Target: Prolyl endopeptidase-like (PREPL), a 72 kDa enzyme involved in protein processing.
Applications: Western blot (WB), immunohistochemistry (IHC), ELISA .
Unconjugated Form: Stored in PBS with 50% glycerol and 0.02% sodium azide at -20°C .
HRP Conjugation
HRP (44 kDa glycoprotein) is covalently linked to antibodies via lysine residues or carbohydrate moieties . This conjugate enables chromogenic (e.g., DAB, ABTS) or chemiluminescent (e.g., TMB) detection in assays.
HRP conjugation efficiency depends on antibody buffer composition:
Note: Sodium azide, glycine, and thiols (e.g., DTT) must be excluded .
Dilution: 1:500–1:2000 (unconjugated PREPL antibody ); conjugated forms may require titration.
Detection: Chemiluminescence (e.g., Azure Radiance substrates ) or chromogenic DAB.
Dilution: 1:50–1:500 (unconjugated ); HRP-conjugated variants enable indirect detection.
Antigen Retrieval: TE buffer (pH 9.0) or citrate buffer (pH 6.0) recommended .
Sensitivity: Lyophilization-enhanced conjugates improve titers (1:5000 vs 1:25 in classical methods ).
For indirect detection, secondary antibodies (e.g., goat-anti-rabbit HRP) are paired with PREPL antibody:
Lyophilization-Enhanced Conjugation: Increases HRP:antibody ratio, enabling higher ELISA titers .
Recombinant HRP-Fab Chimeras: Homogeneous conjugates with preserved enzymatic/antigen-binding activity .
Limitations: HRP’s glycosylation in Pichia pastoris may reduce yields; deglycosylation or alternative enzymes (e.g., EGFP) could improve efficiency .
PREPL antibody directly conjugated to Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP) combines target specificity for Prolyl Endopeptidase Like Protein with direct enzymatic detection capability. Unlike unconjugated antibodies that require secondary detection antibodies, HRP-conjugated PREPL antibodies allow for direct detection, eliminating cross-species reactivity issues and reducing experimental steps. The HRP enzyme (44 kDa glycoprotein) catalyzes chromogenic reactions with substrates like DAB, ABTS, or TMB in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, producing visible signals for detection . This direct detection approach is particularly valuable for time-sensitive protocols and when background reduction is critical.
PREPL antibodies conjugated with HRP serve multiple research applications:
| Application | Technical Advantage | Key Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Western Blotting | Direct detection without secondary antibody step | Optimal dilution typically 1:500-1:1000 |
| ELISA | Reduced background and fewer wash steps | May require optimization for specific assay conditions |
| Immunohistochemistry | Simplified workflow and reduced cross-reactivity | Suggested antigen retrieval with TE buffer pH 9.0 |
| Immunofluorescence | Direct visualization with appropriate substrates | Typically used at 1:50-1:500 dilution |
PREPL (Prolyl Endopeptidase Like Protein) itself belongs to the peptidase S9A family and cleaves peptide bonds on the C-terminal side of prolyl residues within peptides up to approximately 30 amino acids long, making its detection valuable in various cellular pathway investigations .
Based on immunogen sequence homology and experimental validation, PREPL antibodies (including HRP-conjugated versions) demonstrate reactivity with multiple species:
Predicted reactivity based on sequence homology: Cow (93%), Dog (100%), Guinea Pig (100%), Horse (100%), Rabbit (100%), Zebrafish (86%)
When selecting a PREPL-HRP antibody for cross-species applications, researchers should verify the specific epitope region targeted by the antibody. N-terminal region antibodies like ARP56413_P050-HRP target synthetic peptide sequences that are highly conserved across mammalian species . For applications requiring guaranteed reactivity, preliminary validation experiments are recommended, especially when working with less common model organisms.
When preparing custom PREPL-HRP conjugates, several methodological considerations are critical:
Selection of conjugation chemistry: Modern conjugation techniques using hydrazone bond formation (SoluLINK technology) produce more consistent results than traditional methods like reductive amination which can reduce HRP activity by 30-50% .
Buffer compatibility assessment: The antibody buffer composition significantly impacts conjugation efficiency. Remove or dilute interfering components:
Optimized reaction conditions: For highest activity retention, perform conjugation at:
Purification strategy: After conjugation, implement spin column purification to remove unreacted HRP, which otherwise contributes to background signal in detection applications . This step is particularly critical for sensitive applications like ELISA or tissue staining.
Maintaining dual functionality of both antibody specificity and enzyme activity requires addressing several technical challenges:
Antibody integrity preservation:
HRP activity preservation:
Conjugation ratio optimization:
Storage conditions:
Validation should follow a structured approach to confirm both conjugation success and functional activity:
Conjugation verification:
Antibody specificity validation:
HRP activity assessment:
Spectrophotometric assay using standard HRP substrates (ABTS or TMB)
Compare activity to commercial HRP-conjugated control antibodies
Calculate specific activity (enzymatic units per mg antibody)
Application-specific optimization:
High background is a common challenge with HRP-conjugated antibodies that can be systematically addressed:
Conjugate purity assessment:
Blocking optimization:
Test different blocking agents (BSA, casein, non-fat milk) to identify optimal formulation
Increase blocking time or concentration while monitoring signal integrity
Include blocking agent in antibody diluent to maintain blocking during incubation
Washing protocol enhancement:
Increase wash volume and duration between steps
Add low concentration (0.05-0.1%) of Tween-20 to wash buffers
Implement additional wash steps after antibody incubation
Antibody dilution adjustment:
Systematically test higher dilutions to reduce non-specific binding
Create a dilution series to identify optimal signal-to-noise ratio
Balance dilution with incubation time to maintain specific signal strength
Signal development modification:
Molecular weight discrepancies require systematic analysis:
For reliable quantitative analysis in ELISA:
Standard curve optimization:
Prepare a recombinant PREPL protein standard series in 2-fold or 3-fold dilutions
Include at least 7-8 concentration points plus blank
Fit data to appropriate regression model (4PL or 5PL preferred over linear)
Verify curve fit quality with R² > 0.98 and residual analysis
Signal linearity verification:
Test sample dilutions to confirm proportional signal reduction
Calculate dilution-corrected concentrations to verify consistency
Establish working range where signal responds linearly to concentration changes
Assay consistency controls:
Include intra-assay controls (duplicate/triplicate measurements)
Add inter-assay control samples on every plate
Calculate coefficients of variation (CV < 10% intra-assay, < 15% inter-assay)
HRP-specific considerations:
Advanced multiplexed detection with PREPL-HRP antibodies requires sophisticated approaches:
Sequential multiplexing methods:
Implement tyramide signal amplification (TSA) with HRP conjugates for first target
Inactivate HRP with hydrogen peroxide treatment (3% H₂O₂, 10 minutes)
Apply second antibody conjugated to different reporter enzyme (e.g., alkaline phosphatase)
Use chromogenic substrates with distinct colors (DAB for HRP, Fast Red for AP)
Differential substrate utilization:
Exploit HRP's ability to catalyze multiple substrate reactions
Combine with spectrally distinct fluorophores for multi-channel imaging
Use fluorescent tyramide substrates for dramatically enhanced sensitivity and resolution
Antibody stripping and reprobing strategies:
Computational signal separation:
Apply spectral unmixing algorithms for overlapping signals
Implement linear unmixing for separating closely related chromogenic signals
Use reference spectra from single-labeled controls for accurate signal decomposition
Recombinant fusion approaches offer distinct advantages and challenges:
Expression system selection:
Fusion design optimization:
Consider orientation effects (N-terminal vs. C-terminal HRP fusion)
Incorporate flexible linker sequences (GS-rich) between domains
Engineer glycosylation sites to improve enzyme activity while maintaining antibody specificity
Test multiple construct designs empirically to identify optimal performance
Purification strategy development:
Comparative advantages assessment:
Cutting-edge applications leverage unique properties of HRP-conjugated antibodies:
Microfluidic and paper-based analytical devices:
Adapt PREPL-HRP antibodies for lateral flow immunoassays
Optimize flow rates and binding kinetics for microfluidic channels
Formulate dried, stable conjugates for point-of-use activation
Develop smartphone-based colorimetric quantification methods
Single-molecule detection strategies:
Utilize HRP's catalytic amplification for digital ELISA approaches
Implement droplet microfluidics to isolate single enzyme-conjugated antibodies
Calculate absolute PREPL concentrations from binary (positive/negative) droplet statistics
Achieve ultra-sensitive detection in the femtomolar range
Bioimaging applications:
Apply PREPL-HRP antibodies with tyramide signal amplification for in situ imaging
Develop cell-permeable HRP substrates for live-cell applications
Combine with proximity ligation assays to detect PREPL protein interactions
Implement CLEM (Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy) using HRP for both fluorescence and EM contrast
Biosensor development:
Advanced computational methods can significantly improve research with PREPL-HRP antibodies:
Experimental design optimization:
Image analysis enhancement:
Apply convolutional neural networks for automated signal quantification
Implement instance segmentation for single-cell analysis in complex tissues
Develop transfer learning approaches to adapt pre-trained networks to specific staining patterns
Create reference libraries of staining patterns for automated analysis
Affinity engineering applications:
Leverage antibody repertoire data and machine learning to predict affinity-enhancing mutations
Design synthetic antibody variants with improved binding characteristics
Utilize supervised ML models trained on sequence-function relationships
Implement computational screening before experimental validation to reduce resource requirements
Multivariate data integration:
Correlate PREPL detection with other biomarkers using machine learning classifiers
Apply dimensionality reduction techniques for visualizing complex relationships
Develop anomaly detection algorithms for identifying unexpected patterns
Implement ensemble methods to combine multiple data sources for improved interpretation
Advanced affinity engineering approaches can significantly improve PREPL antibody performance:
Computational design methodologies:
Implement machine learning models trained on antibody repertoire data to predict affinity-enhancing mutations
Utilize structural modeling to identify key binding residues for targeted mutagenesis
Apply in silico screening to prioritize candidate variants before experimental validation
Develop synthetic antibody variants with precisely tuned binding kinetics
High-throughput experimental screening:
Generate antibody variant libraries through site-directed or random mutagenesis
Screen variants using display technologies (phage, yeast, or mammalian display)
Implement directed evolution with progressive selection stringency
Validate promising candidates with precise affinity measurements (SPR, BLI)
Binding kinetics optimization:
Enhanced recombinant approaches:
Integration with cutting-edge microscopy requires specialized approaches:
Super-resolution microscopy optimization:
Develop protocols for HRP-catalyzed polymerization of fluorescent substrates
Implement PALM/STORM techniques with photoconvertible substrates
Optimize labeling density for reconstruction algorithms
Balance amplification with spatial precision
Correlative microscopy approaches:
Utilize HRP's versatility for both fluorescence and electron microscopy
Develop protocols for DAB polymerization and metal enhancement for EM contrast
Establish registration methods for correlating signals across imaging modalities
Implement fiducial markers for precise alignment
Spatial proteomics integration:
Combine PREPL-HRP detection with multiplexed protein profiling
Develop sequential staining and destaining protocols
Integrate with mass spectrometry imaging approaches
Correlate PREPL localization with tissue microenvironment characteristics
3D tissue analysis:
Adapt clearing methods for compatibility with HRP activity
Optimize deep tissue penetration of conjugated antibodies
Develop strategies for whole-organ PREPL mapping
Implement computational approaches for 3D reconstruction and analysis
Automation presents unique considerations for PREPL-HRP assays:
Liquid handling optimization:
Develop protocols resistant to evaporation and edge effects
Implement positive displacement pipetting for consistent reagent delivery
Optimize mixing parameters to ensure homogeneous reactions
Validate automated vs. manual performance across multiple operators
Incubation and washing standardization:
Establish precise temperature control mechanisms
Develop optimized washing parameters for automated systems
Implement quality control steps to verify washing efficiency
Balance throughput with assay sensitivity requirements
Integrated data analysis pipelines:
Develop automated image analysis workflows for visual detection methods
Implement real-time data quality assessment algorithms
Create standardized reporting formats for cross-laboratory comparison
Establish automated troubleshooting decision trees based on control performance
Validation and quality assurance:
Implement regular system suitability testing protocols
Develop automated calibration verification procedures
Establish statistical process control for monitoring system performance
Create validation datasets for verifying consistency across platforms and sites