SVOPL (SVOP-Like) is a membrane transporter protein that shares structural similarities with SVOP (synaptic vesicle 2-related protein). Research on SVOPL focuses on understanding its biological functions in cellular transport mechanisms, particularly in human tissues. The protein contains several functional domains, with antibodies typically targeting specific amino acid regions such as AA 240-269 in the middle region of the protein . Research interest in SVOPL stems from its potential role in cellular transport processes and possible implications in various physiological and pathological conditions.
Several types of SVOPL antibodies are available for research purposes, varying in the targeted epitope region and conjugation status:
Antibodies targeting the middle region (AA 240-269)
Antibodies targeting AA 73-129 region
Unconjugated antibodies for flexible application
Conjugated antibodies with various labels including:
When using a new SVOPL antibody, researchers should conduct several validation experiments:
Specificity testing using positive controls (tissues/cells known to express SVOPL)
Negative controls (tissues/cells with confirmed absence of SVOPL)
Western blot analysis to confirm binding to a protein of expected molecular weight
Titration experiments to determine optimal working concentration
Cross-reactivity testing with related proteins
Comparison with other validated SVOPL antibodies targeting different epitopes
The epitope targeted by an SVOPL antibody significantly impacts its performance across applications. SVOPL antibodies targeting the middle region (AA 240-269) have demonstrated effectiveness in Western blotting and EIA applications . This region appears to be accessible in both native and denatured forms of the protein.
Antibodies against the AA 73-129 region show compatibility with ELISA, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence applications, suggesting this epitope maintains accessibility across multiple protein conformations . When selecting an SVOPL antibody, researchers should consider:
Protein conformation in their experimental system (native vs. denatured)
Potential post-translational modifications near the epitope
Accessibility of the epitope in complex samples
Cross-reactivity profile of antibodies targeting different regions
For optimal Western blot results with SVOPL antibodies, researchers should consider:
Sample preparation: Complete denaturation of membrane proteins like SVOPL often requires:
Strong detergents (e.g., SDS)
Reducing agents (e.g., β-mercaptoethanol)
Heat treatment (95-100°C for 5-10 minutes)
Antibody dilution: The manufacturer recommends determining the optimal working dilution experimentally , but typical starting dilutions for polyclonal antibodies are 1:500 to 1:2000
Blocking conditions:
5% non-fat dry milk or BSA in TBST
Block for 1 hour at room temperature
Primary antibody incubation:
Overnight at 4°C or 2 hours at room temperature
Prepared in blocking buffer at optimized dilution
Detection system:
HRP-conjugated secondary antibody for chemiluminescence
Fluorescently labeled secondary antibody for fluorescence imaging
Cross-reactivity is a significant concern with polyclonal antibodies. For SVOPL antibodies:
Perform bioinformatic analysis to identify proteins with sequence homology to the targeted epitope
Include appropriate controls in experiments:
Tissues/cells with confirmed SVOPL knockout
Pre-adsorption controls using the immunizing peptide
Comparison of staining patterns with antibodies targeting different SVOPL epitopes
Validation strategies:
Peptide competition assays to confirm specificity
Immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry
siRNA-mediated knockdown of SVOPL to confirm signal reduction
The available SVOPL antibody has been tested for human reactivity , but potential cross-reactivity with other species or related proteins should be experimentally determined.
SVOPL antibodies are typically provided in PBS buffer with 0.09% sodium azide as a preservative . For optimal stability and performance:
Storage conditions:
Store at -20°C for long-term storage
Aliquot to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles
For short-term storage (1-2 weeks), 4°C is acceptable
Working dilution buffers:
For Western blotting: 5% BSA or non-fat dry milk in TBST
For ELISA: PBS with 1% BSA
For immunofluorescence: PBS with 1% BSA and 0.3% Triton X-100 (for permeabilization)
Stability considerations:
Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles
Keep diluted antibody on ice during experiments
Do not add sodium azide to working solutions used with HRP-conjugated antibodies
Proper controls are critical for interpreting results with SVOPL antibodies:
Positive controls:
Cell lines or tissues known to express SVOPL
Recombinant SVOPL protein (if available)
Negative controls:
Secondary antibody only (no primary antibody)
SVOPL-knockout or knockdown samples
Isotype control (rabbit IgG at the same concentration)
Specificity controls:
Peptide competition/blocking with immunizing peptide
Comparison with other validated SVOPL antibodies
Technical controls:
Loading controls for Western blotting
Counterstains for immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence
Variability in results with SVOPL antibodies may stem from multiple factors:
Sample-related issues:
Protein degradation (use fresh samples and protease inhibitors)
Insufficient protein denaturation for Western blotting
Epitope masking due to protein-protein interactions
Post-translational modifications affecting epitope recognition
Antibody-related issues:
Loss of activity due to improper storage
Insufficient concentration
Lot-to-lot variability (common with polyclonal antibodies)
Protocol optimization:
Adjust antibody concentration
Modify incubation times and temperatures
Test different blocking reagents
Optimize antigen retrieval methods for fixed tissues
Systematic troubleshooting approach:
Isolate variables by changing one parameter at a time
Include appropriate controls in each experiment
Document batch information for reagents
Verify protein expression using complementary methods (qPCR, etc.)
Various conjugated formats of SVOPL antibodies offer different advantages:
| Conjugate | Primary Applications | Sensitivity | Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unconjugated | Western blot, ELISA | Variable (depends on secondary) | Flexible detection systems | Requires secondary antibody |
| HRP | ELISA, WB | High | Direct detection, enzymatic amplification | Not suitable for multiplexing |
| FITC | IF, Flow cytometry | Moderate | Green fluorescence, common filter sets | Photobleaching, moderate brightness |
| Biotin | ELISA, IHC | Very high | Signal amplification capability | Endogenous biotin interference |
| APC | Flow cytometry | High | Far-red emission, minimal autofluorescence | Limited use in microscopy |
| PE | Flow cytometry | Very high | Bright fluorescence, good for multiplexing | Larger size may impact accessibility |
Selection should be based on the specific application requirements, detection system availability, and need for multiplexing .
Beyond conventional applications, SVOPL antibodies are finding utility in:
Proximity ligation assays (PLA) for studying:
Protein-protein interactions involving SVOPL
Spatial relationships between SVOPL and other cellular components
ChIP-Seq applications:
For transcription factor variants of SVOPL
Investigation of potential nuclear roles
Super-resolution microscopy:
Nanoscale localization of SVOPL in cellular compartments
Colocalization studies with other membrane transporters
Single-cell analysis:
Mass cytometry (CyTOF) for high-dimensional analysis
Microfluidic antibody-based capture systems
Therapeutic research:
Target validation in drug discovery pipelines
Mechanism of action studies for compounds affecting transport systems
When working with low SVOPL expression levels:
Signal amplification methods:
Tyramide signal amplification (TSA) for immunohistochemistry
Poly-HRP secondary antibodies for Western blotting
Biotin-streptavidin amplification systems
Sample enrichment techniques:
Immunoprecipitation before Western blotting
Subcellular fractionation to concentrate membrane fractions
Overexpression systems for positive controls
Detection optimization:
Extended substrate incubation times
More sensitive substrates (e.g., femto-level chemiluminescent substrates)
Longer exposure times balanced against background development
Cooled CCD camera systems for digital imaging
Antibody cocktails:
Combining multiple SVOPL antibodies targeting different epitopes
Using a pool of SVOPL antibodies from different host species
For effective SVOPL detection in tissues:
Fixation considerations:
Membrane proteins like SVOPL may require gentler fixation
Test both formalin-fixed and frozen sections
Consider light fixation (2-4% PFA for shorter times)
Antigen retrieval options:
Heat-induced epitope retrieval (citrate buffer pH 6.0 or Tris-EDTA pH 9.0)
Enzymatic retrieval (proteinase K for membrane proteins)
Detergent permeabilization for improved antibody access
Background reduction:
Endogenous peroxidase blocking (3% H₂O₂ in methanol)
Avidin/biotin blocking for biotin-based detection systems
Fc receptor blocking with normal serum
Longer blocking steps (2-3 hours) with 5-10% blocking reagent
Signal development:
Polymer detection systems for increased sensitivity
DAB enhancement with metal ions (cobalt, nickel)
Extended development times with monitoring