HRP-conjugated PSMC4 antibodies are optimized for high-sensitivity detection across multiple platforms:
Cross-Reactivity: Validated for human, mouse, and rat samples with no reported cross-reactivity to unrelated proteins .
Specificity: Confirmed via siRNA knockdown and immunoprecipitation assays .
Key Validation Data:
The HRP conjugation process involves maleimide-thiol chemistry using cross-linkers like Sulfo-SMCC, ensuring stable antibody-enzyme linkage .
Role in Protein Homeostasis: PSMC4 is critical for ATP-dependent unfolding of ubiquitinated proteins, aiding in cellular quality control .
Disease Associations:
PSMC4 Antibody, HRP conjugated is primarily used in ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) applications for the detection of the 26S proteasome regulatory subunit 6B. The horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugation provides a direct detection method without requiring secondary antibodies, thereby streamlining experimental workflows and potentially reducing background signal. The antibody specifically targets amino acids 112-181 of the regulatory subunit 6B of PSMC4 . While the HRP-conjugated version is primarily recommended for ELISA, non-conjugated PSMC4 antibodies can also be used for Western Blot (WB), Immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Immunofluorescence (IF/ICC) applications with appropriate secondary antibodies and detection systems .
The species reactivity profile of PSMC4 antibodies varies between products. Based on the provided data, some PSMC4 antibodies demonstrate reactivity with human, mouse, and rat samples , while the HRP-conjugated version appears to be specifically tested for human reactivity . When designing experiments, researchers should carefully consider:
The target species in their experimental model
Validated reactivity data for the specific antibody
Potential cross-reactivity with other species not explicitly tested
Necessary positive and negative controls to validate reactivity in new experimental systems
For researchers working with non-human models, it is essential to verify species cross-reactivity before proceeding with full-scale experiments, as immunological epitopes can vary between species despite protein sequence conservation.
Proper storage is critical for maintaining antibody activity, particularly for conjugated antibodies. For PSMC4 Antibody, HRP conjugated, the following storage conditions are recommended:
Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles that can degrade both antibody structure and HRP enzymatic activity
For antibodies in glycerol buffer solutions (typically 50% glycerol), storage at -20°C is sufficient and prevents complete freezing
Working aliquots can be prepared to minimize freeze-thaw cycles
The antibody is typically supplied in a buffer containing preservatives (such as 0.03% Proclin 300) and stabilizers (such as 50% glycerol) in PBS at pH 7.4 . These components help maintain antibody stability during storage. Researchers should always check product-specific storage recommendations, as formulations can vary between manufacturers.
Optimizing antibody dilution is crucial for balancing signal strength and specificity. For PSMC4 antibodies, the recommended dilutions vary by application:
Importantly, these are starting recommendations, and researchers should perform titration experiments in their specific systems to determine optimal concentrations. For the HRP-conjugated antibody specifically, substrate selection and incubation times should also be optimized alongside antibody concentration.
High background is a common challenge with HRP-conjugated antibodies. To troubleshoot this issue:
Optimize blocking conditions: Use 3-5% BSA or non-fat dry milk in TBS-T buffer for adequate blocking
Include additional washing steps: Increase the number and duration of washes with TBS-T to remove non-specifically bound antibody
Reduce antibody concentration: Perform a dilution series to determine the minimum antibody concentration that produces acceptable signal-to-noise ratio
Use additives in diluent buffer: Consider adding 0.1-0.5% Tween-20 or 1-5% normal serum from the same species as secondary antibody (when used)
Optimize substrate incubation time: For HRP-conjugated antibodies, shorter substrate incubation times may reduce background development
Consider sample preparation: Ensure complete lysis and removal of endogenous peroxidase activity in samples
Researchers should implement these modifications sequentially, testing one variable at a time to isolate the source of background.
Proper negative controls are essential for validating experimental results. For PSMC4 Antibody, HRP conjugated experiments, consider:
Isotype control: Use a non-targeting IgG from the same host species (rabbit), with HRP conjugation, to control for non-specific binding
Blocking peptide control: Pre-incubate the antibody with a competing peptide containing the immunogen sequence (amino acids 112-181 of human 26S proteasome regulatory subunit 6B)
Knockout/knockdown validation: When available, use PSMC4 knockout or knockdown samples to confirm antibody specificity
Omission control: Perform parallel assays omitting the primary antibody to assess background from detection reagents
Cross-species reactivity control: When working with non-human samples, include human samples as positive controls given the validated human reactivity
These controls help distinguish between specific signal and experimental artifacts, enhancing result reliability and reproducibility.
The direct HRP conjugation offers distinct methodological advantages and limitations compared to two-step (primary + secondary) detection systems:
Advantages of HRP-conjugated PSMC4 antibody:
Reduced protocol time by eliminating secondary antibody incubation and washing steps
Minimized cross-reactivity issues that can arise from secondary antibodies
Potential for multiplexing with antibodies from the same host species
Enhanced signal reproducibility due to fixed enzyme:antibody ratio
Limitations compared to two-step systems:
Generally lower sensitivity due to lack of signal amplification (each primary antibody carries limited HRP molecules)
Less flexibility in detection method once conjugated
Potentially shorter shelf-life due to HRP activity degradation over time
May require higher antibody concentrations to achieve comparable signal
For researchers requiring ultimate sensitivity, the recombinant production of HRP-antibody conjugates can provide advantages over chemical conjugation methods, offering homogeneous preparations with defined stoichiometry and retained functional activity of both components .
When introducing PSMC4 antibody into new experimental systems, comprehensive validation is essential:
Western blot analysis: Confirm single band detection at the expected molecular weight (43-50 kDa)
Immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry: Verify pulled-down proteins correspond to PSMC4
Peptide competition assay: Pre-incubate antibody with immunizing peptide to demonstrate signal reduction
Orthogonal antibody comparison: Test multiple antibodies targeting different PSMC4 epitopes to confirm consistent localization/detection
Genetic validation: Use CRISPR/siRNA knockdown or knockout models to demonstrate signal reduction
Cross-species evaluation: Compare detection patterns across species with known PSMC4 expression profiles
For immunohistochemistry applications specifically, researchers should consider:
Using multiple antigen retrieval methods (both TE buffer pH 9.0 and citrate buffer pH 6.0 have been effective)
Comparing staining patterns with published data in the Human Protein Atlas
Testing in both normal and diseased tissues (PSMC4 has been detected in human colon cancer tissue)
The 26S proteasome is a complex multi-protein assembly where PSMC4 (regulatory subunit 6B) plays a key functional role. For optimizing detection in proteasome studies:
Native vs. denaturing conditions: Consider native PAGE for intact proteasome complexes versus SDS-PAGE for individual subunit detection
Co-immunoprecipitation strategies: Use PSMC4 antibodies to pull down intact proteasome complexes, followed by detection of other subunits
Subcellular fractionation: Implement nuclear/cytoplasmic fractionation to study proteasome distribution, as PSMC4 functions in both compartments
Activity-based probes: Combine PSMC4 immunodetection with proteasome activity assays using fluorescent substrates
Quantitative considerations: Implement absolute quantification methods (using recombinant standards) for accurate stoichiometry determination
For researchers studying ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation pathways, combining PSMC4 detection with ubiquitin immunoblotting can provide insights into substrate recognition and processing dynamics within the 26S proteasome complex.
Multiplexing strategies allow simultaneous detection of multiple targets. For PSMC4 Antibody, HRP conjugated:
Sequential multiplex immunohistochemistry:
Perform HRP detection first, using aminoethylcarbazole (AEC) as substrate
Strip or quench HRP activity
Apply subsequent antibodies with different enzyme conjugates (e.g., alkaline phosphatase)
Develop with contrasting chromogens
Fluorescence multiplexing:
Convert HRP signal to fluorescence using tyramide signal amplification (TSA)
Choose fluorophores with non-overlapping spectra for multiple targets
Include appropriate controls for bleed-through and autofluorescence
Spatial separation strategy:
Use PSMC4 Antibody, HRP conjugated for ELISA or tissue sections
Apply differently labeled antibodies targeting other proteins
Analyze co-localization or distribution patterns
Each approach requires careful optimization of antibody concentrations, incubation times, and detection parameters to prevent cross-reactivity and signal interference.
For quantitative applications with PSMC4 Antibody, HRP conjugated:
Standard curve generation:
Prepare standards using recombinant PSMC4 protein at known concentrations
Plot signal intensity versus concentration to establish linear detection range
Include standards on each experimental plate to account for inter-assay variation
Dynamic range optimization:
Determine upper and lower detection limits for your specific experimental system
Ensure samples fall within the linear portion of the standard curve
Dilute samples as needed to remain within quantifiable range
Data normalization strategies:
Normalize to total protein concentration determined by independent methods
Consider housekeeping proteins when comparing across different sample types
Account for potential variations in HRP activity between experiments
Technical replication:
Perform technical triplicates to assess method precision
Calculate coefficients of variation (CV) to monitor assay performance
Establish acceptance criteria for assay validation (typically CV < 15%)
These methodological considerations ensure reliable quantitative data generation when using HRP-conjugated antibodies for PSMC4 detection.
Recent advances in recombinant technology offer alternative approaches to traditional chemical conjugation:
Recombinant production advantages:
Homogeneous preparation with defined stoichiometry (typically 1:1 ratio)
Retained functional activity of both HRP and antibody components
Site-specific conjugation avoiding interference with antigen-binding regions
Consistent lot-to-lot performance reducing experimental variability
Potential for genetic engineering to optimize conjugate properties
Traditional chemical conjugation limitations:
Heterogeneous mixture of conjugates with variable enzyme:antibody ratios
Potential interference with antigen-binding sites reducing affinity
Batch-to-batch variability requiring extensive validation
Limited control over conjugation sites
The Pichia pastoris methylotrophic yeast expression system has been successfully used for producing recombinant HRP-antibody conjugates, with functional preservation of both enzymatic and antigen-binding activity . Researchers interested in ultra-consistent PSMC4 detection might consider exploring recombinant conjugation approaches, particularly for quantitative applications requiring high reproducibility.
As proteasome inhibitors continue to emerge as important therapeutic agents, PSMC4 detection offers several research opportunities:
Biomarker development:
Monitoring PSMC4 expression levels as potential predictive biomarkers for proteasome inhibitor response
Correlating PSMC4 post-translational modifications with treatment efficacy
Developing companion diagnostic approaches using HRP-conjugated antibodies
Drug discovery applications:
High-throughput screening assays using PSMC4 antibodies to identify compounds that modulate 26S proteasome activity
Structure-function studies investigating how specific inhibitors affect PSMC4's ATPase activity
Evaluation of resistance mechanisms through monitoring PSMC4 conformational changes
Mechanistic investigations:
Detailed analysis of PSMC4's role in ubiquitinated protein recognition
Investigation of PSMC4's interactions with other regulatory subunits during drug treatment
Temporal studies of proteasome adaptation to inhibition using PSMC4 as a marker
These research directions represent opportunities for applying PSMC4 antibodies beyond basic characterization into translational research contexts.
Different sample types present unique challenges for antibody-based detection:
Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues:
Primary cell cultures and patient-derived samples:
Validate antibody performance in each new cell type
Account for potential variability in PSMC4 expression levels
Consider fixation optimization to preserve epitope recognition
Brain tissue samples:
Degraded or limited samples:
Implement signal amplification strategies for low-abundance detection
Consider carrier proteins to prevent non-specific antibody adsorption
Develop microfluidic approaches for minimal sample consumption
These methodological adaptations help extend PSMC4 detection capabilities across diverse experimental contexts and challenging sample types.