3G63000 antibodies
To resolve non-specific binding issues:
Antibody optimization:
Titrate antibody concentration (try 0.1-5 μg/mL range)
Extend blocking time (2-3 hours or overnight)
Try different blocking agents (BSA, non-fat milk, normal serum)
Increase washing steps and duration
Sample preparation improvements:
Use fresher tissue samples
Include additional protease inhibitors
Add reducing agents to prevent disulfide cross-linking
Pre-clear lysates with Protein A/G beads
Specificity enhancement:
Pre-absorb antibody with Arabidopsis lysate from knockout lines
Increase salt concentration in washing buffers (up to 500 mM NaCl)
Add 0.1-0.5% SDS or 0.1-1% Triton X-100 to washing buffers
Use more stringent washing conditions for immunoprecipitation
Alternative detection methods:
Try a different secondary antibody
Use direct conjugation of primary antibody
Consider signal amplification systems for weak signals
For improved immunofluorescence results:
Fixation optimization:
Compare different fixatives (4% paraformaldehyde, methanol, acetone)
Adjust fixation time (10-30 minutes)
Try different permeabilization methods (0.1-0.5% Triton X-100, 0.1% saponin)
Antigen retrieval:
Signal enhancement:
Use tyramide signal amplification
Try different fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibodies
Extend primary antibody incubation (overnight at 4°C)
Reduce autofluorescence with sodium borohydride treatment
Advanced imaging:
Apply deconvolution algorithms
Use super-resolution microscopy for improved localization
Perform quantitative co-localization analysis
To validate antibody specificity:
Genetic validation:
Biochemical confirmation:
Perform mass spectrometry on immunoprecipitated protein
Compare observed molecular weight with predicted size (46.5 kDa)
Check for expected post-translational modifications
Cross-validation:
Compare results from multiple antibodies targeting different epitopes
Use alternative detection methods (e.g., expressing tagged protein)
Correlate protein levels with mRNA expression data
Competitive binding assay:
Pre-incubate antibody with recombinant AT3G63000 protein
Observe signal reduction in Western blot or immunofluorescence
Establish concentration-dependent inhibition curve