STRING: 7955.ENSDARP00000048027
UniGene: Dr.30216
RHCG is an ammonium transporter involved in maintaining acid-base homeostasis. It primarily transports ammonium and its derivative methylammonium across plasma membranes of epithelial cells, contributing to renal transepithelial ammonia transport and ammonia metabolism. The transport mechanism involves an electroneutral bidirectional transport of NH3 ammonia species, with NH4+ ions interacting with acidic residues of the pore entry, dissociating into NH3 and H+. The NH3 then transits through the central pore and is protonated on the extracellular side, reforming NH4+. RHCG may also function as a CO2 channel providing for renal acid secretion .
RHCG antibodies are primarily used for immunohistochemistry-paraffin (IHC-P) applications to detect RHCG expression in tissue samples. They have been validated for detecting mouse samples using synthetic peptide immunogens corresponding to Human RHCG amino acids 1-100 conjugated to Keyhole Limpet Haemocyanin . Advanced applications include multiplex immunofluorescence for validating single-cell RNA sequencing data predictions, particularly in psoriasis research where RHCG has been identified as a hub gene associated with keratinocyte differentiation .
When searching literature or databases for RHCG information, researchers should be aware of several alternative designations: C15orf6, CDRC2, PDRC2, RHGK, Ammonium transporter Rh type C, Rh glycoprotein kidney, Rhesus blood group family type C glycoprotein, Tumor-related protein DRC2, Rh family type C glycoprotein, and Rh type C glycoprotein . This nomenclature diversity is important for comprehensive literature searches and accurate identification of the target protein.
For optimal immunofluorescence detection of RHCG in tissue samples, researchers should:
Block tissue sections with 5% bovine serum albumin in PBS or 0.1% Tween solution
Apply primary anti-RHCG antibody overnight at 4°C (concentration determined by prior validation)
Apply appropriate secondary antibodies for one hour at 25°C
Counterstain nuclei with DAPI for 3 minutes (protected from light)
Perform four separate 5-minute PBS rinses
Apply IF quencher solution to seal the sample
The antibody concentration should be determined based on prior studies or provider recommendations, with optimization needed for each specific application.
Proper controls are critical for reliable RHCG antibody experiments. Researchers should include:
Isotype controls - antibodies of the same isotype class but with irrelevant specificity to measure non-specific binding. For human samples, mouse antibodies with the same isotype should be used to control for human anti-mouse antibody (HAMA) interference .
Positive controls - tissues known to express RHCG (e.g., kidney tissues)
Negative controls - tissues known to not express RHCG or samples where RHCG has been knocked down using RNA interference
Technical controls - omission of primary antibody to assess secondary antibody specificity
H-SCORE assessments combining staining intensity (0-3 scale) and percentage of positive cells can provide semi-quantitative analysis of RHCG expression on a 0-300 scale .
For quantitative analysis of RHCG expression in IHC samples, researchers should employ the H-SCORE system:
Score staining intensity: 0 (negative), 1 (weak), 2 (moderate), 3 (strong)
Determine percentage of positive versus negative cells in each sample
Calculate the H-SCORE by combining staining intensity and percentage of stained cells
The resulting H-SCORE ranges from 0 to 300, with higher scores indicating enhanced positivity
This approach provides a semi-quantitative assessment that can be used for comparative analyses between different experimental conditions or patient samples.
Recent research has identified RHCG as a novel causal disease gene in psoriasis pathogenesis. To investigate this connection, researchers can:
Use multiplex immunofluorescence with validated RHCG antibodies to confirm expression patterns predicted by single-cell RNA sequencing data
Perform co-localization studies with keratinocyte differentiation markers and dendritic cell markers
Conduct RHCG knockdown studies using RNA interference to evaluate functional impacts on keratinocyte differentiation
Assess the correlation between RHCG expression and dendritic cell maturation state in psoriatic lesions
Compare RHCG expression patterns between normal skin, non-lesional psoriatic skin, and psoriatic lesions
This approach can help elucidate the mechanistic role of RHCG in psoriasis development and potentially identify new therapeutic targets.
To investigate the functional relationship between RHCG and dendritic cell (DC) maturation in contexts like psoriasis, researchers should consider these approaches:
Correlation analysis between RHCG expression and DC maturation markers in tissue samples using multiplex immunofluorescence
In vitro studies with DC cultures exposed to recombinant RHCG or conditioned media from RHCG-expressing cells
RNA interference studies targeting RHCG in co-culture systems of keratinocytes and DCs
Assessment of DC activation markers following manipulation of RHCG expression
Network analysis examining transcriptional relationships between RHCG and immune response gene modules
This comprehensive approach will provide insights into how RHCG influences DC maturation and subsequent immune responses in disease contexts.
To study RHCG's molecular mechanisms in ammonium transport, researchers can employ these antibody-based techniques:
Immunolocalization studies to track RHCG subcellular distribution under varying pH conditions
Proximity ligation assays to identify protein-protein interactions between RHCG and potential regulatory partners
Live-cell imaging with fluorescently tagged antibody fragments to monitor RHCG trafficking
Antibody-mediated inhibition studies to block specific domains of RHCG and assess functional consequences
Co-immunoprecipitation experiments to identify RHCG-interacting proteins under different physiological conditions
These approaches, combined with functional assays of ammonium transport, can elucidate the structural and molecular basis of RHCG function in acid-base homeostasis.
When encountering potential cross-reactivity with RHCG antibodies, researchers should:
Validate antibody specificity using knockout/knockdown controls
Pre-adsorb antibodies with purified related proteins (especially other Rh family members)
Compare multiple antibodies targeting different RHCG epitopes
Use Western blotting to confirm the molecular weight of detected proteins
Perform epitope mapping to understand binding characteristics
Consider dilution optimization to minimize non-specific binding while maintaining specific signal
These approaches will help ensure that observed signals genuinely represent RHCG rather than related proteins or non-specific binding.
For in vivo applications requiring extended RHCG antibody circulation, researchers can employ structure-guided design principles to enhance antibody half-life:
Engineer the Fc region to improve binding to the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), which can extend half-life by >9-fold in transgenic mice and >3.5-fold in cynomolgus monkeys
Use structure- and network-based frameworks to optimize Fc-FcRn interactions while maintaining other critical antibody functions
Consider using full-size antibodies rather than Fab or Fab2 fragments, which demonstrate significantly shorter half-lives in vivo
Implement pH-specific enhancement of FcRn binding to improve pharmacokinetic properties
Monitor and maintain robust biophysical properties and wild-type-like binding to activating receptors during engineering
These engineering approaches can significantly extend the experimental window for in vivo RHCG antibody applications while preserving functional properties.
When multiplexing RHCG antibodies with other markers for complex tissue analyses:
Carefully select primary antibodies from different host species to avoid cross-reactivity between secondary detection antibodies
If using multiple antibodies from the same species, consider sequential staining with intermediate blocking steps
Validate each antibody individually before combining in multiplexed protocols
Include appropriate single-stain controls to assess signal bleed-through
Optimize antibody concentrations to achieve comparable signal intensities across markers
Use spectral unmixing algorithms to separate overlapping fluorophore signals if necessary
Consider tyramide signal amplification for low-abundance targets like RHCG
These considerations will help produce clear, interpretable results when analyzing RHCG alongside other markers in complex tissue environments.
Researchers can integrate antibody-derived RHCG localization data with computational approaches through:
Correlation of RHCG expression patterns from immunohistochemistry with gene co-expression networks identified through approaches like Multiscale Embedded Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (MEGENA)
Integration of RHCG protein localization data with single-cell RNA sequencing transcriptional profiles
Application of machine learning algorithms to identify cellular phenotypes associated with varying RHCG expression levels
Network pharmacology approaches to identify compounds that may modulate RHCG expression or function
Systems biology modeling of acid-base homeostasis incorporating RHCG spatial distribution data
These computational approaches can reveal new insights into RHCG function and its role in disease processes that wouldn't be apparent from individual experiments.
While current research on RHCG antibodies is primarily focused on basic research and diagnostics, engineered antibodies could have therapeutic applications:
Development of antibodies that modulate RHCG function could potentially address conditions involving acid-base dysregulation
For psoriasis applications, targeted delivery of therapeutics using RHCG antibodies might enable precise treatment of affected tissues
Engineering antibodies with extended half-life through FcRn-binding enhancements could improve therapeutic efficacy
Combination of RHCG targeting with immune modulation could potentially address the dendritic cell dysregulation associated with psoriasis
Therapeutic approaches could leverage traditional Chinese medicine compounds like Tripterygii Radix (TR) and Cinnamomi Ramulus (CR) that may interact with pathways involving RHCG
These potential therapeutic applications represent an emerging frontier in RHCG research, bridging basic science with translational possibilities.
For resource-limited settings, researchers could adapt haemagglutination test principles to detect RHCG antibodies:
Develop a quantitative haemagglutination test using RHCG proteins bound to red blood cells through linking molecules
Optimize conditions to ensure RHCG epitopes remain accessible for antibody binding
Establish visual readout scales that don't require specialized equipment
Validate the assay against standard ELISA or immunofluorescence methods
Develop stabilized reagents that can withstand variable storage conditions
Create standardized positive and negative controls to ensure result reliability
This approach could provide a low-cost, point-of-care alternative for RHCG antibody detection in settings where advanced laboratory infrastructure is limited.
RHCG antibody research can provide insights into anoikis resistance mechanisms in cancer by:
Exploring potential functional relationships between RHCG and RHBDL2, which has been implicated in anoikis resistance in malignant epithelial tumor cells
Investigating whether RHCG, like RHBDL2, might influence EGFR signaling pathways that protect cancer cells from homeless-triggered cell death
Examining potential correlations between RHCG expression and cancer cell detachment survival
Assessing RHCG expression in suspension cultures of various cancer cell lines with different invasive potentials
Evaluating whether RHCG inhibition affects markers of apoptosis like cleaved caspase 3 in suspension cultures
This cross-disciplinary approach could reveal unexpected connections between ammonium transport, acid-base regulation, and cancer cell survival mechanisms.
When incorporating RHCG antibody-based assays in early-phase drug development:
Develop scientifically sound analytical methods suitable to support pre-clinical and ultimately clinical release and stability testing
Establish key quality attributes that RHCG antibodies must meet for consistent assay performance
Ensure sufficient understanding of process robustness to enable safe scale-up
Implement a control strategy that accounts for potential variability in antibody performance
Consider analytical complexity factors that might affect reproducibility and reliability
Establish acceptance criteria based on method validation data
These methodological considerations ensure that RHCG antibody-based assays provide reliable data throughout the drug development process.
Researchers investigating traditional medicines can leverage RHCG antibody techniques to:
Assess the effects of compounds like Tripterygii Radix (TR) and Cinnamomi Ramulus (CR) on RHCG expression in relevant disease models
Identify active ingredients from traditional medicine formulations that modulate RHCG expression or function
Use network pharmacology approaches to predict interactions between traditional medicine compounds and RHCG-related pathways
Validate computational predictions through experimental techniques using RHCG antibodies
Investigate whether traditional medicine compounds affect RHCG-mediated processes in psoriasis or other conditions
Establish dose-response relationships between traditional medicine compounds and RHCG expression or function