TMEM131L (Transmembrane protein 131-like) is a membrane-associated protein with several critical biological functions. It plays significant roles in antagonizing canonical Wnt signaling by triggering lysosome-dependent degradation of Wnt-activated LRP6 and regulates thymocyte proliferation . Additionally, recent research has demonstrated TMEM131L's potential impact on the occurrence and prognosis of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and low-grade glioma (LGG) via mechanisms related to nerve conduction and information transfer . The TMEM131 family proteins have evolutionarily conserved roles in collagen recruitment and secretion across various species, from C. elegans to humans, making them important targets for extracellular matrix research .
Currently available TMEM131L antibodies with biotin conjugation typically have the following specifications:
While TMEM131L antibodies target the transmembrane protein 131-like specifically, other TMEM family proteins have distinct antibody specifications and applications. For instance, TMEM119 antibodies are often used as microglia markers in neuroinflammation research, with applications in flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry . TMEM132A antibodies typically have applications in ELISA, IHC-P, and IHC-F with predicted reactivity across multiple species including human, mouse, rat, and others .
For optimal ELISA performance with biotin-conjugated TMEM131L antibody:
Dilution optimization: Start with a 1:500-1000 dilution range and optimize based on signal-to-noise ratio .
Buffer system: Use a blocking buffer containing 1-3% BSA in PBS with 0.05% Tween-20 to minimize non-specific binding.
Detection system: Utilize a streptavidin-HRP conjugate system, which binds with high affinity to the biotin conjugation. This provides superior sensitivity compared to traditional secondary antibody detection methods.
Incubation conditions:
Primary antibody (biotin-conjugated TMEM131L): 1-2 hours at room temperature or overnight at 4°C
Streptavidin-HRP: 30-60 minutes at room temperature
Development using TMB substrate: 5-30 minutes (monitor color development)
Controls: Include both positive controls (recombinant TMEM131L protein) and negative controls (unrelated proteins) to validate specificity.
The methodology should be adjusted based on specific experimental conditions and the nature of the samples being analyzed.
For flow cytometry applications using biotin-conjugated TMEM131L antibody:
Cell preparation:
Use single-cell suspensions at 1×10^6 cells per 100μl
Fix cells with 2-4% paraformaldehyde if intracellular staining is required
For intracellular staining, permeabilize cells with 0.1% saponin or 0.1% Triton X-100
Antibody staining protocol:
Block cells with 5% normal serum in PBS for 30 minutes
Incubate with biotin-conjugated TMEM131L antibody (1:100-1:200 dilution) for 30-60 minutes at 4°C
Wash cells 3 times with PBS containing 1% BSA
Incubate with fluorophore-conjugated streptavidin (such as Alexa Fluor 488 or Quantum dot 655) at 1:5000 dilution for 30 minutes at 4°C
Wash cells 3 times and analyze by flow cytometer
Gating strategy:
Use forward and side scatter to identify intact cells
Apply appropriate compensation when using multiple fluorophores
Analyze TMEM131L expression based on fluorescence intensity compared to isotype controls
Data analysis considerations:
Comparison of mean/median fluorescence intensity between experimental groups
Analysis of percentage of TMEM131L-positive cells within different populations
This protocol can be adapted for various cell types, including those from glioma tissues, where TMEM131L has demonstrated significant expression and prognostic value .
For Western blotting with biotin-conjugated TMEM131L antibody:
Sample preparation:
Extract proteins using RIPA or NP-40 buffer with protease inhibitors
Quantify using BCA or Bradford assay
Load 20-50μg of total protein per lane
Electrophoresis and transfer:
Use 8-10% SDS-PAGE (TMEM131L is approximately 195-210 kDa)
Transfer to PVDF membrane at 100V for 90-120 minutes or overnight at 30V
Blocking and antibody incubation:
Block with 5% non-fat milk or 3-5% BSA in TBST for 1 hour
Incubate with biotin-conjugated TMEM131L antibody at 1:1000 dilution overnight at 4°C
Wash 3 times with TBST, 5-10 minutes each
Incubate with streptavidin-HRP (1:5000-1:10,000) for 1 hour at room temperature
Wash 3 times with TBST, 5-10 minutes each
Detection:
Use ECL substrate for visualization
Expected band size: ~195-210 kDa for full-length TMEM131L
Controls and validation:
This protocol is adaptable based on specific experimental requirements and should be optimized for each cell or tissue type being studied.
Research has revealed significant correlations between TMEM131L expression and clinical outcomes in glioma patients:
These findings suggest that TMEM131L antibodies can be valuable tools for prognostic research in glioma, potentially informing patient stratification and treatment decisions.
TMEM131L belongs to the TMEM131 family, which plays critical roles in collagen processing and secretion:
Structural domains and their functions:
Cellular trafficking mechanism:
Evolutionary conservation:
Loss-of-function effects:
This fundamental role in collagen biology makes TMEM131L a potential target for research in extracellular matrix disorders, tissue engineering, and fibrosis-related pathologies.
Several methodologies have been employed to study TMEM131L protein interactions:
Yeast Two-Hybrid (Y2H) screening:
Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP):
Can be performed using anti-TMEM131L antibodies to pull down protein complexes
Biotin-conjugated antibodies can be advantageous for pull-down experiments using streptavidin beads
Detection of interacting partners can be done through Western blotting or mass spectrometry
Proximity ligation assay (PLA):
Allows visualization of protein-protein interactions in situ
Particularly useful for membrane-associated proteins like TMEM131L
Requires pairs of antibodies against TMEM131L and suspected interaction partners
CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing:
Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET):
Can detect protein interactions in living cells
Requires fluorescently tagged versions of TMEM131L and interaction partners
These methodologies can be combined to comprehensively characterize TMEM131L interactions in various cellular contexts and disease models.
When working with biotin-conjugated antibodies like those targeting TMEM131L, researchers may encounter several challenges:
High background signal:
Cause: Endogenous biotin in tissues or cell samples
Solution: Pre-block endogenous biotin using avidin/biotin blocking kits before applying the biotin-conjugated primary antibody
Alternative approach: Use a biotin-free detection system for tissues with high endogenous biotin content
Weak signal intensity:
Non-specific binding:
Cause: Cross-reactivity with other proteins or insufficient blocking
Solutions:
Increase blocking time/concentration (5% BSA or 10% normal serum)
Include 0.1-0.3% Triton X-100 in the antibody diluent
Validate specificity using TMEM131L knockdown controls
Inconsistent results between experiments:
Cause: Variability in sample preparation or antibody performance
Solutions:
Standardize all protocols
Use the same lot of antibody when possible
Include positive and negative controls in each experiment
Storage-related issues:
A comprehensive experimental design to study TMEM131L in glioma progression could include:
Expression analysis in patient samples:
Technique: Immunohistochemistry using biotin-conjugated TMEM131L antibody
Samples: Glioma tissue microarrays with corresponding clinical data
Controls: Normal brain tissue, isotype control antibodies
Analysis: Scoring of staining intensity and percentage of positive cells
Correlation: With clinical parameters including tumor grade, IDH status, and 1p/19q codeletion
Functional studies in glioma cell lines:
TMEM131L knockdown: Using shRNA or CRISPR-Cas9
TMEM131L overexpression: Using lentiviral constructs
Phenotypic assays:
Proliferation (MTT, BrdU incorporation)
Migration and invasion (transwell assays)
Colony formation
Apoptosis (Annexin V/PI staining)
Validation: Western blot with biotin-conjugated TMEM131L antibody
Signaling pathway analysis:
Tumor microenvironment studies:
Flow cytometry: Using biotin-conjugated TMEM131L antibody with fluorescent streptavidin
Analysis of immune cell populations: Correlating with TMEM131L expression
Cytokine profiling: Using multiplex ELISA
Spatial analysis: Using multiplexed immunofluorescence with TMEM131L and immune cell markers
In vivo studies:
Orthotopic xenograft models: Using TMEM131L-modified glioma cells
Analysis: Tumor growth, survival, invasion
Immunohistochemistry: Using biotin-conjugated TMEM131L antibody on tumor sections
Correlation: With tumor progression and immune infiltration
This comprehensive approach would provide insights into both the prognostic value and functional significance of TMEM131L in glioma biology.
When adapting biotin-conjugated TMEM131L antibody for single-cell analysis, several important considerations should be addressed:
Flow cytometry optimization:
Cell fixation/permeabilization: Optimize based on TMEM131L's subcellular localization (membrane-associated and cytoplasmic)
Antibody concentration: Typically higher concentrations (1:50-1:100) are needed for single-cell detection
Fluorophore selection: Choose streptavidin conjugates compatible with your cytometer and other markers
Controls: Include fluorescence-minus-one (FMO) controls to set accurate gates
Mass cytometry (CyTOF) considerations:
Metal-conjugated streptavidin: Select appropriate metal tags that don't overlap with other markers
Panel design: Place TMEM131L in context with lineage markers, functional markers, and other proteins of interest
Signal optimization: Titrate antibody concentration to maximize signal-to-noise ratio
Batch effects: Include barcoding strategies for multi-sample experiments
Single-cell imaging techniques:
Immunofluorescence microscopy:
Use confocal microscopy for subcellular localization
Consider super-resolution techniques for detailed localization studies
Imaging flow cytometry:
Combines advantages of flow cytometry with cellular imaging
Useful for confirming membrane vs. cytoplasmic localization
Single-cell sequencing integration:
CITE-seq approaches:
Can couple antibody detection with transcriptomics
Requires oligo-tagged streptavidin rather than fluorescent streptavidin
Validation: Correlate protein expression with TMEM131L mRNA levels
Technical challenges:
Signal amplification: May be necessary for low-abundance expression
Antibody penetration: Critical for tissues and 3D cultures
Multiplexing: Consider cyclic immunofluorescence or sequential staining approaches
Quantification: Standardize using calibration beads for flow cytometry
Addressing these considerations will enable robust single-cell analysis of TMEM131L expression, particularly in heterogeneous samples like glioma tissues where cell-to-cell variation may have biological and clinical significance .
Based on current evidence of TMEM131L's prognostic significance in glioma , several approaches could be developed:
These approaches could ultimately lead to the development of a clinical-grade test for routine prognostic assessment in glioma patients.
Given the established role of TMEM131 family proteins in collagen trafficking and secretion , several promising research directions emerge:
Fibrotic disease research:
Investigate TMEM131L expression and function in:
Liver fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis
Kidney fibrosis
Cardiac fibrosis
Analyze correlation between TMEM131L levels and disease severity
Explore potential as a therapeutic target to modulate collagen secretion
Connective tissue disorders:
Study TMEM131L dysregulation in:
Ehlers-Danlos syndromes
Marfan syndrome
Osteogenesis imperfecta
Analyze how mutations in TMEM131L might affect collagen processing
Develop cellular models using patient-derived cells
Tissue engineering applications:
Manipulate TMEM131L expression to optimize collagen production in:
Artificial skin constructs
Bioengineered cartilage
Vascular grafts
Monitor extracellular matrix quality using biotin-conjugated TMEM131L antibodies
Cancer metastasis research:
Investigate how TMEM131L-mediated collagen remodeling affects:
Tumor cell invasion
Metastatic niche formation
Treatment resistance
Develop potential therapeutic strategies targeting this pathway
Aging-related matrix degradation:
Study how TMEM131L function changes with age
Investigate potential interventions to maintain proper collagen processing
Examine correlations with age-related conditions
These research directions could significantly advance our understanding of extracellular matrix biology and potentially identify novel therapeutic targets for collagen-related disorders.
Advanced proteomics approaches can significantly enhance our understanding of TMEM131L's protein interaction network:
Proximity-dependent biotin identification (BioID):
Fuse a biotin ligase (BirA*) to TMEM131L
Allow proximal proteins to be biotinylated in living cells
Capture biotinylated proteins using streptavidin
Identify interacting partners by mass spectrometry
Validate key interactions using biotin-conjugated TMEM131L antibodies
Quantitative interactomics:
SILAC or TMT labeling: Compare TMEM131L interactome under different conditions:
Normal vs. disease states
With/without stress conditions
Different subcellular compartments
Data analysis: Apply bioinformatics to identify condition-specific interactions
Cross-linking mass spectrometry (XL-MS):
Use chemical cross-linkers to stabilize protein-protein interactions
Perform immunoprecipitation with biotin-conjugated TMEM131L antibody
Identify cross-linked peptides by mass spectrometry
Map interaction interfaces at amino acid resolution
Thermal proximity co-aggregation (TPCA):
Analyze co-aggregation patterns of proteins during thermal denaturation
Identify proteins that aggregate with TMEM131L, suggesting physical interaction
Validate using traditional approaches with biotin-conjugated antibodies
In situ proximity labeling:
Apply enzyme-catalyzed proximity labeling in tissue sections
Visualize TMEM131L interaction partners in their native context
Particularly valuable for studying interactions in disease-relevant tissues
Integrative multi-omics approach:
Combine interactome data with:
Transcriptomics (RNA-seq)
Phosphoproteomics
Glycoproteomics
Create comprehensive models of TMEM131L-centered pathways
These approaches would significantly expand our understanding of TMEM131L's functional network beyond the currently known interactions with TRAPPC8 and collagen-related proteins .