The ORMDL1 antibody is a specialized immunological tool designed to detect and quantify the ORM1-like protein 1 (ORMDL1), a transmembrane protein localized to the endoplasmic reticulum. This antibody is critical for research applications such as Western blot (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), enabling scientists to investigate ORMDL1's expression patterns and functional roles in cellular processes. The antibody (e.g., ab176122) is typically raised in rabbits using a synthetic peptide immunogen corresponding to the human ORMDL1 sequence, ensuring specificity for human and mouse samples .
| Cancer Type | Expression Pattern | Prognostic Association | Key Pathways Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorectal Cancer (CRC) | Upregulated in tumors | Favorable (longer OS) | EMT, Rho GTPase signaling |
| DLBCL | Highly expressed | Unfavorable (shorter OS) | Cell cycle, Immune infiltration |
| Acute Myeloid Leukemia | Upregulated | Not significant | Sphingolipid metabolism |
IHC Staining: ORMDL1 antibody (1:100 dilution) revealed higher protein levels in CRC primary tumors compared to adjacent tissues .
Functional Assays: Knockdown of ORMDL1 in CRC cell lines (HCT116, DLD1) promoted proliferation and invasion, validated via RTCA and IncuCyte systems .
Interaction Studies: Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) confirmed ORMDL1 binds SPTLC2, critical for sphingolipid regulation .
Specificity: Antibody validation is essential, as ORMDL1 shares homology with ORMDL2/3 isoforms.
Degradation Dynamics: ORMDL1 is degraded via lysosomal autophagy under free-cholesterol loading, affecting detection in lipid-rich environments .
Clinical Utility: While ORMDL1 shows promise as a prognostic biomarker, its independence in multivariate survival analyses remains unclear .
Therapeutic Targeting: Investigate ORMDL1’s role in sphingolipid-driven pathways (e.g., Rho GTPase) for CRC treatment .
Multi-Omics Integration: Combine ORMDL1 expression with PD-L1/MSI status for improved patient stratification .
Mechanistic Studies: Explore ORMDL1’s interaction with autophagy markers (e.g., p62) under metabolic stress .
ORMDL1 belongs to the ORM1-like family of proteins localized to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. It serves as a negative regulator of sphingolipid synthesis by modulating the activity of serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT), the rate-limiting enzyme in sphingolipid biosynthesis . ORMDL1 plays essential roles in homeostatic regulation of sphingolipid de novo biosynthesis in response to ceramide levels . Research significance includes:
Connection to gamma-secretase complex maturation
Involvement in Presenilin expression (implicated in Alzheimer's disease)
High conservation across species, suggesting evolutionary importance
Commercial ORMDL1 antibodies have been validated for multiple applications with specific recommended dilutions:
Researchers should validate each antibody in their specific experimental system as performance may vary between tissues and conditions .
Selection criteria should include:
Immunogen location: Choose antibodies targeting different epitopes if comparing with other ORMDL family members. For example, some antibodies target amino acids 48-100 of ORMDL1 , while others target peptides within amino acids 50-100 .
Species reactivity: Human ORMDL1 shares 99% identity with mouse ORMDL1, allowing cross-reactivity in many cases .
Validation data: Review immunoblot and immunohistochemistry images provided by vendors to confirm specific binding at the predicted molecular weight (17 kDa) .
Application-specific validation: Some antibodies perform better in certain applications—review application-specific data rather than assuming uniform performance across methods .
The high sequence homology between ORMDL family members (80-84% identity between human ORMDL1, ORMDL2, and ORMDL3) creates challenges for specific detection. Optimization strategies include:
Epitope selection: Use antibodies targeting regions with lower conservation between family members
Validation in knockout systems: Test antibody specificity in ORMDL1 knockout models to confirm absence of signal
Cross-reactivity testing: Preabsorb antibodies with recombinant ORMDL2 and ORMDL3 to reduce cross-reactivity
Complementary detection methods: Combine antibody-based detection with mRNA analysis to confirm specificity
Western blot optimization: Use higher percentage gels (15-18%) to better separate the similarly-sized ORMDL proteins
In competitive bone marrow transplantation assays, researchers have confirmed ORMDL1 antibody specificity by demonstrating differential phenotypes between wild-type and Ormdl1-/-/Ormdl3-/- cells .
ORMDL1 primarily localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum but can redistribute under specific stimuli. For example, cholesterol loading induces ORMDL1 redistribution from the ER to cytoplasmic p62-positive autophagosomes . Effective detection methods include:
Subcellular fractionation: Separate ER, cytosolic, and autophagosomal fractions before immunoblotting
Confocal microscopy: Use dual immunofluorescence with ER markers (e.g., calnexin) and ORMDL1 antibodies
Live-cell imaging: When possible, use fluorescently tagged ORMDL1 to track dynamic changes
Immunoelectron microscopy: For highest resolution localization studies
Proximity ligation assays: To confirm protein-protein interactions between ORMDL1 and potential binding partners
Research has shown that immunoprecipitation with ORMDL1 antibodies can detect increased association with autophagy proteins like p62 under specific conditions such as cholesterol loading .
ORMDL1 regulates sphingolipid synthesis by inhibiting serine palmitoyltransferase. Research approaches include:
Co-immunoprecipitation studies: Using ORMDL1 antibodies to pull down SPT complexes (SPTLC1/SPTLC2) and analyze interactions under various conditions
Quantitative immunoblotting: Correlate ORMDL1 protein levels with sphingolipid measurements by mass spectrometry
Immunofluorescence co-localization: Visualize ORMDL1 with SPT complex components
Cholesterol loading experiments: Monitor changes in ORMDL1 levels and SPT activity simultaneously
Pharmacological interventions: Track ORMDL1 expression after treatment with compounds that alter sphingolipid metabolism
Research has demonstrated that simultaneous deletion of ORMDL1 and ORMDL3 disrupts sphingolipid homeostasis, which can be monitored by both antibody-based approaches and mass spectrometry .
Robust experimental design requires appropriate controls:
Positive controls: Cell lines with confirmed ORMDL1 expression (e.g., SK-N-SH cells)
Negative controls:
Loading controls: Use ER resident proteins for normalization when studying ORMDL1
Cross-reactivity assessment: Test antibody against recombinant ORMDL2 and ORMDL3 proteins
Inconsistencies between experiments may result from:
Epitope accessibility: The membrane topology of ORMDL1 (with both N and C termini on the cytosolic face of ER) may affect epitope accessibility in different sample preparations
Post-translational modifications: Unknown modifications may alter antibody recognition
Family cross-reactivity: Some antibodies may cross-react with ORMDL2/3 despite vendor claims
Degradation conditions: ORMDL1 can be degraded through autophagy under specific conditions (e.g., cholesterol loading)
Recommended approaches:
Use multiple antibodies targeting different epitopes
Employ complementary techniques (e.g., mass spectrometry) to verify results
Document experimental conditions precisely, including detergent concentrations for membrane protein extraction
ORMDL1 protein stability is affected by several factors that researchers should consider:
Free cholesterol levels: Excess cholesterol increases ORMDL1 turnover through autophagy
Preservatives: Standard preservatives (0.02-0.03% sodium azide or Proclin 300) in antibody solutions don't affect ORMDL1 detection
Storage buffers: Glycerol-containing buffers (typically 50%) help maintain antibody performance for ORMDL1 detection
Sample preparation: ORMDL1's membrane localization requires appropriate detergent extraction methods
Autophagy inhibitors: Chloroquine or ATG7 knockdown prevents ORMDL1 degradation in cholesterol-loaded cells
ORMDL1 has been implicated in Presenilin (PSI) expression, which is involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD) . Research approaches include:
Expression analysis: Compare ORMDL1 levels in AD versus control brain tissues
Co-localization studies: Examine spatial relationships between ORMDL1 and Presenilin using dual immunofluorescence
Gamma-secretase complex analysis: Use ORMDL1 antibodies for immunoprecipitation to study interactions with gamma-secretase components
Knockout models: Compare AD pathology markers in wild-type versus ORMDL1-deficient models
The finding that ORMDL1 expression is down-regulated in PSI mutations suggests its potential as a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease .
Recent research has shown that simultaneous deletion of ORMDL1 and ORMDL3 disrupts B cell development, highlighting their importance in immune function :
Competitive bone marrow transplantation: Using antibodies to track donor cell fate in recipient animals
Flow cytometry: Combining surface markers with intracellular ORMDL1 staining to evaluate expression in immune subsets
Single-cell analysis: Correlating ORMDL1 expression with developmental states
Sphingolipid profiling: Measuring how ORMDL1 deficiency alters sphingolipid compositions in immune cells
Homing assays: Tracking labeled cells to determine if ORMDL1 affects immune cell migration patterns
Research has demonstrated that ORMDL1/ORMDL3 double knockout impacts B cell development in a manner dependent on lymphocyte intrinsic factors rather than homing defects .
ORMDL proteins have been implicated in various conditions including asthma :
Tissue-specific expression analysis: Comparing ORMDL1 levels across affected versus unaffected tissues
Genetic correlation studies: Combining antibody-based protein quantification with genetic association data
Therapeutic intervention monitoring: Tracking ORMDL1 expression changes following treatments that modify sphingolipid metabolism
Biomarker development: Evaluating ORMDL1 as a potential biomarker for disease progression or treatment response
The connection between ORMDL family proteins and childhood asthma suggests broader implications for ORMDL1 in respiratory and immune-related conditions .
Current and emerging approaches to enhance detection include:
Proximity-based methods: Using split reporter systems or FRET-based approaches to study ORMDL1 interactions with greater sensitivity
Mass spectrometry immunoprecipitation: Combining immunoprecipitation with mass spectrometry for precise identification
Super-resolution microscopy: Examining ORMDL1 distribution within the ER at nanoscale resolution
Quantitative approaches: Developing calibrated assays for absolute quantification of ORMDL1 protein levels
Single-molecule tracking: Monitoring individual ORMDL1 molecules to study dynamics in live cells
The continued development of these methods will provide researchers with more sensitive and specific tools for studying ORMDL1 biology.