PTPN6, also designated as SHP-1, is a non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase primarily expressed in hematopoietic cells. It is characterized by two SH2 domains located N-terminal to the PTP domain and maps to chromosome 12p13, a region commonly involved in leukemia-associated chromosomal abnormalities. The protein plays a crucial role in modulating intracellular signaling for various molecules and has been implicated in the control of tyrosine kinase signaling pathways in cellular proliferation, with potential roles in cancer development .
In various malignancies including T-cell lymphomas, SHP-1 phosphatase expression is often lost through mechanisms that remain to be fully elucidated. This loss of expression may contribute to dysregulated signaling pathways that promote cancer progression, making PTPN6 an important target for cancer research .
PTPN6 consists of 597 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 68 kDa, though it is typically observed at approximately 63 kDa in gel electrophoresis . This discrepancy between calculated and observed molecular weights may be attributed to post-translational modifications or protein folding effects on gel migration.
The protein is a member of the non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase subfamily, characterized by a catalytic phosphatase domain. SHP-1 is cytosolic and has high substrate specificity for phosphotyrosyl proteins, structurally distinct from protein serine phosphatases, protein threonine phosphatases, or acid and alkaline phosphatases .
Researchers have access to several types of PTPN6 antibodies:
Monoclonal antibodies: Mouse-derived monoclonal antibodies such as CPTC-PTPN6-2 are available for highly specific detection .
Polyclonal antibodies: Rabbit polyclonal antibodies like AP02795PU-N recognize epitopes around specific phosphorylation sites, such as tyrosine 536 (S-E-Y-G-N) in human SHP-1 .
Conjugated antibodies: Primary antibodies conjugated with fluorescent dyes including CF®405S, CF®488A, CF®568, CF®594, and CF®640R for various detection methods .
Each antibody type offers distinct advantages depending on the specific research application, with monoclonals providing high specificity and polyclonals offering broader epitope recognition.
Selection of fluorescent conjugates should be based on the detection platform, target abundance, and potential for background interference. The following table summarizes available conjugates and their applications:
| Antibody Prefix | Conjugation | Excitation/Emission (nm) | Laser Line | Detection Channel | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BNC04 | CF®405S | 404/431 | 405 | DAPI, AF405 | Microscopy, low background needed |
| BNC88 | CF®488A | 490/515 | 488 | GFP, FITC | Standard fluorescence, good signal |
| BNC68 | CF®568 | 562/583 | 532, 561 | RFP, TRITC | Reduced autofluorescence |
| BNC94 | CF®594 | 593/614 | 561 | Texas Red® | High sensitivity detection |
| BNC40 | CF®640R | 642/662 | 633, 635 | Cy5 | Far-red detection, minimal overlap |
Important consideration: Blue fluorescent dyes like CF®405S are not recommended for detecting low abundance targets due to their lower fluorescence intensity and potentially higher non-specific background compared to other dye colors .
Based on validated protocols, PTPN6 antibodies can be used in multiple applications with the following recommended dilutions:
| Application | Recommended Dilution | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Western Blot (WB) | 1:5000-1:50000 | High sensitivity detection |
| Immunoprecipitation (IP) | 0.5-4.0 μg for 1.0-3.0 mg lysate | Optimal for protein interaction studies |
| Immunohistochemistry (IHC) | 1:50-1:500 | Tissue-dependent optimization required |
| Immunofluorescence (IF/ICC) | 1:50-1:500 | Cell type may influence optimal dilution |
| Flow Cytometry (Intracellular) | 0.20 μg per 10^6 cells in 100 μl | For quantitative expression analysis |
It is strongly recommended to titrate antibodies in each specific experimental system to obtain optimal results, as performance can be sample-dependent .
PTPN6 antibodies have been validated in several experimental systems:
Western blot: Positive detection in Raji cells, Jurkat cells, and HuH-7 cells
Immunoprecipitation: Successfully used in Jurkat cells
Immunohistochemistry: Validated in human colon cancer tissue
Immunofluorescence/ICC: Positive detection in MCF-7 cells
Flow Cytometry: Successfully used for intracellular staining in MCF-7 cells
Additionally, PTPN6 expression has been studied in bladder cancer tissues and various colon cancer cell lines including SW480 and LOVO .
For immunohistochemical applications, antigen retrieval conditions significantly impact staining quality. The recommended buffer conditions for PTPN6 antibody in IHC applications are:
Primary recommendation: TE buffer pH 9.0
Alternative method: Citrate buffer pH 6.0
The choice between these buffer conditions may depend on tissue type, fixation method, and specific epitope accessibility. For human colon cancer tissue in particular, TE buffer at pH 9.0 has been validated to produce optimal results .
Research has revealed distinct PTPN6 expression patterns across cancer types:
Bladder Cancer: PTPN6 is overexpressed in bladder cancer tissues compared to normal bladder tissues, with significant correlation to tumor grade, stage, T classification, and N classification .
Colon Cancer: PTPN6 expression has been detected in various colon cancer cell lines. Functional studies demonstrate that PTPN6 knockdown significantly inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion capabilities of colon cancer cells (SW480 and LOVO), suggesting PTPN6 may promote colon cancer progression .
Lymphomas: Preliminary studies indicate PTPN6/SHP-1 may help differentiate mantle/marginal zone lymphomas (SHP-1 positive) from follicular lymphomas (SHP-1 negative), suggesting potential diagnostic utility .
These varied expression patterns highlight the context-dependent role of PTPN6 in different cancer types.
Research on colon cancer cells demonstrates that PTPN6 may regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a critical process in cancer metastasis:
EMT marker regulation: PTPN6 knockdown promotes expression of epithelial marker E-cadherin while inhibiting mesenchymal markers Vimentin and N-cadherin
Transcription factor modulation: PTPN6 silencing suppresses expression of EMT-associated transcription factors Twist1, TWIST2, ZEB1, and ZEB2
Matrix metalloproteinase inhibition: Expression levels of MMP2 and MMP9, which facilitate invasion, decrease after PTPN6 silencing in LOVO and SW480 cells
These findings suggest PTPN6 may facilitate cancer progression by promoting EMT and associated invasive properties.
Analysis of PTPN6 expression in bladder cancer revealed significant associations with immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment:
Positive correlations were observed with:
B cells (P = 5.078e-39)
CD4+ T cells (P = 8.716e-14)
Dendritic cells (P = 0.003)
Neutrophils (P = 0.004)
Negative correlations were found with:
These findings suggest PTPN6 may play a regulatory role in the tumor immune microenvironment, potentially affecting immunosurveillance and response to immunotherapies.
Phospho-specific antibodies targeting sites like tyrosine 536 in PTPN6 enable detailed investigation of phosphorylation-dependent regulation mechanisms:
Phosphorylation status monitoring: Antibodies recognizing the phosphorylated form (e.g., AP02795PU-N targeting phospho-Y536) allow researchers to track activation status under different stimuli or in various disease states .
Signaling pathway analysis: By examining correlations between PTPN6 phosphorylation and downstream effector activation, researchers can map signaling cascades involving this phosphatase.
Structure-function studies: Comparing total PTPN6 levels versus phosphorylated forms helps elucidate how posttranslational modifications affect enzymatic activity and protein interactions.
Therapeutic response monitoring: Changes in PTPN6 phosphorylation patterns following drug treatment may serve as pharmacodynamic biomarkers.
Based on published methodologies, successful PTPN6 knockdown experiments should incorporate:
Appropriate controls: Include non-targeting siRNA or empty vector controls alongside PTPN6-targeting constructs in all experiments.
Knockdown verification: Confirm reduced PTPN6 expression at both mRNA level (via qPCR) and protein level (via Western blot) before interpreting phenotypic outcomes.
Multiple cell lines: Test effects in multiple relevant cell lines (e.g., both SW480 and LOVO for colon cancer studies) to ensure robustness of findings.
Functional assays: Employ multiple complementary assays (proliferation, migration, invasion) to comprehensively characterize phenotypic consequences.
Molecular mechanism investigation: Assess changes in relevant downstream pathways (e.g., EMT markers, transcription factors) to elucidate mechanistic insights .
Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) using PTPN6 antibodies allows researchers to identify and characterize protein interaction networks:
Binding partner identification: Using PTPN6 antibodies to pull down protein complexes followed by mass spectrometry can reveal novel interaction partners.
Interaction domain mapping: By comparing Co-IP results using antibodies targeting different PTPN6 domains, researchers can determine which regions mediate specific protein interactions.
Stimulus-dependent interactions: Performing Co-IP under various cellular conditions can reveal dynamic, context-dependent protein associations.
Phosphorylation-dependent interactions: Comparing results using phospho-specific versus pan-PTPN6 antibodies can identify interactions regulated by phosphorylation status.
Therapeutic target validation: Co-IP studies can validate whether candidate drugs effectively disrupt pathological protein interactions involving PTPN6 .
To maintain antibody integrity and performance, follow these storage guidelines:
Temperature: Store PTPN6 antibodies at -20°C for long-term stability.
Aliquoting: Divide antibody solutions into small aliquots to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles, which can degrade antibody quality.
Buffer composition: Most PTPN6 antibodies are supplied in PBS with 0.02% sodium azide and 50% glycerol at pH 7.3, which helps maintain stability during freezing.
Shipping conditions: When receiving new antibodies, verify they were shipped on blue ice and promptly store at recommended temperatures.
Shelf life: PTPN6 antibodies typically remain stable for one year after shipment when stored properly .