IL-2Rβ (also known as CD122) is a critical subunit of the interleukin-2 receptor, which mediates T cell-mediated immune responses. The IL-2 receptor exists in three distinct forms with varying binding affinities to IL-2:
Low affinity: Alpha subunit monomer (not involved in signal transduction)
Intermediate affinity: Alpha/beta subunit heterodimer
The beta subunit (IL-2Rβ) plays an essential role in both receptor-mediated endocytosis and transduction of mitogenic signals from IL-2. It is primarily expressed in the hematopoietic system and functions as a type I membrane protein . When IL-2 binds to its receptor complex, the IL-2Rβ chain becomes phosphorylated at specific tyrosine residues, including Tyr364, which initiates downstream signaling cascades essential for T cell proliferation, differentiation, and effector function .
Phospho-IL2RB (Tyr364) Antibody specifically detects endogenous levels of IL-2Rβ protein only when phosphorylated at tyrosine 364 . This high specificity makes it an invaluable tool for studying IL-2 signaling pathways. The antibody is typically generated by immunizing rabbits with synthetic phosphopeptides derived from human IL-2Rβ around the phosphorylation site of Tyr364 (sequence: Q-G-YP-F-F) .
To ensure specificity, these antibodies undergo rigorous purification processes:
Affinity-purification from rabbit antiserum using epitope-specific phosphopeptide
Removal of non-phospho specific antibodies by chromatography using non-phosphopeptide corresponding to the phosphorylation site
This dual purification approach ensures that the antibody exclusively recognizes the phosphorylated form of the protein at this specific site.
Phospho-IL2RB (Tyr364) Antibody has several validated research applications:
| Application | Recommended Dilution | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Western Blot (WB) | 1:500-1:2000 | Detects phosphorylated IL-2Rβ at ~61 kDa |
| ELISA | 1:10000 | High sensitivity for quantitative detection |
| Immunofluorescence (IF) | 1:50-1:100 | For cellular localization studies |
Most commercial preparations have been validated for reactivity with human, mouse, and rat samples . For optimal results in Western blotting, researchers should optimize antibody concentration based on their specific sample types and detection methods.
For maximum stability and activity retention:
Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles that can compromise antibody activity
Upon receipt, consider aliquoting the antibody into smaller volumes to minimize freeze-thaw cycles
Most commercial preparations are supplied in phosphate buffered saline (without Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺), pH 7.4, with 150mM NaCl, 0.02% sodium azide, and 50% glycerol
The presence of glycerol and stabilizers in the formulation helps maintain antibody integrity during freeze-thaw cycles when they cannot be avoided.
Recent research has revealed distinct IL-2 signaling dynamics between CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, with CD8⁺ T cells demonstrating more sustained signaling responses. Phospho-IL2RB (Tyr364) Antibody can be instrumental in investigating these differences through:
Time-course analysis: Monitor phosphorylation at different time points after IL-2 stimulation in both cell types. CD8⁺ T cells maintain phospho-STAT5 signaling longer than CD4⁺ T cells despite similar initial activation (EC₅₀ values of 0.28 u/mL vs. 0.35 u/mL) .
Co-treatment with inhibitors: Combine IL-2 stimulation with protein synthesis inhibitors (cycloheximide) or vesicular transport inhibitors (brefeldin A) to distinguish between receptor recycling versus new synthesis mechanisms .
Receptor abundance correlation: Compare IL-2Rβ phosphorylation levels with receptor abundance using flow cytometry or Western blotting to determine if signaling differences stem from receptor density variations.
A comprehensive experimental design would include:
Isolation of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells from the same donor
IL-2 stimulation time course (0, 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 minutes)
Western blotting with Phospho-IL2RB (Tyr364) Antibody
Parallel analysis of downstream signaling markers (pSTAT5)
Flow cytometry to quantify total receptor surface expression
IL-2Rβ contains multiple phosphorylation sites that coordinate complex signaling responses. Tyr364 phosphorylation functions within a network of other phosphorylation events:
| Phosphorylation Site | Recruited Proteins | Signaling Pathway |
|---|---|---|
| Tyr338 | Shc adapter protein | PI3K signaling, MAPK signaling (in some cell types) |
| Tyr364 | Signaling adaptors | Contributing to JAK/STAT pathway |
| Tyr392, Tyr510 | STAT5 | JAK/STAT signaling pathway |
To study the interrelationship between these phosphorylation sites:
Sequential immunoprecipitation: Use Phospho-IL2RB (Tyr364) Antibody for initial pulldown, followed by Western blotting with antibodies against other phosphorylation sites.
Mutational analysis: Compare signaling in cells expressing wild-type IL-2Rβ versus those with Y364F mutations to determine the specific contribution of this phosphorylation site.
Phosphatase inhibition studies: Treat cells with phosphatase inhibitors followed by IL-2 stimulation to determine if Tyr364 phosphorylation has different kinetics or sensitivity to phosphatase action compared to other sites.
The timing and duration of Tyr364 phosphorylation may be critical for sustaining IL-2 signaling required for cell fate decisions, which can require hours to days of continuous stimulation .
For optimal Western blot results with Phospho-IL2RB (Tyr364) Antibody:
Sample Preparation:
Stimulate cells with IL-2 (concentrations ranging from 1-100 U/mL) for 5-15 minutes to achieve maximum phosphorylation
Lyse cells in buffer containing phosphatase inhibitors (sodium orthovanadate, sodium fluoride, β-glycerophosphate)
Include protease inhibitors to prevent protein degradation
Use quantitative protein determination methods to ensure equal loading
Western Blotting Protocol:
Load 20-50 μg total protein per lane
Use 8-10% SDS-PAGE gels (IL-2Rβ has a molecular weight of ~61 kDa)
Transfer to PVDF membrane (preferred over nitrocellulose for phospho-proteins)
Block with 5% BSA in TBST (not milk, which contains phospho-proteins)
Incubate with Phospho-IL2RB (Tyr364) Antibody at 1:500-1:1000 dilution overnight at 4°C
Wash 4-5 times with TBST
Incubate with HRP-conjugated anti-rabbit secondary antibody
Develop using enhanced chemiluminescence
Controls:
Positive control: Lysate from IL-2 stimulated T cells
Negative control: Lysate from unstimulated cells
Phosphatase-treated control: Sample treated with lambda phosphatase
Loading control: Probe for total IL-2Rβ or housekeeping protein
IL-2 receptor internalization is a critical regulatory mechanism in T cell signaling. Upon IL-2 binding, the receptor complex is rapidly internalized, and IL-2Rβ and IL-2Rγ are degraded, potentially limiting sustained signaling . Phospho-IL2RB (Tyr364) Antibody can be used to track this process:
Subcellular Fractionation Approach:
Stimulate cells with IL-2 for various time points (0-60 minutes)
Perform subcellular fractionation to separate membrane, cytosolic, and endosomal fractions
Analyze each fraction by Western blotting with both phospho-specific and total IL-2Rβ antibodies
Quantify the ratio of phosphorylated to total IL-2Rβ in each fraction over time
Flow Cytometry Method:
Stimulate cells with IL-2
At various time points, fix and permeabilize cells
Double-stain with fluorescently labeled antibodies against:
Surface IL-2Rβ (to track remaining surface receptors)
Phospho-IL2RB (Tyr364) (to track activated receptors)
Analyze by flow cytometry to determine the kinetics of receptor activation versus internalization
Inhibitor Studies:
Compare normal conditions with cells treated with:
Brefeldin A (blocks vesicular transport)
Dynamin inhibitors (block endocytosis)
Cycloheximide (blocks protein synthesis)
This approach can reveal whether sustained signaling requires new receptor synthesis or recycling of internalized receptors, and how phosphorylation at Tyr364 correlates with these processes.
Ensuring antibody specificity is crucial for reliable research results. Several validation approaches are recommended:
Peptide Competition Assay:
Pre-incubate Phospho-IL2RB (Tyr364) Antibody with:
Phosphorylated immunizing peptide
Non-phosphorylated version of the same peptide
Use these pre-absorbed antibodies in parallel Western blots
Specific binding should be blocked only by the phosphorylated peptide
Genetic Approaches:
Use CRISPR/Cas9 to generate IL-2Rβ knockout cells as negative controls
Create Y364F mutant (tyrosine to phenylalanine) cell lines that cannot be phosphorylated at this site
Test antibody reactivity in both systems - signal should be absent
Phosphatase Treatment:
Divide cell lysates from IL-2 stimulated cells into two portions
Treat one portion with lambda phosphatase
Run both samples on Western blot
Signal should be present in untreated sample but absent in phosphatase-treated sample
Correlation with Functional Assays:
Monitor IL-2Rβ phosphorylation using the antibody
In parallel, measure downstream functional readouts (pSTAT5, cell proliferation)
Establish temporal correlation between phosphorylation and functional outcomes
Use JAK inhibitors to block phosphorylation and confirm concurrent loss of function
These validation techniques ensure that experimental observations truly reflect IL-2Rβ phosphorylation at Tyr364 rather than non-specific antibody binding.
Phosphorylation states are highly labile and can be rapidly lost during sample preparation. To preserve phosphorylation at Tyr364:
Cell Lysis Protocol:
Stimulate cells with IL-2 (10-100 U/mL) for optimal time (typically 5-15 minutes)
Immediately wash cells with ice-cold PBS containing phosphatase inhibitors (2 mM sodium orthovanadate, 10 mM sodium fluoride)
Lyse cells in buffer containing:
1% NP-40 or Triton X-100
150 mM NaCl
50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.4)
1 mM EDTA
1 mM EGTA
5 mM sodium pyrophosphate
10 mM β-glycerophosphate
1 mM sodium orthovanadate
1 mM sodium fluoride
Protease inhibitor cocktail
Keep samples on ice throughout processing
Centrifuge at 14,000 × g for 15 minutes at 4°C
Collect supernatant and add 4× Laemmli sample buffer
Heat at 95°C for 5 minutes
Tissue Sample Processing:
Snap-freeze tissues in liquid nitrogen immediately after collection
Pulverize frozen tissue under liquid nitrogen using a mortar and pestle
Transfer powdered tissue directly into lysis buffer (as above)
Homogenize briefly while maintaining cold temperature
Proceed as with cell lysates
These methods maximize phosphorylation preservation by rapidly inactivating phosphatases that would otherwise dephosphorylate IL-2Rβ at Tyr364.
Working with primary human samples presents unique challenges but offers physiologically relevant insights:
Isolation and Stimulation Protocol:
Isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from whole blood using Ficoll density gradient centrifugation
Further isolate T cell subsets using negative selection magnetic bead methods
Rest cells for 1-2 hours in serum-free media
Stimulate with recombinant human IL-2 (1-100 U/mL) for time course analysis
Process for Western blot or flow cytometry as described earlier
Flow Cytometry for Rare Cell Populations:
Stimulate whole PBMCs with IL-2
Fix with 1.5% paraformaldehyde for 10 minutes at room temperature
Permeabilize with ice-cold 90% methanol for 30 minutes
Stain with cell surface markers (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD25) and Phospho-IL2RB (Tyr364) Antibody
Analyze by multiparameter flow cytometry to assess phosphorylation in specific cell subsets
Considerations for Patient Samples:
Process samples immediately after collection to preserve phosphorylation status
Include age-matched and gender-matched healthy controls
Document patient medications that might affect IL-2 signaling
Consider disease state when interpreting phosphorylation levels
This approach allows investigation of IL-2 signaling differences between healthy individuals and patients with immune disorders, potentially revealing disease-specific alterations in IL-2Rβ phosphorylation.
When working with phospho-specific antibodies like Phospho-IL2RB (Tyr364), researchers may encounter several challenges:
| Issue | Possible Causes | Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| No signal | - Insufficient stimulation - Rapid dephosphorylation - Protein degradation | - Optimize IL-2 concentration (10-100 U/mL) - Increase phosphatase inhibitor concentrations - Reduce sample processing time - Verify antibody reactivity with positive control |
| High background | - Insufficient blocking - Secondary antibody cross-reactivity - Non-specific binding | - Increase BSA concentration in blocking buffer to 5% - Try different blocking agents (BSA vs. casein) - Increase washing steps and duration - Titrate primary antibody concentration |
| Multiple bands | - Protein degradation - Cross-reactivity with related phospho-epitopes | - Add fresh protease inhibitors - Optimize lysis conditions - Perform peptide competition assay to identify specific band - Consider using knockout or siRNA controls |
| Variable results | - Phosphorylation state instability - Inconsistent stimulation - Sample handling variations | - Standardize time from stimulation to lysis - Prepare fresh stimulation reagents - Process all samples in parallel - Include internal normalization controls |
Advanced troubleshooting may require optimizing:
Primary antibody incubation temperature (4°C vs. room temperature)
Incubation time (1 hour vs. overnight)
Membrane blocking conditions
Detection method sensitivity (standard ECL vs. enhanced sensitivity reagents)
Human primary samples often give weaker signals than cell lines due to lower receptor expression. In these cases, increasing protein loading and using more sensitive detection reagents may be necessary.
Phospho-IL2RB (Tyr364) Antibody provides valuable insights into immunological disorders where IL-2 signaling may be dysregulated:
Autoimmune Disease Research:
Compare IL-2Rβ phosphorylation patterns between healthy controls and patients with autoimmune conditions
Correlate phosphorylation levels with disease severity markers
Monitor changes in phosphorylation before and after immunosuppressive therapy
Investigate how genetic variations in IL2RB affect phosphorylation patterns
Primary Immunodeficiency Studies:
The IL2RB gene is associated with Immunodeficiency 63 with Lymphoproliferation and Autoimmunity . Using Phospho-IL2RB (Tyr364) Antibody:
Assess phosphorylation in patient-derived cells with IL2RB mutations
Determine if specific mutations affect Tyr364 phosphorylation versus other sites
Correlate phosphorylation defects with clinical features
Therapeutic Response Monitoring:
Measure IL-2Rβ phosphorylation in patients receiving IL-2 therapy or IL-2 pathway modulators
Use phosphorylation status as a pharmacodynamic biomarker
Correlate phosphorylation levels with clinical response
Emerging research suggests that IL-2 pathway modulation through low-dose IL-2 therapy may restore regulatory T cell function in autoimmune diseases. Phospho-IL2RB (Tyr364) Antibody could help optimize dosing regimens by providing direct measurement of target engagement.
Recent technological advances offer new opportunities for studying IL-2Rβ phosphorylation:
Single-Cell Phosphoprotein Analysis:
Combine Phospho-IL2RB (Tyr364) Antibody with mass cytometry (CyTOF)
Simultaneously measure multiple phosphorylation sites on IL-2Rβ and downstream proteins
Correlate with cell surface markers to identify responsive cell subpopulations
Reveal heterogeneity in signaling responses within seemingly homogeneous cell populations
Proximity Ligation Assays (PLA):
Use Phospho-IL2RB (Tyr364) Antibody with antibodies against potential interaction partners
Detect protein-protein interactions that depend on Tyr364 phosphorylation
Visualize subcellular localization of signaling complexes
Quantify interaction dynamics following IL-2 stimulation
CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing:
Generate precise point mutations at Tyr364 (Y364F)
Create reporter cell lines with fluorescent tags on IL-2Rβ
Combine with live-cell imaging to track receptor dynamics
Correlate phosphorylation with receptor trafficking and signaling outcomes
Phosphoproteomic Integration:
Use Phospho-IL2RB (Tyr364) Antibody for immunoprecipitation
Couple with mass spectrometry to identify the complete interactome of phosphorylated IL-2Rβ
Map temporal changes in protein interactions following IL-2 stimulation
Build comprehensive signaling networks that link Tyr364 phosphorylation to downstream effects