unc-94 Antibody

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Description

Introduction to UNC-94 and Its Antibody

UNC-94 is a tropomodulin encoded by the unc-94 gene in C. elegans, essential for stabilizing actin filaments at sarcomere pointed ends and muscle cell boundaries . Polyclonal antibodies targeting UNC-94 were developed to investigate its localization, function, and interaction with cytoskeletal components. These antibodies have enabled discoveries in muscle sarcomere organization and epidermal morphogenesis .

Key Details:

  • Antigen: Residues 144–401 of UNC-94b (isoform-specific) .

  • Host: Rabbit-derived, affinity-purified using protein G .

  • Validation:

    • Western Blot: Detects ~45 kDa bands (wild type), reduced signal in unc-94(su177) mutants, and no signal in unc-94(sf20) null mutants .

    • Immunofluorescence: Localizes UNC-94 to sarcomeric thin filament ends and muscle cell boundaries .

Muscle Sarcomere Organization

  • Localization: UNC-94 antibodies revealed dual localization:

    • Parallel lines flanking M-lines (thin filament pointed ends) .

    • Accumulations near muscle cell-cell boundaries in mutants .

  • Phenotypic Analysis:

    • unc-94(sf20) mutants show disorganized thin filaments and reduced motility .

    • RNAi knockdown mimics mutant phenotypes, confirming specificity .

Epidermal Morphogenesis

  • Junctional Actin Stability: UNC-94 antibodies identified enrichment at seam cell boundaries, where it stabilizes actin networks during embryonic elongation .

  • Genetic Interaction: Synergistic defects in hmp-1(fe4);unc-94(RNAi) embryos highlight UNC-94’s role in α-catenin-dependent junctional integrity .

Table 2: Key Research Findings

Study FocusMethodologyMajor FindingsSource
Sarcomere AssemblyIF, EMUNC-94 prevents thin filament disorganization
Actin DynamicsRNAi, PhalloidinUNC-94 stabilizes junctional actin in epidermis
Isoform ExpressionPromoter-GFPTissue-specific isoform expression (a vs. b)

Western Blotting

  • Sample Preparation: Extract proteins from synchronized worms.

  • Antibody Dilution: 1:1,000 with ECL detection .

  • Controls: Include unc-94(sf20) null mutants to confirm specificity .

Immunofluorescence

  • Fixation: Methanol-acetone fixation for muscle tissue .

  • Staining: Co-stain with phalloidin (F-actin) and DAPI (nuclei) .

Product Specs

Buffer
Preservative: 0.03% Proclin 300
Constituents: 50% Glycerol, 0.01M PBS, pH 7.4
Form
Liquid
Lead Time
Made-to-order (14-16 weeks)
Synonyms
unc-94 antibody; tmd-1 antibody; C06A5.7 antibody; Tropomodulin antibody; Tmod-like protein antibody; cTmd1 antibody; Uncoordinated protein 94 antibody
Target Names
unc-94
Uniprot No.

Target Background

Function
UNC-94, also known as tropomodulin, serves as a pointed-end capping protein for actin filaments. This protein plays a crucial role in regulating the length and dynamic behavior of actin filaments by preventing both elongation and depolymerization at the pointed end.
Gene References Into Functions
  1. Research suggests that UNC-94's minus-end actin capping function contributes to the proper formation and contraction of F-actin structures within the terminal web. This process is vital for maintaining the correct shape of the intestinal lumen. PMID: 24677443
  2. In vitro studies demonstrate that UNC-94 collaborates with HMP-1 to produce longer actin bundles compared to HMP-1 alone. PMID: 22771044
  3. The C-terminal portion of tropomodulin protein 1, isoform A, isolated from Caenorhabditis elegans, was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. PMID: 12777789
  4. The structure of cTmd1, encompassing amino acids 196-392, has been determined. While the region from amino acids 222 to 388 is well-defined in the electron density map, the N-terminal segment (amino acids 196-221) is disordered. Similarly, the C-terminal tail (amino acids 389-392) exhibits some disorder. PMID: 15211521
  5. Research has confirmed that the mutationally identified gene unc-94 corresponds to the predicted gene tmd-1 (C06A5.7), which encodes a tropomodulin. PMID: 17976644

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Database Links

KEGG: cel:CELE_C06A5.7

STRING: 6239.C06A5.7b

UniGene: Cel.17356

Protein Families
Tropomodulin family
Subcellular Location
Cytoplasm, cytoskeleton.

Q&A

The following FAQs address key research considerations for studying antibodies like UNC-94, synthesized from methodological insights in immunology research and antibody engineering. While specific UNC-94 data isn't available in public literature as of March 2025, these questions reflect common challenges in analogous antibody studies.

How to validate antibody specificity for UNC-94 in complex biological matrices?

  • Methodological approach:

    • Perform cross-reactivity profiling using ELISA against related protein isoforms (e.g., paralogs with >80% sequence homology)

    • Use immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry to identify off-target binding partners

    • Validate via CRISPR knock-out cell lines to confirm signal disappearance

Validation Strategy Comparison

MethodSensitivityThroughputCost
ELISAHighMedium$
Surface Plasmon ResonanceUltra-highLow$$$
Flow Cytometry (Cell-based)MediumHigh$$

What epitope mapping techniques are suitable for characterizing UNC-94's binding domain?

  • Advanced methodologies:

    • Alanine scanning mutagenesis (resolution: 5-10Å)

    • Cryo-EM for structural mapping of antibody-antigen complexes

    • Deep mutational scanning to identify critical binding residues

How to resolve conflicting neutralization data between in vitro and in vivo models?

  • Contradiction analysis framework:

    • Compare antibody affinity (KD) versus avidity measurements

    • Test Fc receptor dependency using FcγR knockout models

    • Analyze tissue penetration kinetics via PET-labeled antibodies

Case Study: Dengue Antibody Neutralization Variance

GenotypeNeutralization IC50 (μg/ml)Structural Variation Site
Asian I0.15E-protein DIII K307R
American II1.2E-protein DI V52L

What computational strategies improve humanized antibody design for UNC-94?

  • Biophysical optimization pipeline:

    • CDR grafting with RosettaAntibody framework analysis

    • Molecular dynamics simulations (≥100ns trajectories) to assess stability

    • Develop positional entropy scores for FR-CDR interfaces

Humanization Success Metrics

ParameterMurineChimericHumanized
Immunogenicity RiskHighMedium<15%
Half-life (hr)48120240

How to address batch-to-batch variability in recombinant UNC-94 production?

  • QC protocol enhancements:

    • Implement HDX-MS for conformational stability monitoring

    • Establish NMR fingerprinting for glycan heterogeneity ≤5%

    • Use microfluidic SEC-MALS for aggregate quantification

What orthogonal assays confirm functional neutralization mechanisms?

  • Mechanistic validation suite:

    • Biolayer interferometry for real-time binding kinetics (kon/koff)

    • Neutrophil ADCC reporter assays (EC50 correlation ≥0.85)

    • High-content imaging of target internalization

Key Methodological Considerations

  • Framework Region Optimization: Maintain ≥95% human consensus sequence in FR regions while preserving CDR structural integrity

  • Isotype Selection: IgG1 for complement activation vs IgG4 for reduced effector functions

  • Epitope Conservation Analysis: Use ancestral sequence reconstruction to predict escape variants

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