RPL11 (ribosomal protein L11) is a component of the 60S ribosomal subunit and belongs to the L5P family of ribosomal proteins. It plays crucial roles in ribosome biogenesis and protein synthesis. RPL11 is significant in research because it functions as part of the 5S ribonucleoprotein particle (5S RNP) essential for large subunit formation and rRNA maturation . Additionally, RPL11 serves as a key mediator in the ribosomal stress response pathway by binding to MDM2 and activating p53, making it relevant for cancer research .
RPL11 antibody pairs are primarily used in sandwich ELISA applications for the quantitative detection of RPL11 across multiple species. The validated pairs have been tested in humans, rats, mice, guinea pigs, bovine, horse, pig, dog, chicken, and goat samples . Beyond sandwich ELISA, individual RPL11 antibodies have applications in Western blotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), immunocytochemistry (ICC), and immunoprecipitation (IP) .
RPL11 antibody pairs have been validated for use with multiple sample types including:
Tissue homogenates (liver, lung, pancreas from human, mouse, and rat)
Serum and plasma samples
Recombinant protein standards
The antibody pairs must be optimized specifically for each sample type as matrix effects can influence detection sensitivity .
The recommended dilutions vary by application and specific antibody:
Optimal dilutions should be determined empirically for specific sample types and experimental conditions .
To validate RPL11 antibody pair specificity:
Perform cross-reactivity testing with related ribosomal proteins
Include knockdown/knockout controls (siRNA or CRISPR-mediated)
Conduct epitope mapping to ensure the antibody pairs recognize distinct, non-overlapping epitopes
Verify results using alternative detection methods (Western blot or IF)
Confirm protein size matches the expected molecular weight (~20 kDa)
Multiple publications have validated RPL11 antibodies in knockout/knockdown systems, providing confidence in antibody specificity .
Several factors influence RPL11 detection sensitivity:
Antibody pair compatibility - The capture and detection antibodies must recognize non-overlapping epitopes
Blocking reagents - Optimize to minimize background while maintaining specific signal
Sample preparation - Proper cell/tissue lysis ensures complete protein extraction
Incubation conditions - Temperature and time significantly impact antigen-antibody binding kinetics
Detection system - Enzyme-substrate combinations vary in sensitivity
Washing steps - Insufficient washing causes high background; excessive washing can reduce signal
The reported sensitivity for optimal RPL11 antibody pairs can detect protein levels in the picogram to nanogram range .
For optimal RPL11 sandwich ELISA performance:
Plate coating: Use the capture antibody at 0.5 μg/ml in carbonate buffer (pH 9.6) overnight at 4°C
Blocking: 1-2% BSA or milk protein in PBS or TBS for 1-2 hours at room temperature
Sample dilution: Prepare a dilution series to determine the linear range
Signal development: Optimize substrate incubation time to maximize signal-to-noise ratio
Standard curve: Use recombinant RPL11 protein to establish quantitative measurements
Controls: Include positive controls (known RPL11-positive samples) and negative controls
Always validate new lots of antibodies as performance may vary between batches .
RPL11 antibodies are valuable tools for investigating the MDM2-p53 pathway:
Co-immunoprecipitation: Use RPL11 antibodies to pull down and analyze MDM2-RPL11 complexes
Immunofluorescence: Track RPL11 relocalization from nucleolus to nucleoplasm during ribosomal stress
ChIP assays: Investigate RPL11's potential role in transcriptional regulation through p53
Proximity ligation assays: Visualize RPL11-MDM2 interactions in situ
Western blot: Monitor changes in RPL11, MDM2, and p53 levels during stress response
Research has revealed that RPL11 binds to MDM2 through an extensive interface involving an acidic domain and two zinc fingers in MDM2, leading to conformational changes in both proteins that are crucial for p53 activation .
To monitor RPL11 subcellular redistribution:
Immunofluorescence microscopy: Use RPL11 antibodies with nucleolar markers (fibrillarin, nucleolin) for co-localization studies
Subcellular fractionation: Separate nuclear, nucleolar, and cytoplasmic fractions followed by Western blot analysis
Live-cell imaging: Create RPL11-fluorescent protein fusions to track dynamic changes
Super-resolution microscopy: Achieve nanoscale resolution of RPL11 localization changes
Chromatin immunoprecipitation: Determine if RPL11 associates with specific genomic regions
Studies have shown that during ribosomal stress, RPL11 accumulates in the nucleoplasm where it can bind MDM2, inhibiting its activity and stabilizing p53 .
To investigate the RPL11-5S rRNA-RPL5 complex:
Sequential immunoprecipitation: First pull down with RPL11 antibody, then with RPL5 antibody
RNA immunoprecipitation: Use RPL11 antibodies to precipitate the complex followed by RT-PCR for 5S rRNA
Size exclusion chromatography: Fractionate complexes and detect components using respective antibodies
Mass spectrometry: Identify additional components of RPL11-containing complexes
Glycerol gradient centrifugation: Separate complexes based on size and detect RPL11 and RPL5 by Western blot
Research has shown that the RPL11-5S rRNA-RPL5 complex is critical for p53 activation during ribosomal stress and may be stabilized in the nucleoplasm upon disruption of ribosome biogenesis .
Common challenges include:
High background signal: Often caused by insufficient blocking or washing, or cross-reactivity
Solution: Optimize blocking buffer composition and washing steps; test different antibody pairs
Poor sensitivity: May result from suboptimal antibody concentrations or sample preparation
Solution: Titrate antibodies; ensure RPL11 is properly extracted from samples
Non-linear standard curve: Often indicates detection range issues
Solution: Use narrower dilution ranges; ensure recombinant standards are properly folded
Matrix effects: Sample components may interfere with detection
Solution: Develop matrix-matched standards; consider sample clean-up procedures
Hook effect: Very high concentrations of RPL11 can cause falsely low readings
To differentiate free RPL11 from complex-bound forms:
Sucrose gradient fractionation: Separate free proteins from ribosomal subunits and intact ribosomes
Size exclusion chromatography: Differentiate based on molecular weight
Differential centrifugation: Use increasing centrifugal forces to pellet progressively smaller complexes
Immunoprecipitation with conformation-specific antibodies: Some antibodies may preferentially recognize free vs. bound forms
Native PAGE: Preserve protein complexes for size-based separation prior to Western blotting
This distinction is particularly important when studying ribosomal stress, where free RPL11 accumulates and can bind MDM2 .
To validate cross-species reactivity:
Sequence alignment: Compare RPL11 sequences across target species to identify conserved epitopes
Western blot: Test antibodies against samples from each species of interest
Peptide competition: Confirm specificity using blocking peptides from different species
Immunoprecipitation: Verify pull-down efficacy with mass spectrometry validation
Positive and negative controls: Include samples known to express or lack RPL11
The high conservation of RPL11 across species (human, mouse, rat, and others) enables many antibodies to work across species, but validation is essential .
RPL11 antibody pairs offer valuable tools for Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) research:
Diagnostic screening: Quantify RPL11 levels in patient samples to identify potential RPL11 haploinsufficiency (DBA7)
Genotype-phenotype correlation: Compare RPL11 protein levels with clinical manifestations
Drug screening: Monitor RPL11 levels and localization in response to potential therapeutics
Pathway analysis: Study the relationship between RPL11 deficiency and p53 activation
Patient stratification: Group patients based on molecular signatures for personalized treatment approaches
Research has shown that mutations in RPL11 (associated with DBA7) affect ribosome biogenesis and trigger p53-dependent cell cycle arrest, potentially explaining the erythroid-specific pathology of DBA .
RPL11 antibodies contribute significantly to cancer research by:
Biomarker development: Assess RPL11 levels in tumors with disrupted ribosome biogenesis
Nucleolar stress response: Study how cancer cells respond to ribosomal/nucleolar stress
MDM2 inhibitor development: Screen compounds that mimic RPL11-MDM2 interaction
Therapy response monitoring: Evaluate ribosomal stress pathway activation during treatment
Structure-function studies: Investigate how RPL11 structural changes affect cancer-related pathways
The RPL11-MDM2-p53 pathway represents a potential therapeutic target, and antibodies that can detect specific conformations or modifications of RPL11 may provide insights into novel cancer treatments .
Integrative approaches combining RPL11 antibody data with other techniques include:
Proteogenomic analysis: Correlate RPL11 protein levels (antibody-based) with gene expression data
Single-cell multi-omics: Combine immunofluorescence with RNA-seq at single-cell resolution
Proximity-dependent biotinylation (BioID): Identify novel RPL11 interactors in different cellular compartments
CRISPR screening: Correlate genetic dependencies with RPL11 protein levels and localization
Computational modeling: Incorporate antibody-derived quantitative data into pathway models
By combining antibody-based detection with genomic, transcriptomic, and other proteomic analyses, researchers can develop a more comprehensive understanding of RPL11's roles in normal and pathological conditions.
Optimal fixation and permeabilization for RPL11 immunofluorescence:
Fixation options:
4% paraformaldehyde (10-15 minutes at room temperature) preserves structure while maintaining epitope accessibility
Methanol fixation (-20°C for 10 minutes) may better preserve nuclear antigens
Permeabilization options:
0.1-0.5% Triton X-100 (5-10 minutes) for thorough permeabilization
0.1-0.5% Saponin for milder permeabilization that preserves membrane structures
Combined protocols:
Fix with 4% PFA for 10 minutes, then permeabilize with 0.2% Triton X-100 for 5 minutes
For nucleolar proteins like RPL11, methanol fixation often provides superior results
Antigen retrieval:
Published protocols recommend optimization for each cell type and specific antibody .
For multiplexing RPL11 with other protein markers:
Multi-color immunofluorescence:
Use antibodies from different host species
Apply directly conjugated antibodies with compatible fluorophores
Employ sequential staining protocols for same-species antibodies
Immunohistochemical multiplexing:
Sequential chromogenic IHC with stripping or blocking between rounds
Tyramide signal amplification for spectral unmixing
Mass cytometry (CyTOF):
Label antibodies with distinct metal isotopes for highly multiplexed detection
Co-immunoprecipitation coupled with Western blot:
Pull down with RPL11 antibody then probe for interacting partners
Recommended protein combinations:
Validated RPL11 antibodies have been successfully used in multiplexed applications with both nucleolar and stress response markers .
Essential controls for RPL11 antibody experiments:
Positive controls:
Negative controls:
Specificity controls:
Technical controls:
Standard curves with recombinant protein
Serial dilutions to confirm linearity
Inter- and intra-assay calibrators for quantitative applications
Biological context controls:
Proper controls ensure reliable and reproducible results across different experimental conditions.