PME48 Antibody
Description
Functional Role of PME48 in Plant Systems
PME48 belongs to the pectin methylesterase family, which modulates the mechanical properties of cell walls by altering homogalacturonan (HG) methylesterification. Key findings include:
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Pollen Germination: PME48 is highly expressed in pollen grains, where it regulates HG demethylesterification during intine cell wall remodeling. Mutant (pme48−/−) pollen grains exhibit delayed imbibition, germination defects, and abnormal tube morphology .
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Stress Adaptation: PME48 contributes to chilling/freezing tolerance by influencing brassinosteroid signaling pathways .
PME48 Antibody Applications in Research
Antibodies against PME48 enable precise detection and quantification in experimental systems:
Table 1: Key Studies Utilizing PME48 Antibodies
Technical Insights into PME48 Antibody Use
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Western Blotting: Anti-PME48 antibodies detect PME48 at ~70 kDa in Arabidopsis pollen extracts .
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Immunolocalization: Antibodies highlight PME48 accumulation in pollen tubes and stress-affected guard cells, correlating with cell wall remodeling .
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Activity Assays: Zymography combined with PME48-specific antibodies confirms reduced enzymatic activity in mutants .
Challenges and Limitations
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No commercial PME48 antibodies are currently available; most studies use custom-generated polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies .
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Cross-reactivity with other PME isoforms (e.g., PME41, PME53) requires stringent validation .
Future Directions
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Development of isoform-specific monoclonal antibodies to dissect PME48’s role in crop species.
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High-resolution imaging (e.g., immunogold electron microscopy) to map PME48 distribution during stress responses.
PME48 antibodies remain pivotal for advancing plant cell wall biology, with implications for agricultural biotechnology and stress-resilient crop engineering.
Product Specs
Constituents: 50% Glycerol, 0.01M PBS, pH 7.4
Target Background
- PME48 impacts the mechanical properties of the intine wall during pollen grain maturation, which influences pollen grain germination. [PME48] PMID: 25524442
Q&A
Here’s a structured FAQ collection for researchers studying PME48 (Pectin Methylesterase 48) in plant reproductive biology, based on experimental data and methodological rigor:
Advanced Experimental Design
Q3: How to resolve conflicting data on PME48’s role in tip-focused Ca²⁺ gradients?
Contradictions arise from species-specific PME isoforms or calcium buffering. Mitigate this by:
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Species comparison: Test PME48 orthologs in monocots (e.g., rice) vs. eudicots (e.g., Brassica).
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Live-cell imaging: Use ratiometric Ca²⁺ dyes (e.g., Fura-2) in Atpme48 mutants under controlled humidity ( ).
Q4: What controls are critical when using PME48 antibodies for immunolabeling?
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Pre-immune serum: Rule out nonspecific binding.
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Competition assays: Pre-incubate antibodies with recombinant PME48 protein.
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Mutant validation: Confirm signal absence in Atpme48 null lines ( ).
Data Interpretation Challenges
Q5: Why do PME48 mutants exhibit variable germination delays?
Variability stems from compensatory mechanisms by other PME isoforms. Address this by:
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Transcript profiling: Compare PME gene expression in mutants (e.g., RNA-seq).
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Pectin composition analysis: Use monoclonal antibodies (e.g., JIM5/JIM7) to map HG methylesterification patterns ( ).
Q6: How to distinguish PME48’s developmental vs. germination-specific roles?
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Stage-specific silencing: Inducible RNAi lines targeting PME48 during pollen maturation vs. hydration.
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Time-lapse microscopy: Monitor germination kinetics in Atpme48 mutants ( ).
