PXN Antibody, Biotin conjugated consists of a primary antibody specific to human paxillin, chemically linked to biotin. The core antibody component typically targets epitopes near the N-terminal region of paxillin (residues 1–100), as seen in polyclonal formulations raised in rabbits . Biotin conjugation is achieved via methods like the ZBPA (biotinylated Z-domain from Protein A) technique, which selectively binds the antibody’s Fc region to avoid nonspecific biotinylation of other proteins .
Biotin conjugation requires careful buffer conditions. Sodium azide and BSA must be removed to prevent interference with conjugation chemistry, as demonstrated in protocols involving buffer exchange to PBS . Post-conjugation, antibodies remain stable at -20°C when stored in small aliquots . The ZBPA method outperforms alternatives like Lightning-Link by minimizing background staining, as it avoids biotinylation of albumin or other contaminants .
| Method | Specificity | Background Staining | Compatible Antibody Types |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZBPA | High | Low | IgG (Fc-specific) |
| Lightning-Link | Moderate | Moderate-High | All (risk of nonspecific biotinylation) |
Biotin-conjugated PXN antibodies are used in:
Western Blotting: Detects paxillin isoforms (68–70 kDa) in human, mouse, and rat samples .
Immunohistochemistry (IHC): Localizes paxillin in focal adhesions with high precision, validated in tissues like placenta, kidney, and skin .
ELISA: Quantifies phosphorylated paxillin (e.g., Y118 phosphorylation site) .
Buffer Compatibility: PBS is preferred over Tris-based buffers for conjugation .
Signal Amplification: Biotinylated antibodies pair with streptavidin-HRP/AP or fluorescent tags, enabling multiplex assays .
Phosphorylation-Specific Variants: Antibodies like Phospho-Pxn (Y118) are critical for studying paxillin’s role in signal transduction .
Biotin-conjugated PXN antibodies should be stored at -20°C for long-term storage (up to one year from date of receipt). For frequent use over shorter periods (up to one month), storage at 4°C is acceptable. It's crucial to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles as these can degrade antibody quality and performance. When preparing small working aliquots for freezing at -20°C, addition of cryoprotectants such as glycerol is recommended to maintain antibody integrity .
Selection should be based on several critical factors:
| Selection Factor | Considerations |
|---|---|
| Target Epitope | Choose between total PXN antibodies (A01033-1, A01033-2) or phospho-specific antibodies (A01033Y118 for pY118) |
| Reactivity | Verify species reactivity (human, mouse, rat) matches your experimental samples |
| Application | Ensure validated applications (ELISA, WB, IHC, Flow Cytometry) align with your experimental approach |
| Clonality | Monoclonal for specific epitopes, polyclonal for broader detection |
| Format | Consider whether lyophilized or liquid format better suits your workflow |
For maximum detection sensitivity when using biotin conjugates, antibodies with spacers (like biotin-SP) provide better accessibility to streptavidin binding sites .
Yes, commercial PXN antibodies can be conjugated with biotin in laboratory settings. The procedure involves:
Buffer exchange to remove interfering substances (sodium azide, BSA) using dialysis or desalting columns
Reaction with biotin-NHS ester at optimal pH (typically 8.0-8.5)
Purification to remove unreacted biotin
Storage in buffer containing cryoprotectant
Limitations to consider:
Carrier proteins like BSA must be removed before conjugation as they compete with the antibody for biotin binding sites
Sodium azide should be eliminated as it can interfere with certain conjugation chemistries
Post-conjugation, addition of stabilizers like trehalose or glycerol is recommended for storage at -20°C
| Application | Recommended Dilution Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Western Blot | 1:500-1:1000 | May require optimization for specific tissue/cell types |
| IHC-P | 1:50-1:200 | Use antigen retrieval in EDTA buffer (pH 8.0) |
| ICC/IF | 1:50-1:200 | Permeabilization crucial for intracellular paxillin detection |
| Flow Cytometry | 1μg/1×10^6 cells | For intracellular paxillin detection |
| ELISA | Starting at 1:1000 | Titration recommended |
These recommendations provide starting points; optimal concentrations should be determined experimentally for each specific application and sample type .
To effectively study PXN phosphorylation dynamics:
Experimental setup:
Use paired antibodies: total PXN (A01033-1 or A01033-2) and phospho-specific (A01033Y118 for pY118)
Include appropriate controls (untreated/unstimulated cells, phosphatase treatment)
Consider time-course experiments to capture temporal dynamics
Detection system:
For biotin-conjugated antibodies, use streptavidin conjugated to appropriate reporter (HRP, fluorophore)
For imaging applications, streptavidin-conjugated fluorophores allow visualization of spatial distribution of phosphorylated PXN
For quantitative analysis, flow cytometry with biotin-conjugated PXN antibodies plus streptavidin-fluorophore provides statistical power
Data analysis:
A robust immunofluorescence experiment using biotin-conjugated PXN antibodies should include:
| Control Type | Purpose | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Antibody Omission | Evaluate secondary reagent non-specific binding | Incubate sample with buffer only instead of primary antibody |
| Isotype Control | Assess non-specific binding of primary antibody | Use non-specific IgG of same species/isotype as PXN antibody |
| Blocking Peptide | Confirm antibody specificity | Pre-incubate antibody with immunizing peptide before staining |
| Positive Control | Validate detection system | Use cell type/tissue known to express PXN (e.g., fibroblasts) |
| Negative Control | Exclude false positives | Use cell type with minimal PXN expression or PXN-knockout cells |
| Phosphatase Treatment | For phospho-specific antibodies | Treat samples with lambda phosphatase prior to staining |
For multicolor experiments, single-stain controls are essential to establish compensation settings, particularly when using biotin-streptavidin systems alongside other fluorophores .
Endogenous biotin can significantly interfere with biotin-streptavidin detection systems, particularly in tissues like liver, kidney, and brain. To minimize this interference:
Block endogenous biotin:
Pre-treat tissue sections with avidin-biotin blocking kit
Incubate sequentially with avidin solution (binds endogenous biotin), then biotin solution (saturates avidin's biotin-binding sites)
Alternative detection strategy:
Use directly labeled primary antibodies instead of biotin-conjugated antibodies
Consider tyramide signal amplification systems if sensitivity is needed
Sample preparation optimization:
Yes, biotin-conjugated anti-PXN antibodies can be effectively used for flow cytometric analysis of platelet activation, though the approach requires careful consideration:
Protocol considerations:
Fixation and permeabilization are essential as PXN is an intracellular protein
For multiparameter analysis, stain for surface markers (e.g., P-selectin) before fixation/permeabilization
Use streptavidin conjugated to a fluorophore with minimal spectral overlap with other markers
Data interpretation:
PXN serves as a negative regulator of platelet activation, so decreased phosphorylation may correlate with increased activation
Correlate PXN phosphorylation status with established platelet activation markers
Quantify as mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of biotin-streptavidin signal
Validation approach:
The research by Sakata et al. demonstrated that PXN functions as an intrinsic negative regulator of platelet activation in mice, highlighting its importance in understanding platelet biology and potential therapeutic targets .
When facing discrepancies between detection methods:
Systematically evaluate technical factors:
Antibody specificity: Test with phosphopeptide competition assays for both detection methods
Sample preparation: Ensure phosphatase inhibitors are included during lysis
Detection sensitivity: Biotin-streptavidin systems typically provide signal amplification compared to direct detection
Biological considerations:
Temporal dynamics: Phosphorylation events are often transient; ensure consistent timing across methods
Spatial constraints: Immunostaining detects localized phosphorylation while Western blot averages across the cell population
Validation approaches:
Biotin-conjugated PXN antibodies can be integrated into advanced multiplexed imaging workflows through several strategies:
Sequential staining approaches:
Apply, image, and strip/quench biotin-conjugated PXN antibodies in cycle 1
Conduct subsequent cycles with other markers
Align and overlay images computationally
Spectrally-distinct reporter systems:
Combine streptavidin conjugated to spectrally-distinct fluorophores with directly-labeled antibodies
Use biotin-conjugated PXN antibodies with streptavidin-quantum dots for stable, narrow emission spectra
Spatial analysis considerations:
When investigating PXN in cancer research contexts using biotin-conjugated antibodies:
Clinical significance:
PXN phosphorylation status correlates with invasiveness in multiple cancer types
Different phosphorylation sites (e.g., Y118) may have distinct roles in migration versus proliferation
Methodological considerations:
Patient-derived samples may require optimized fixation protocols
Consider tissue microarray approaches for high-throughput analysis
Include appropriate cancer and normal tissue controls
Data interpretation framework:
Correlate PXN phosphorylation with clinical parameters and patient outcomes
Integrate with other markers of focal adhesion dynamics
Consider subcellular localization of phospho-PXN as it may translocate to different compartments in cancer cells
The immunohistochemical analysis shows that PXN can be effectively detected in various human cancer tissues including laryngeal carcinoma, hashimoto thyroiditis, and thyroid papillary carcinoma, making biotin-conjugated antibodies valuable tools for cancer biomarker research .
The integration of biotin-conjugated PXN antibodies with single-cell technologies represents an exciting frontier:
Single-cell proteomics applications:
Mass cytometry (CyTOF) using biotin-conjugated antibodies with metal-labeled streptavidin
Spatial proteomics platforms to correlate PXN phosphorylation with cellular positioning in tissue architecture
Microfluidic antibody-based single-cell Western blotting
Multi-omics integration:
Coupling phospho-PXN detection with single-cell transcriptomics
Correlating phosphorylation status with gene expression at individual cell level
Developing computational approaches to integrate protein modification data with transcriptional profiles
Technical adaptations required:
By leveraging these emerging technologies, researchers can gain unprecedented insights into the heterogeneity of PXN expression and phosphorylation across cell populations, potentially revealing subpopulations with distinct signaling profiles relevant to disease progression or treatment response.