The SPAC869.05c Antibody is a rabbit-derived polyclonal immunoglobulin raised against the SPAC869.05c protein, a predicted sulfate permease in fission yeast . Its primary use is in molecular biology assays to detect and quantify the target protein in yeast lysates.
| Characteristic | Specification |
|---|---|
| Host | Rabbit |
| Reactivity | Schizosaccharomyces pombe (strain 972/24843) |
| Purification Method | Antigen-affinity chromatography |
| Isotype | IgG |
| Applications | ELISA, Western Blot (WB) |
The antibody is optimized for:
ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay): Detects SPAC869.05c in lysates or purified samples .
Western Blot (WB): Identifies the protein via SDS-PAGE separation and membrane transfer .
While no direct research findings on SPAC869.05c are available in the provided sources, the antibody’s utility lies in studying sulfate permease function in yeast physiology, including nutrient uptake and cellular responses to sulfur availability.
KEGG: spo:SPAC869.05c
STRING: 4896.SPAC869.05c.1
SPAC869.05c is a protein identified in Schizosaccharomyces pombe (fission yeast), functioning as a probable sulfate permease involved in the high-affinity uptake of sulfate into the cell . This protein serves as an important model for studying membrane transport mechanisms and sulfur metabolism in eukaryotic cells. Antibodies targeting this protein allow researchers to investigate its expression, localization, and functional characteristics in various experimental conditions.
SPAC869.05c antibodies have been validated primarily for ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and Western Blot applications . These applications enable researchers to detect and quantify the protein in cell lysates and tissue samples. When planning experiments, researchers should specifically check the validation data for their intended application, as antibody performance can vary significantly between different experimental techniques.
The optimal antibody concentration should be determined through titration experiments for each specific application. Using too much antibody can yield nonspecific results, while too little can lead to false-negative results . Start with the manufacturer's recommended concentration range and perform a serial dilution (typically 1:100 to 1:5000 for Western blotting or 1:50 to 1:500 for immunohistochemistry). The optimal concentration is one that provides the best signal-to-noise ratio and falls within the dynamic range of your detection system.
Include the following controls:
Positive control: S. pombe wild-type samples expressing SPAC869.05c
Negative control: Either SPAC869.05c knockout cells or a non-related yeast species
Secondary antibody-only control: To detect non-specific binding of the secondary antibody
Isotype control: Using an irrelevant antibody of the same isotype to confirm specificity
These controls are essential for validating the specificity of the antibody and ensuring reliable experimental results .
For rigorous validation, implement multiple complementary approaches:
Genetic approach: Test the antibody on wild-type vs. SPAC869.05c knockout S. pombe cells . The signal should be present in wild-type but absent in the knockout.
Immunocapture + Mass Spectrometry: Perform immunoprecipitation with the antibody followed by mass spectrometry to confirm that SPAC869.05c is the primary protein captured . If the top three peptide sequences identified all correspond to SPAC869.05c, this provides strong evidence of antibody specificity.
Orthogonal validation: Compare protein detection using the antibody against detection using a different method (e.g., fluorescent tagging) .
Epitope mapping: If possible, determine the exact epitope recognized by the antibody through peptide arrays or mutagenesis studies .
Inconsistent results may stem from several factors:
Sample preparation: Ensure proper cell lysis and protein denaturation. For membrane proteins like SPAC869.05c, optimize detergent concentration and solubilization time.
Antibody degradation: Prepare fresh dilutions from stock, avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles, and store at appropriate temperatures.
Protocol parameters: Systematically adjust blocking conditions, antibody incubation times/temperatures, and wash stringency.
Protein modification: Consider whether post-translational modifications affect epitope recognition.
Batch variation: Different lots of the same antibody may perform differently; request validation data specific to your lot .
Create a systematic troubleshooting log documenting all variables to identify the source of inconsistency.
Cross-reactivity can be assessed through:
Sequence homology analysis: Identify proteins with similar sequences to SPAC869.05c, particularly around the epitope region.
Testing in heterologous systems: Express SPAC869.05c and related proteins in a heterologous system (e.g., E. coli) and test antibody binding.
Competitive binding assays: Pre-incubate the antibody with purified SPAC869.05c or related proteins before immunodetection . Specific binding should be inhibited by SPAC869.05c but not by unrelated proteins.
Testing in knockout systems: Test antibody in cells expressing only specific homologs but not SPAC869.05c to directly assess cross-reactivity .
This multi-faceted approach provides robust evidence of antibody specificity or reveals potential cross-reactivity issues.
For successful immunoprecipitation of SPAC869.05c:
Buffer optimization: As a membrane protein, SPAC869.05c requires careful selection of detergents. Start with a panel including digitonin, DDM, or CHAPS at various concentrations.
Antibody coupling: Consider covalently coupling the antibody to beads to prevent antibody contamination in the eluate.
Pre-clearing: Pre-clear lysates with beads only to reduce non-specific binding.
Validation: Confirm successful immunoprecipitation by:
Controls: Include IgG control and lysate from SPAC869.05c knockout cells.
Optimization typically requires testing multiple conditions in parallel, followed by quantitative analysis of precipitation efficiency.
Several quantitative methods can be used:
Biolayer Interferometry: This technique allows real-time measurement of antibody-antigen interactions, providing kon, koff, and KD values . For example, with the antibody Abs-9 measured in research studies, a KD value of 1.959 × 10^-9 M was determined.
Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR): Similar to interferometry, SPR provides detailed binding kinetics and affinity measurements.
ELISA-based methods: Perform serial dilutions of both antibody and antigen to generate saturation binding curves. From these, calculate apparent KD values.
Competitive ELISA: Use a fixed concentration of labeled antigen and varying concentrations of unlabeled antigen to compete for antibody binding, enabling IC50 determination.
Affinity measurements should be conducted under multiple conditions to ensure reliability.
To establish reliable cutoff values:
Traditional method: Test a training set of at least 48 samples, assuming a false-positive rate of 5% . Calculate the mean plus 1.645 times the standard deviation of the negative controls.
Immune-inhibition method: Pre-incubate samples with excess free antigen (e.g., 200 μg/mL) to inhibit specific binding. This helps distinguish true positives from background reactivity .
ROC curve analysis: Plot sensitivity versus 1-specificity for various cutoff values and select the optimal cutoff based on intended use (e.g., maximizing specificity or sensitivity).
Document your methodology thoroughly, as cutoff determination significantly impacts assay interpretation.
| Method | Advantages | Disadvantages | Typical False Positive Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional | Simple, widely accepted | May not account for pre-existing antibodies | 5% |
| Immune-inhibition | Better distinguishes specific binding | Requires additional reagents and steps | 2-3% |
| ROC curve | Allows tailoring to specific needs | Requires well-characterized positive/negative samples | Adjustable |
When faced with conflicting results:
Recognize application-specific differences: Antibodies may perform differently across applications because antigens adopt different conformations. For example, Western blotting uses denatured proteins while immunoprecipitation works with native conformations .
Evaluate epitope accessibility: The epitope may be differentially accessible in various applications or sample types.
Perform application-specific validation: Validate the antibody specifically for each application rather than assuming cross-application reliability .
Consider sample preparation differences: Fixation methods, detergents, and buffer compositions can significantly affect antibody performance.
Implement orthogonal methods: Use alternative techniques to resolve conflicting results, such as mass spectrometry or genetic approaches .
Document all variables meticulously when comparing across applications to identify potential sources of discrepancy.
To quantitatively characterize assay performance:
Standard curve generation: Create a standard curve using purified SPAC869.05c protein at concentrations spanning several orders of magnitude (typically 0.1-1000 ng/mL).
Limit of detection (LOD) determination: Calculate as the mean signal of blank samples plus 3 standard deviations, then interpolate the corresponding concentration.
Limit of quantification (LOQ): Calculate as the lowest concentration measured with acceptable precision (typically CV < 20%).
Dynamic range assessment: Define the range between LOQ and the highest concentration before signal saturation.
Signal-to-noise determination: Calculate the ratio between specific signal and background at various antigen concentrations.
For example, in antibody validation studies, assays have demonstrated dynamic ranges spanning 3 orders of magnitude with sensitivities in the low ng/mL range (e.g., 0.73 ng/mL for antibodies in direct ELISA formats) .
Epitope mapping provides critical insights into antibody functionality:
Peptide array analysis: Synthesize overlapping peptides covering the SPAC869.05c sequence and test antibody binding to identify the linear epitope.
Mutagenesis studies: Create point mutations in the SPAC869.05c protein to identify critical binding residues.
Computational prediction and validation: Use molecular modeling (e.g., Alphafold2) combined with molecular docking to predict antibody-antigen interactions . For example, in studies of other antibodies, this approach successfully identified a binding epitope containing 36 amino acid residues.
Experimental validation: Synthesize the predicted epitope peptide, couple it to a carrier protein (e.g., KLH), and confirm antibody binding by ELISA .
Competitive binding assays: Use synthetic peptides representing the epitope to competitively inhibit antibody binding to the full protein .
This information helps interpret results across different experimental conditions and predict potential cross-reactivity.
For robust statistical analysis:
Normalization strategies:
Use internal standards or housekeeping proteins
Consider global normalization methods (e.g., total protein normalization)
Implement plate-to-plate normalization for multi-plate experiments
Statistical tests:
For normally distributed data: paired t-tests or ANOVA with post-hoc tests
For non-parametric data: Wilcoxon or Mann-Whitney tests
For complex experimental designs: mixed-effects models
Correlation analysis: Use Pearson or Spearman correlation to examine relationships between different antibody epitopes or applications . Protected vs. non-protected status in vaccine studies has been distinguished by correlation matrices of antibody responses.
Reproducibility assessment: Calculate coefficients of variation (CV) across technical and biological replicates. Aim for intra-assay CV < 10% and inter-assay CV < 20%.
Power analysis: Determine appropriate sample sizes needed to detect biologically meaningful differences.
Document all statistical methods in detail to ensure reproducibility and transparency.
Multi-omics integration strategies:
Correlation with transcriptomics: Compare SPAC869.05c protein levels detected by antibodies with mRNA expression from RNA-seq data to identify post-transcriptional regulation.
Integration with proteomics: Combine targeted antibody data with global proteomics to place SPAC869.05c in broader protein networks.
Metabolomics correlation: Link SPAC869.05c levels with metabolomic profiles, particularly sulfur-containing metabolites given its function as a sulfate permease.
Computational approaches:
Use multi-block statistical methods (e.g., DIABLO, MOFA)
Implement network-based integration (e.g., weighted correlation network analysis)
Apply machine learning for pattern recognition across datasets
Visualization tools: Utilize Circos plots, heatmaps, or network diagrams to represent multi-dimensional relationships.
This integration provides a systems-level understanding of SPAC869.05c function and regulation.
For comprehensive reporting, include:
Antibody identification: Catalog number, lot number, vendor, host species, and clonality .
Validation methodology: Detail all validation methods used :
Genetic validation (knockout/knockdown)
Orthogonal validation
Independent antibody validation
Expression pattern validation
Immunocapture-mass spectrometry
Experimental conditions: Specify exact protocols including:
Sample preparation details
Antibody concentrations
Incubation conditions
Detection methods
Controls: Document all positive and negative controls.
Quantification methods: Detail image acquisition, quantification software, and analysis parameters.
Raw data availability: Consider depositing original uncropped blots in repositories.