THOC6 is a subunit of the multi-protein THO complex involved in coordination between transcription and mRNA processing. It functions as a critical component of the Transcription Export (TREX) complex, which facilitates mammalian mRNA processing and nuclear export . THOC6 is particularly significant because:
It facilitates the formation of the TREX tetramer, composed of four THO monomers
Biallelic pathogenic variants in THOC6 cause THOC6 Intellectual Disability Syndrome (TIDS), also known as Beaulieu-Boycott-Innes Syndrome
It has recently been identified as a potential biomarker for glioma
The encoded protein contains WD40 repeat domains and is alternatively referred to as WDR58 or functional spliceosome-associated protein 35 (fSAP35) .
The THOC6 antibody, HRP conjugated has been validated for the following applications:
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA): Primary application as indicated by the manufacturer
Western Blotting: Compatible with various cell lines and tissue lysates when used at appropriate dilutions
Immunohistochemistry: Validated for detection in human tissues with specific antigen retrieval requirements
Immunoprecipitation: Effective for pulldown assays in certain cell types
For optimal results in each application, researchers should follow the recommended dilution ranges and experimental conditions specified by the manufacturer.
For optimal antibody performance and stability:
Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles that can damage antibody integrity
The product is supplied in a storage buffer containing 50% glycerol, 0.01M PBS (pH 7.4), and 0.03% Proclin 300 as a preservative
For long-term storage beyond routine use, aliquoting is recommended to minimize freeze-thaw cycles
Working dilutions should be prepared fresh before experiments
Different applications require specific antibody dilutions for optimal results:
These ranges provide starting points for optimization. Sample-dependent factors and specific experimental conditions may necessitate further adjustment to achieve optimal signal-to-noise ratios.
To confirm antibody specificity:
Positive controls: Use cell lines or tissues known to express THOC6, such as A431 cells, Neuro-2a cells, or mouse ovary tissue, which have demonstrated positive signals in Western blot applications
Knockout/knockdown validation: Utilize CRISPR-Cas9 knockout or siRNA-mediated knockdown of THOC6 to confirm specificity. The observed 35 kDa band should be substantially reduced or eliminated in these samples
Immunogen competition assay: Pre-incubate the antibody with the immunogen peptide before application to samples. This should result in reduced or eliminated signal if the antibody is specific
Multiple antibody approach: Compare results using different antibodies targeting distinct epitopes of THOC6 to confirm consistent detection patterns
Cross-species reactivity test: Since the antibody has demonstrated reactivity with human, mouse, and rat samples, comparing detection across species can provide additional validation information
TIDS is caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in THOC6. To investigate TIDS mechanisms:
Expression analysis in patient-derived cells:
Subcellular localization studies:
Immunofluorescence microscopy using THOC6 antibodies can determine if pathogenic variants alter its nuclear localization
Co-staining with markers of nuclear speckles or other nuclear compartments can reveal disrupted localization patterns
Protein-protein interaction analysis:
Immunoprecipitation with THOC6 antibodies followed by Western blotting for TREX complex components (e.g., THOC5, ALYREF) can reveal disrupted interactions
Research has shown that biallelic THOC6 variants reduce the binding affinity of ALYREF to THOC5 without affecting protein expression of TREX members
Corticogenesis model systems:
THOC6 has been implicated in mRNA processing crucial for neural development:
mRNA export analysis:
Alternative splicing assessment:
RNA-sequencing of control versus THOC6-deficient neural cells reveals THOC6-dependent splicing alterations
Analysis of ribosomal RNA-depleted samples allows detection of pre-mRNA splicing defects
Research has identified 152 genes with significant alternative splicing events included or excluded in >10% of transcripts in THOC6-deficient neural progenitor cells
Integration with intellectual disability gene databases:
Compare THOC6-dependent alternatively spliced genes with syndromic intellectual disability databases
Studies identified 185 alternatively spliced genes in THOC6^W100*/W100* and 105 alternatively spliced genes in THOC6^E188K/E188K neural progenitor cells that are known causative genes for syndromic intellectual disability
Pathway enrichment analysis:
Recent research has identified THOC6 as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for glioma :
For robust oncology research using THOC6 antibodies:
Tissue controls:
Positive controls: Glioblastoma tissue known to express high THOC6 levels
Negative controls: Normal brain tissue with low THOC6 expression
Gradient controls: Lower-grade gliomas with intermediate expression levels
Cell line controls:
High THOC6-expressing lines: Glioblastoma cell lines
Low THOC6-expressing lines: Normal human astrocytes or neural progenitor cells
Experimentally manipulated lines: THOC6-knockdown or overexpressing variants of the same cell line
Antibody controls:
Isotype control: Rabbit IgG at matching concentration
No primary antibody control: Secondary antibody only
Peptide competition: Pre-incubation with immunizing peptide
Expression validation:
Orthogonal methods: Validate protein expression findings with mRNA expression data
Multiple antibodies: Use different antibodies targeting distinct THOC6 epitopes
Neural and pluripotent stem cells require specific optimization strategies:
Cell type-specific considerations:
Sample preparation:
For Western blotting, load approximately 0.2 mg/mL of total protein lysate
For immunofluorescence, optimize fixation methods (4% paraformaldehyde works well for nuclear proteins)
Consider cell permeabilization optimization (0.1-0.5% Triton X-100)
Co-staining markers:
Detection system considerations:
For Western blot analysis of neural samples, reducing conditions and 12-230 kDa separation systems have been successfully employed
For fluorescence microscopy, nuclear counterstains help delineate THOC6 nuclear localization
To study THOC6's role in TREX complex formation and function:
Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) strategies:
Proximity ligation assay (PLA):
Enables in situ detection of protein-protein interactions with high sensitivity
Useful for detecting THOC6 interactions with other TREX components in intact cells
Provides spatial information about where interactions occur within the cell
Analyzing TREX tetramer formation:
Size-exclusion chromatography followed by Western blotting can detect shifts in complex size
Native PAGE analysis can preserve intact complexes
Sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation can separate complexes by size
Functional validation approaches:
RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) can identify RNAs associated with THOC6-containing complexes
CLIP-seq (Crosslinking immunoprecipitation) can identify direct RNA binding sites
Rescue experiments with wildtype vs. mutant THOC6 can validate interaction-dependent functions
When working with THOC6 antibody, researchers may encounter several challenges:
Weak or no signal in Western blot:
High background in immunohistochemistry:
Inconsistent results across experiments:
Specificity concerns:
Validate with knockout/knockdown controls
Perform peptide competition assays
Compare results with alternative THOC6 antibodies
Consider species-specific optimization
To investigate THOC6's role in RNA splicing:
Experimental design:
Compare control samples with THOC6-deficient samples (knockout, knockdown, or patient-derived cells with biallelic THOC6 variants)
Include heterozygous controls where possible to assess gene dosage effects
Consider developmental timing effects, especially in neural models
RNA extraction and quality control:
Use methods that preserve RNA integrity (RIN score >8)
For splicing studies, include ribosomal RNA depletion rather than poly(A) selection
Consider subcellular fractionation to separate nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA pools
RNA-seq analysis workflow:
Use sufficient sequencing depth (>50M paired-end reads recommended)
Apply splicing-aware analysis tools (e.g., rMATS, MAJIQ, LeafCutter)
Focus on percent spliced in (PSI) metrics for each alternative splicing event
Research has identified significant alternative splicing events in >10% of transcripts in THOC6-deficient neural progenitor cells
Validation approaches:
RT-PCR validation of selected splicing events
Mini-gene splicing reporters for mechanistic studies
RNA-protein interaction studies (RIP, CLIP) to assess direct effects
Rescue experiments with wildtype THOC6 expression
Functional classification: