Recombinant Uncharacterized Protein Rv1841c/MT1889 (UniProt ID: Q50593) is a full-length protein consisting of 345 amino acids that has been recombinantly expressed with an N-terminal His-tag in E. coli expression systems . This protein represents a research target whose biological function has not yet been fully elucidated, making it a valuable subject for structural and functional studies. The recombinant version is produced through heterologous expression, allowing researchers to obtain sufficient quantities for experimental investigation while maintaining structural integrity.
The recombinant protein is typically supplied as a lyophilized powder and should be stored at -20°C/-80°C upon receipt . For research applications requiring multiple uses, aliquoting is necessary to prevent protein degradation from repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Working aliquots may be stored at 4°C for up to one week . For long-term storage, it is recommended to add glycerol to a final concentration of 5-50% before aliquoting and storing at -20°C/-80°C, with the default recommendation being 50% glycerol .
| Storage Condition | Temperature | Maximum Duration | Special Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term storage | -20°C/-80°C | Months to years | Add 50% glycerol, aliquot |
| Working aliquots | 4°C | Up to one week | Avoid repeated freeze-thaw |
| Reconstituted protein | On ice/4°C | Hours to days | Maintain in appropriate buffer |
The recommended reconstitution protocol involves:
Briefly centrifuging the vial prior to opening to ensure all material is at the bottom
Reconstituting the protein in deionized sterile water to a concentration of 0.1-1.0 mg/mL
Adding glycerol to a final concentration of 5-50% for improved stability
The reconstitution buffer is Tris/PBS-based with 6% Trehalose at pH 8.0 . This formulation helps maintain protein stability during the reconstitution process and subsequent storage. For experimental procedures requiring different buffer conditions, a step-wise dialysis approach is recommended to minimize protein aggregation or precipitation.
When working with uncharacterized proteins like Rv1841c/MT1889, a systematic multi-pronged approach is essential:
Computational Analysis
Sequence homology searching against characterized proteins
Domain prediction and motif analysis
Secondary structure prediction
Machine learning approaches for function prediction
Expression Pattern Analysis
Investigate conditions that upregulate or downregulate the protein
Examine tissue/cellular distribution using immunohistochemistry
Study temporal expression patterns
Protein-Protein Interaction Studies
Co-immunoprecipitation experiments
Yeast two-hybrid screening
Proximity labeling approaches (BioID, APEX)
Cross-linking mass spectrometry
Phenotypic Analysis
Gene knockout/knockdown experiments
Overexpression studies
Complementation assays
For rigorous experimental design, researchers should implement multiple orthogonal approaches and include appropriate controls to validate findings across methods.
Quality assessment of recombinant Rv1841c/MT1889 requires multiple analytical techniques:
When analyzing results, researchers should compare protein quality metrics against established standards for recombinant proteins used in structural and functional studies.
Multivariate data analysis approaches are essential when investigating complex relationships in protein characterization studies. For Rv1841c/MT1889 research, integrating data from multiple experimental techniques requires sophisticated statistical methods:
Principal Component Analysis (PCA): Useful for identifying patterns in multidimensional datasets generated from protein interaction studies or expression analyses
Hierarchical Clustering: Valuable for grouping similar experimental conditions or identifying related proteins based on multiple parameters
Partial Least Squares (PLS) Regression: Effective for modeling relationships between protein structural features and functional characteristics
Longitudinal Data Analysis: Appropriate for studying time-dependent changes in protein expression or activity
These statistical approaches help researchers handle the high dimensionality of proteomics data and extract meaningful patterns that might not be apparent through univariate analyses.
When confronted with conflicting experimental results, a systematic analytical approach is essential:
Methodological Validation
Examine differences in experimental conditions, reagent sources, and protocol variations
Validate antibody specificity using positive and negative controls
Verify protein identity using orthogonal methods (e.g., mass spectrometry)
Statistical Reassessment
Contextual Integration
Consider cell type-specific or condition-specific effects
Evaluate potential post-translational modifications affecting protein function
Examine subcellular localization differences
Meta-analysis Approach
Systematically compare methodologies across studies
Weight evidence based on methodological rigor
Identify patterns across seemingly contradictory results
By approaching discrepancies methodically, researchers can often reconcile conflicting results and generate more robust hypotheses about protein function.
For uncharacterized proteins like Rv1841c/MT1889, structural determination follows a tiered approach:
Computational Prediction Methods
Homology modeling based on related structures
Ab initio modeling for novel folds
AlphaFold2 and RoseTTAFold deep learning approaches
Molecular dynamics simulations to refine predicted structures
Experimental Structure Determination
X-ray crystallography (requires protein crystals)
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy (for proteins <30 kDa)
Cryo-electron microscopy (especially valuable for membrane proteins)
Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) for low-resolution envelope
Integrated Approaches
Combining computational predictions with limited experimental data
Using crosslinking mass spectrometry to validate predicted interactions
Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry to probe structural dynamics
The amino acid sequence provided for Rv1841c/MT1889 suggests potential membrane-associated regions , which may require specialized approaches for structural determination such as detergent optimization or lipid nanodisc reconstitution.
Designing functional assays for uncharacterized proteins requires a hypothesis-driven approach based on sequence analysis and structural predictions:
Enzymatic Activity Screening
Screen for common enzymatic activities (hydrolase, transferase, oxidoreductase)
Substrate specificity profiling using compound libraries
Activity-based protein profiling with activity-specific probes
Ligand Binding Assays
Thermal shift assays to identify stabilizing ligands
Surface plasmon resonance for binding kinetics
Isothermal titration calorimetry for thermodynamic parameters
Cellular Function Assays
Localization studies using fluorescent protein fusions
Phenotypic screens following gene knockout/knockdown
Rescue experiments with mutant variants
Pathway Analysis
Phosphoproteomics to identify signaling pathways
Metabolomics to detect metabolic changes
Transcriptomics to identify regulated genes
For each assay, researchers should implement appropriate positive and negative controls, concentration gradients, and statistical validation to ensure reliable interpretation of results.
Investigating protein-protein interactions for uncharacterized proteins requires multiple complementary approaches:
| Technique | Application | Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affinity Purification-MS | Identification of stable interactors | Detects native complexes | May miss transient interactions |
| Yeast Two-Hybrid | Binary interaction screening | High-throughput capability | High false positive rate |
| BioID/TurboID | Proximity labeling | Detects transient interactions | Spatial resolution limitations |
| FRET/BRET | Live-cell interaction detection | Real-time dynamics | Requires protein tagging |
| Crosslinking-MS | Structural interface mapping | Identifies interaction sites | Complex data analysis |
| Surface Plasmon Resonance | Binding kinetics | Quantitative measurements | Requires purified proteins |
An integrative approach combining multiple methods provides the most comprehensive and reliable interaction network. The His-tag present on the recombinant Rv1841c/MT1889 can be utilized for initial pull-down experiments, followed by validation using orthogonal techniques.
Longitudinal studies examining Rv1841c/MT1889 expression, localization, or function over time require careful experimental design:
Statistical Power and Sampling
Determine appropriate sample sizes through power analysis
Plan for biological and technical replicates
Account for potential missing data points
Data Analysis Considerations
Experimental Controls
Include time-matched controls for each experimental condition
Consider including housekeeping proteins as internal standards
Implement normalization strategies for cross-time point comparisons
Documentation and Reporting
Record detailed metadata about experimental conditions
Document any deviations from protocols
Report both positive and negative findings
Proper longitudinal study design is particularly important when investigating proteins of unknown function, as temporal patterns may provide crucial insights into biological roles.
The "People Also Ask" (PAA) feature on Google can serve as a valuable resource for researchers studying uncharacterized proteins:
Identifying Knowledge Gaps
Methodology Enhancement
Research Planning
Communication Improvement
Researchers should start by typing relevant keywords to discover frequently asked PAA questions and then integrate these insights into their experimental design and communication strategies .
Researchers investigating uncharacterized proteins should utilize these specialized bioinformatic resources:
Sequence Analysis Tools
Structural Resources
AlphaFold DB: AI-predicted protein structures
PDB: Repository of experimentally determined structures
SWISS-MODEL: Homology modeling server
Functional Prediction
Gene Ontology: Standardized functional annotations
STRING: Protein-protein interaction networks
KEGG: Pathway mapping and analysis
Research Literature Integration
For optimal results, researchers should use multiple complementary tools and critically evaluate predictions by comparing outputs across different algorithms.