TUB2 Antibody

Definition and Biological Context of TUB2 Antibody

TUB2 Antibody refers to monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies targeting beta-tubulin 2 (TUBB2), a key isoform of the tubulin protein family that forms microtubules. These antibodies are essential tools for studying cytoskeletal dynamics, cell division, and neuronal development . Beta-tubulin isoforms (e.g., TUBB2A, TUBB2B, TUBB2C) are critical for microtubule polymerization and organelle transport, with TUBB2A/B being highly expressed in the central nervous system .

Antibody Properties

• Target: Beta-tubulin 2 isoforms (TUBB2A, TUBB2B, or pan-beta-tubulin) .

• Clones: Common clones include TUB 2.1 (mouse IgG1), EPR11843 (rabbit IgG), and EPR16773 (rabbit IgG) .

• Molecular Weight: Detects ~50–55 kDa bands in Western blotting, matching calculated molecular weights .

• Epitopes:

  • TUB 2.1: Binds residues 305–445 in the C-terminal domain .

  • EPR11843/EPR16773: Recognize linear epitopes in brain-specific TUBB2 isoforms .

Post-Translational Modifications (PTMs)

Beta-tubulin undergoes extensive PTMs, which regulate microtubule stability and interactions with motor proteins. Key modifications include:

Epitope Accessibility in Microtubules

• Antibodies like TUB 2.1 bind epitopes on the outer surface of microtubules, enabling detection in unfixed cells .

• Fixation (e.g., paraformaldehyde) is required to expose lumen-facing epitopes (e.g., TU-06 binds β81–95) .

Neurological Specificity

• TUBB2A/B antibodies (e.g., ab179512) show strong reactivity in brain tissues (cerebral cortex, glioma) and neuronal cell lines (SH-SY5Y) .

• Knockout validation in HEK-293T cells confirms antibody specificity .

Cross-Species Reactivity

Western Blotting

• Used as loading controls, though beta-tubulin levels may vary across cell types .

• Example: ab179512 detects TUBB2A at 1:10,000 dilution in human fetal brain lysates .

Immunohistochemistry (IHC)

• Labels neuronal cells in paraffin-embedded brain tissues (e.g., 1:250 dilution for ab179512) .

Functional Studies

• Inhibits microtubule polymerization in Arabidopsis thaliana and mammalian cells .

• Validates tubulin isoform-specific roles in neuronal development .

Limitations and Considerations

• Isoform Cross-Reactivity: Some antibodies (e.g., TUB 2.1) recognize multiple beta-tubulin isoforms .

• Fixation Dependency: Epitope exposure varies between live and fixed cells .