The OAS3 Antibody, Biotin conjugated is a specialized biochemical reagent designed to detect and quantify the human enzyme 2′-5′-oligoadenylate synthetase 3 (OAS3). This antibody is chemically linked to biotin, enabling its use in assays requiring streptavidin-based detection systems (e.g., ELISA, Western blot). OAS3 is an interferon-inducible protein critical for antiviral responses, apoptosis regulation, and cellular growth control .
OAS3 synthesizes 2′-5′-oligoadenylates (2-5A) from ATP upon detecting viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). These 2-5A molecules activate RNase L, which cleaves single-stranded RNA to inhibit viral replication . Unlike OAS1 and OAS2, OAS3 exhibits higher dsRNA affinity and produces longer 2-5A oligomers, making it indispensable for antiviral defense .
Western Blotting: Detects OAS3 at ~100–120 kDa in human cell lysates .
ELISA: Quantifies OAS3 levels in interferon-treated or virus-infected samples .
Immunohistochemistry (IHC): Localizes OAS3 expression in tissues like placental trophoblasts .
Functional Studies: Demonstrates OAS3’s role in restricting viruses (e.g., West Nile, dengue, vaccinia) via RNase L activation .
OAS3-KO cells show minimal 2-5A production and fail to activate RNase L, leading to 12–100x higher viral titers for West Nile, Sindbis, and influenza viruses .
Overexpression of OAS3 restores RNase L-mediated rRNA degradation and antiviral activity .
OAS3’s preferential synthesis of 2-5A dimers and high dsRNA sensitivity enable early viral RNA detection .
OAS3 localizes to cytoplasmic compartments, where it interacts with viral dsRNA, unlike OAS1/OAS2, which show distinct distribution patterns .
OAS3 antibody biotin conjugated is suitable for several research applications including:
The biotin conjugation provides enhanced sensitivity through signal amplification when used with streptavidin detection systems, making it particularly valuable for detecting low abundance proteins or in complex tissue samples .
The commercially available OAS3 antibody biotin conjugated products typically have the following specifications:
To maintain optimal activity of OAS3 antibody biotin conjugated, researchers should follow these storage guidelines:
Aliquot the antibody upon receipt to minimize freeze-thaw cycles
Avoid exposure to light as biotin conjugates are photosensitive
Avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles which can lead to antibody degradation and loss of activity
When handling, keep the antibody on ice and return to storage promptly
For short-term use (less than a week), the antibody can be stored at 4°C with appropriate preservatives
The buffer composition (0.01 M PBS, pH 7.4, 0.03% Proclin-300 and 50% Glycerol) helps maintain stability during storage . The high glycerol content prevents freezing at -20°C, reducing damage from ice crystal formation.
Determining optimal dilution factors for OAS3 antibody biotin conjugated requires careful titration for each application:
For ELISA applications:
Start with manufacturer's recommended range (typically 1:500-1:1000)
Perform a checkerboard titration using 2-fold serial dilutions
Evaluate signal-to-noise ratio to determine optimal concentration
Consider the abundance of your target protein in your sample type
For Western Blotting:
Test multiple dilutions on the same blot with known positive samples
Monitor background levels and specific band intensity
Validate specificity with appropriate positive and negative controls
For IHC applications:
Start with manufacturer's recommended range (typically 1:200-1:400)
Test on known positive tissue sections and appropriate negative controls
Optimize antigen retrieval methods which can significantly affect staining intensity
Remember that these are starting points, and optimal dilutions may vary depending on sample type, protein abundance, and detection system used.
Biotin conjugation provides several advantages and considerations compared to unconjugated OAS3 antibodies:
Advantages:
Enhanced sensitivity through signal amplification via streptavidin-based detection systems
Versatility in detection methods (colorimetric, fluorescent, chemiluminescent)
Compatible with multi-labeling experiments due to strong and specific biotin-streptavidin interaction
Can overcome issues with weak antibody-antigen interactions through signal enhancement
Considerations:
Reduced binding capacity in some cases if biotin molecules are conjugated near the antigen-binding site
Potential background issues in tissues with high endogenous biotin (liver, kidney, brain)
May require additional blocking steps to minimize endogenous biotin interference
The biotin-streptavidin system adds additional steps to protocols compared to directly conjugated antibodies
To determine if biotin conjugation affects antibody performance for your specific application, consider performing side-by-side comparisons with unconjugated versions using identical samples and experimental conditions.
Validating antibody specificity is critical for generating reliable research data. For OAS3 antibody biotin conjugated, consider these validation approaches:
Positive and negative control samples:
Use cell lines or tissues with known OAS3 expression levels
Include OAS3 knockout or knockdown samples as negative controls
Consider IFN-stimulated vs. unstimulated cells (as OAS3 is interferon-inducible)
Peptide competition assay:
Pre-incubate the antibody with excess immunizing peptide
Run parallel experiments with blocked and unblocked antibody
Specific signals should be reduced/eliminated in the blocked sample
Molecular weight verification:
OAS3 has a molecular weight of approximately 100-121 kDa
Verify that Western blot bands appear at the expected molecular weight
Be aware of potential post-translational modifications that may affect migration
Orthogonal methods:
Confirm results with alternative detection methods (e.g., mass spectrometry)
Use multiple antibodies targeting different epitopes of OAS3
Correlate protein detection with mRNA expression data
Recombinant protein standards:
Include recombinant OAS3 protein as a positive control
Use it to create a standard curve for quantitative applications
Researchers commonly encounter these challenges when working with OAS3 antibody biotin conjugated:
High background in Western blots and IHC:
Solution: Increase blocking time/concentration, optimize antibody dilution, reduce incubation time, add Tween-20 to washing buffers
For tissues with high endogenous biotin, use avidin/biotin blocking kits before antibody incubation
Weak or no signal:
Solution: Optimize antigen retrieval (for IHC), reduce antibody dilution, increase incubation time/temperature, check sample preparation for protein degradation
Verify that your detection system is compatible with biotin conjugates
Multiple bands in Western blot:
Solution: Increase stringency of washing steps, optimize antibody dilution
Verify if bands represent isoforms, degradation products, or post-translational modifications of OAS3
Compare with literature reports of OAS3 expression and processing
Inconsistent results between experiments:
Solution: Standardize protocols rigorously, use the same lot of antibody when possible
Aliquot antibody to avoid freeze-thaw cycles
Include positive controls in each experiment to ensure detection system is working
Cross-reactivity with other OAS family members:
Solution: Verify antibody epitope to ensure it doesn't overlap with conserved domains in OAS1 or OAS2
Perform specificity tests using recombinant OAS1, OAS2, and OAS3 proteins
Despite OAS3 preferentially synthesizing 2-5A dimers which typically have lower binding affinity for RNase L activation, research has shown that OAS3 can trigger RNase L activation characterized by rRNA cleavage patterns . This presents interesting research opportunities:
Co-immunoprecipitation studies:
Use biotin-conjugated OAS3 antibody to pull down OAS3 complexes
Analyze associated proteins to identify components of the RNase L activation pathway
Examine how viral infection alters these interactions
Monitoring rRNA cleavage patterns:
Establish OAS3 overexpression systems with or without RNase L knockdown
Challenge with viral RNA or poly(I:C) to activate the pathway
Use biotin-conjugated OAS3 antibody to track OAS3 localization during activation
Analyzing OAS3-RNase L pathway kinetics:
Time-course experiments following viral infection
Use biotin-conjugated OAS3 antibody to quantify OAS3 expression/localization changes
Correlate with rRNA cleavage products and viral replication
Study of 2-5A production:
Immunoprecipitate OAS3 from infected cells using biotin-conjugated antibodies
Measure enzymatic activity and characterize 2-5A products
Determine if specific viral infections alter the profile of 2-5A oligomers produced
The advantage of biotin conjugation here is the ability to perform sensitive pull-down assays using streptavidin beads and to employ detection amplification systems for visualizing low-abundance complexes or transient interactions .
When investigating viral infection mechanisms using OAS3 antibody biotin conjugated, consider these important factors:
Timing of analysis:
Cell type considerations:
OAS3 expression and function may vary between cell types
Include relevant cell types (e.g., immune cells, target tissues of the virus)
Compare responses in permissive versus non-permissive cells
Viral evasion strategies:
Many viruses have evolved mechanisms to antagonize the OAS-RNase L pathway
Use biotin-conjugated OAS3 antibody to track changes in OAS3 localization, degradation, or modification during infection
Compare results between different viruses to identify specific evasion mechanisms
Multiplexing strategies:
Combine biotin-conjugated OAS3 antibody with fluorescently labeled antibodies against viral proteins
Use confocal microscopy to analyze co-localization patterns
Correlate OAS3 activation with viral replication sites or protein expression
Functional validation:
The OAS family contains three main members (OAS1, OAS2, and OAS3) with distinct molecular weights, subcellular localizations, and enzymatic properties. Here's how to differentiate them:
Molecular weight discrimination:
OAS1: 40-46 kDa (depending on isoform)
OAS2: 69-71 kDa (depending on isoform)
OAS3: 100-121 kDa
Use Western blotting with appropriate molecular weight markers to identify each protein
Enzyme activity characterization:
Sensitivity to dsRNA:
Epitope specificity:
Subcellular localization studies:
Use biotin-conjugated OAS3 antibody with streptavidin-fluorophore detection
Compare localization patterns with those of OAS1 and OAS2
Analyze changes in localization during viral infection or IFN stimulation
Biotin-conjugated OAS3 antibodies offer several methodological advantages for multiplexed detection:
Signal amplification options:
Streptavidin-HRP for enhanced chemiluminescent detection
Streptavidin-fluorophores for fluorescence microscopy
Streptavidin-gold for electron microscopy
These amplification systems enable detection of low-abundance OAS3 protein
Multiplexing capabilities:
Compatible with multi-color immunofluorescence by using different streptavidin-conjugated fluorophores
Can be combined with directly labeled antibodies against other targets
Allows simultaneous detection of OAS3 with viral proteins or other immune response markers
Sequential detection strategies:
Use biotin-conjugated OAS3 antibody as the final layer in multi-label experiments
Employ tyramide signal amplification (TSA) for dramatically increased sensitivity
Particularly useful when studying low-level OAS3 expression in early infection stages
Avidin-biotin based pull-down assays:
Use for co-immunoprecipitation of OAS3 and interacting partners
Identify novel components in the OAS3-mediated antiviral response
Characterize changes in protein-protein interactions during viral infection
Tissue microarray applications:
Enable high-throughput screening of OAS3 expression across multiple tissue samples
Compare expression levels between normal and infected/diseased tissues
Correlate with clinical outcomes in infectious disease studies