PRDM11 antibodies are designed to detect epitopes within the PR/SET domain-containing protein 11, which regulates transcription through methyltransferase activity and nucleic acid binding .
FITC conjugation involves covalent attachment of the fluorophore to lysine residues on antibodies. Key steps include:
Antibody Preparation: Purified antibodies (≥2 mg/mL) are buffer-exchanged to remove sodium azide, which inhibits conjugation .
FITC Reaction: FITC is added at ratios of 10–400 µg per mg of antibody, with optimal brightness achieved at 3–6 FITC molecules per antibody .
Characterization: Conjugates are validated via absorbance spectra (495 nm excitation, 520 nm emission) and functional assays .
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| Antibody Buffer | Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), pH 7.4 |
| FITC:Antibody | 40–80 µg FITC per mg antibody (adjust empirically) |
| Incubation | 1 hour at room temperature (dark) |
| Purification | Size-exclusion chromatography to remove unbound FITC |
While FITC-conjugated PRDM11 antibodies are not explicitly documented in the provided sources, unconjugated PRDM11 antibodies have been utilized in:
Cancer Studies: PRDM11 acts as a tumor suppressor in B-cell lymphoma and lung adenocarcinoma. Homozygous mutations in PRDM11 correlate with poor prognosis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) .
Immune Evasion: PRDM1 (a PRDM family member) upregulates PD-L1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), suggesting potential cross-family regulatory roles .
Conjugate Development: FITC-conjugated PRDM11 antibodies could enhance real-time tracking of PRDM11 in live-cell imaging or FACS-based screens.
Therapeutic Targeting: PRDM11’s role in immune checkpoint regulation (e.g., PD-L1) highlights its potential as a biomarker for combination therapies with PD-1 inhibitors .
The standard protocol involves:
Fixing cells appropriately
Permeabilizing cell membranes
Blocking with PBS containing 10% FBS for 20 minutes
Incubating with diluted PRDM11-FITC antibody (1:500) for 1 hour at room temperature in the dark
Washing cells 2×5 minutes with PBS
Observing with a fluorescence microscope equipped with a FITC filter
For particularly sensitive applications or cell types with low PRDM11 expression, titration experiments starting from 1:250 to 1:1000 may be necessary to determine optimal signal-to-noise ratio.
FITC-conjugated antibodies require specific storage conditions to maintain optimal performance. The PRDM11 Antibody with FITC conjugation should be:
Stored at 2-8°C in the dark, protected from light exposure
Preserved in PBS buffer containing 0.01% sodium azide as a preservative
Aliquoted to minimize freeze-thaw cycles if long-term storage is required
Continuous exposure to light causes FITC-conjugated antibodies to gradually lose fluorescence intensity. Therefore, minimize light exposure during storage, handling, and experimental procedures. The typical concentration for storage is 1 mg/mL, and when prepared properly, the antibody should maintain stability for at least 6 months under recommended storage conditions .
Multiple validation approaches should be employed to ensure antibody specificity:
Positive and negative control cells: Test antibody performance in cell lines with known PRDM11 expression versus those with minimal or no expression
Western blotting: Confirm single band of expected size (compared with using non-conjugated versions of the antibody)
Immunofluorescence pattern analysis: Expected nuclear localization pattern for PRDM11 consistent with its function as a transcription factor
CRISPR knockout validation: Compare staining in wild-type versus PRDM11 knockout cells
Blocking peptide competition: Pre-incubation with PRDM11-specific peptide should abolish specific staining
FITC-conjugated antibodies should be tested in immunofluorescence experiments using cultured cells expressing the target protein, with particular attention to background levels . A high-quality PRDM11 antibody will demonstrate nuclear localization with minimal cytoplasmic background staining.
PRDM11, like other PRDM family members, functions in transcriptional regulation through epigenetic mechanisms. To investigate its regulatory role:
ChIP-seq analysis: PRDM11 Antibody, FITC conjugated can be used for chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing to identify genomic binding sites. This approach parallels methods used for other PRDM family members (PRDM1, PRDM14) in identifying target genes .
Co-immunoprecipitation studies: FITC conjugation can be leveraged for pull-down experiments to identify protein interaction partners. PRDM family proteins often cooperate with pioneer transcription factors like FOXA and OCT4 to establish bivalent epigenetic states .
Bivalent enhancer identification: Following the pattern seen with other PRDM proteins, research can focus on examining whether PRDM11 establishes bivalent enhancers marked by both H3K4me1 (active) and H3K27me3 (repressive) modifications .
The approach should incorporate controls to ensure that FITC conjugation does not interfere with PRDM11's native protein-protein or protein-DNA interactions.
When designing multi-color immunofluorescence experiments:
Spectral compatibility: FITC excitation/emission spectrum (excitation ~495 nm, emission ~519 nm) must be considered when selecting additional fluorophores. Avoid fluorophores with significant spectral overlap such as GFP or BODIPY FL.
Compatible secondary fluorophores: For additional markers, select fluorophores such as:
Cy3 (excitation ~550 nm, emission ~570 nm)
APC (excitation ~650 nm, emission ~660 nm)
Pacific Blue (excitation ~410 nm, emission ~455 nm)
Sequential staining protocol:
Compensation controls: For flow cytometry applications, single-color controls are essential for accurate compensation of spectral overlap.
PRDM family proteins share a PR domain with methyltransferase activity and zinc-finger domains for DNA binding. Their comparison reveals:
| PRDM Member | Chromatin Modification | Cellular Function | Partner Factors | Established Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRDM1 | Repressive | Coordinates with FOXA to establish bivalent enhancers | FOXA, NuRD, PRC | H2AK119ub1, H3K27me3, H3K4me1 |
| PRDM14 | Repressive | Coordinates with OCT4 to repress differentiation | OCT4, PRC | H3K27me3, H3K4me1 |
| PRDM11 | Predicted repressive | Less characterized than PRDM1/14 | Hypothesized pioneer TF interaction | Predicted H3K9 methylation |
PRDM1 cooperates with pioneer transcription factor FOXA to recruit Nucleosome Remodeling and Deacetylation (NuRD) complexes and Polycomb Repressive Complexes (PRC). This interaction establishes accessible nucleosome conformations with bivalent epigenetic states (H3K4me1 and H3K27me3), preventing precocious gene expression during endoderm differentiation .
Similarly, PRDM14 coordinates with OCT4 to form bivalent enhancers and repress cell differentiation programs in pluripotent stem cells. This suggests a common mechanism where PRDM family members, including potentially PRDM11, coordinate with pioneer transcription factors to safeguard cell fate through epigenetic repression .
To investigate whether PRDM11 establishes bivalent domains similar to other PRDM family members:
Sequential ChIP (ChIP-reChIP): Using PRDM11 Antibody, FITC conjugated followed by antibodies against histone modifications (H3K4me1/3 and H3K27me3) to identify regions with co-occurrence of active and repressive marks.
CUT&RUN or ChIP-seq for histone modifications: Compare the enrichment patterns of H3K4me1 (enhancer preference), H3K4me3 (promoter preference), H2AK119ub1 (PRC1 mark), and H3K27me3 (PRC2 mark) at PRDM11 binding sites .
Co-immunoprecipitation with nuclear extract: Treat with Benzonase nuclease to minimize DNA-mediated interactions and identify physical interactions between PRDM11 and potential partners such as:
Inducible CRISPR knockdown: Generate a Dox-inducible PRDM11 CRISPR/KD cell model to assess changes in chromatin modifications and gene expression upon PRDM11 depletion .
The goal is to determine if PRDM11, like PRDM1, cooperates with pioneer factors to establish bivalent chromatin domains that silence alternative lineage programs during cell fate determination.
Common challenges and their solutions include:
Signal photobleaching: FITC is relatively susceptible to photobleaching.
Solution: Minimize light exposure during staining and analysis
Use antifade reagents in mounting medium
Consider analyzing FITC channel first in multi-parameter experiments
Suboptimal fixation/permeabilization: PRDM11 is primarily nuclear, requiring effective permeabilization.
Solution: Test different fixation protocols (2-4% paraformaldehyde)
Optimize permeabilization with 0.1-0.5% Triton X-100 or methanol-based methods
pH sensitivity: FITC fluorescence is optimal at alkaline pH (8.0-9.0) and diminishes at acidic pH.
Solution: Ensure buffers maintain appropriate pH
Avoid acidic fixatives or wash thoroughly afterward
Autofluorescence: Cellular autofluorescence in the FITC channel.
Solution: Include unstained control and FITC-conjugated isotype control
Consider alternative fluorophores for highly autofluorescent cells
Compensation challenges: Spectral overlap with other fluorophores.
Solution: Use proper single-color controls for accurate compensation
Adjust instrument voltage settings for optimal separation
To differentiate specific binding from background:
Appropriate controls:
FITC-conjugated isotype control antibody matching the PRDM11 antibody's isotype
PRDM11 knockout or knockdown cells as negative controls
Competitive binding with unconjugated PRDM11 antibody
Optimal blocking conditions:
Signal quantification:
Calculate signal-to-noise ratio
Subtract mean fluorescence intensity of isotype control
Use appropriate statistical methods to determine significance
Technical optimization:
Image analysis tools:
Use software that allows for background subtraction
Apply appropriate thresholding methods
Perform colocalization analysis with nuclear markers for PRDM11
Different samples require protocol adjustments:
Cell type-specific considerations:
Primary cells vs. cell lines: Primary cells may require gentler fixation (2% PFA vs 4%)
Suspension vs. adherent cells: Different attachment methods (cytospin for suspension cells)
Stem cells vs. differentiated cells: Adjusted antibody concentration based on expression levels
Tissue-specific modifications:
Antigen retrieval methods: Heat-induced (citrate buffer pH 6.0) or enzymatic
Extended blocking: 1-2 hours to reduce tissue-specific background
Increased antibody concentration: Often 2-5× higher than for cultured cells
Longer incubation times: Overnight at 4°C rather than 1 hour at room temperature
Fixation adjustments:
Fresh frozen tissues: Post-fixation with 4% PFA for 10 minutes
FFPE tissues: Dewaxing and hydration followed by antigen retrieval
Cell spheroids: Extended fixation and permeabilization times
Signal enhancement strategies:
Tyramide signal amplification for low abundance PRDM11
Multiple antibody layers for amplified detection
Confocal microscopy with higher laser power and integration time
Given the role of other PRDM family members in immune cell development, researchers can investigate PRDM11's function using:
Time-course analysis during immune cell differentiation:
Flow cytometry protocol for immune cell subsets:
Integration with cytokine signaling analysis:
T follicular helper cells are crucial for antibody responses, and PRDM family proteins regulate T cell differentiation programs. Understanding PRDM11's role may provide insights into the epigenetic regulation of antibody persistence and quality, as seen with other epigenetic regulators .
To study potential coordination between PRDM11 and pioneer factors:
Co-immunoprecipitation with nuclear extracts:
Sequential ChIP experiments:
First ChIP with PRDM11 antibody
Second ChIP with antibodies against pioneer factors
NGS analysis to identify co-occupied genomic regions
Genome engineering approach:
Inducible expression systems:
This experimental pipeline parallels approaches used for studying PRDM1-FOXA and PRDM14-OCT4 interactions, which established their roles in coordinating bivalent chromatin states during cell differentiation .
When analyzing PRDM11 across developmental transitions:
Temporal sampling strategy:
Collect samples at defined developmental timepoints
Include both preceding and subsequent stages to capture dynamic changes
Consider parallel lineages to identify lineage-specific patterns
Genomic data integration:
Combine PRDM11 ChIP-seq with histone modification mapping
Track changes in active/repressive marks at PRDM11 binding sites
Correlate with gene expression data from RNA-seq
Spatial protein expression analysis:
Analytical considerations:
Implement trajectory analysis methods for continuous developmental processes
Apply statistical approaches for identifying significantly changed binding sites
Utilize motif enrichment analysis to identify stage-specific co-factors