TRIM55 antibody is a polyclonal antibody raised against the tripartite motif-containing protein 55 (TRIM55), a member of the TRIM family of E3 ubiquitin ligases. It is primarily used in research to detect TRIM55 expression, localization, and interactions in cellular processes, including protein degradation, immune response regulation, and cancer progression. TRIM55 antibodies are validated for applications such as Western blot (WB), immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
TRIM55 antibodies have been instrumental in elucidating TRIM55’s dual roles in cancer biology. Below is a synthesis of critical studies:
Suppression of HCC: TRIM55 overexpression reduces cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis by degrading NF90, a regulator of HIF1α/VEGF and TGFβ/Smad signaling. Antibodies confirmed TRIM55’s interaction with NF90 and its downstream effects on VEGF stability .
Promotion of HCC: Conversely, TRIM55 overexpression activates Wnt signaling via TRIP6 stabilization, enhancing tumor growth and metastasis. IHC and WB validated TRIM55’s upregulation in aggressive HCC subtypes .
Inhibition of CRC: TRIM55 overexpression reduces cell cycle progression and promotes apoptosis by degrading c-Myc and Snail1. Co-immunoprecipitation assays using TRIM55 antibodies demonstrated direct interactions with these oncogenic proteins .
Metastasis Promotion: TRIM55 upregulation correlates with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and poor prognosis. Antibodies detected elevated TRIM55 in GC tissues and linked it to lymph node metastasis .
Commercial TRIM55 antibodies vary in specificity, reactivity, and application suitability. Below is a comparative analysis:
Specificity: Proteintech’s antibody shows no cross-reactivity with non-target proteins, confirmed via protein array analysis .
Sensitivity: Atlas Antibodies’ HPA038793 detects TRIM55 in IHC with high signal-to-noise ratio in liver cancer tissues .
Cross-Reactivity: Assay Genie’s CAB15917 reacts with mouse skeletal muscle samples, enabling comparative studies .
Context-Dependent Roles: TRIM55 exhibits tumor-suppressive or oncogenic functions depending on cancer type, necessitating context-specific antibody validation .
Subcellular Localization: IF studies reveal TRIM55’s dynamic distribution (cytoplasm vs. nucleus), critical for pathway modulation .
Therapeutic Potential: TRIM55 antibodies may aid in developing targeted therapies, particularly in autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus) where TRIM55 regulates NF-κB signaling .
TRIM55 (Tripartite Motif Containing 55), also known as muscle-specific ring finger 2 (Murf2), is an E3 ubiquitin ligase belonging to the TRIM protein family. It plays crucial roles in protein degradation and immune response regulation . TRIM55 has emerged as a significant research target due to its involvement in various diseases, including multiple cancer types and autoimmune disorders. Its functional importance stems from its ability to regulate protein degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, affecting critical cellular processes related to cancer development, immune response, and cellular signaling .
TRIM55 antibodies are primarily utilized in these research applications:
Western blot analysis (WB): Used for detecting and quantifying TRIM55 protein expression in tissue samples and cell lines, typically at dilutions ranging from 1:500 to 1:2000 .
Immunohistochemistry (IHC): Applied to examine TRIM55 expression patterns in tissue sections, particularly in cancer tissues versus adjacent normal tissues .
Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP): Employed to investigate protein-protein interactions between TRIM55 and its binding partners, such as c-Myc, NF90, and p100 .
Immunofluorescence: Used to visualize the subcellular localization of TRIM55 and its interactions with other proteins .
Research on TRIM55 commonly utilizes:
Cancer cell lines: HGC27 and SGC7901 (gastric cancer) , LO2 and HepG2 (liver cancer) , colorectal cancer cell lines
Tissue samples: Colorectal cancer tissues, hepatocellular carcinoma tissues, gastric cancer tissues, and corresponding adjacent normal tissues
Murine models: For in vivo studies of cancer development and immune responses
Skeletal muscle: As TRIM55 was originally identified as a muscle-specific protein (hence its alternative name Murf2)
When optimizing TRIM55 antibody for Western blot, researchers should consider:
Antibody concentration: Recommended dilutions typically range from 1:500 to 1:2000, depending on the specific antibody and sample type .
Sample preparation: Proper lysis buffers containing protease inhibitors are essential to prevent TRIM55 degradation during protein extraction.
Positive controls: Include known TRIM55-expressing samples such as LO2, HepG2, or mouse skeletal muscle as positive controls .
Storage conditions: Store the antibody at -20°C and avoid freeze-thaw cycles to maintain reactivity. Typically stored in PBS with 0.02% sodium azide and 50% glycerol at pH 7.3 .
Blocking conditions: Optimize blocking solutions to minimize background while maintaining specific TRIM55 signal.
The literature contains seemingly contradictory findings regarding TRIM55's role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with some studies suggesting it suppresses HCC progression while others indicate it promotes proliferation . To address these contradictions, researchers should:
Perform comprehensive expression analysis across diverse HCC patient cohorts, considering:
Clinical characteristics (tumor size, AFP levels, etiology)
Disease stage and differentiation status
Genetic background variations
Design mechanistic studies to examine context-dependent functions:
Investigate different downstream pathways in various HCC subtypes
Examine the influence of the tumor microenvironment on TRIM55 function
Consider temporal aspects of TRIM55 activity during disease progression
Employ multiple complementary methodologies:
Use both gain-of-function and loss-of-function approaches
Combine in vitro and in vivo models
Utilize patient-derived xenografts to better recapitulate human disease complexity
Validate antibody specificity using TRIM55 knockout controls to ensure observed effects are specific to TRIM55 rather than antibody cross-reactivity .
To effectively study TRIM55-mediated protein ubiquitination:
Ubiquitination assay design:
In vitro ubiquitination assays using recombinant TRIM55, E1, E2, ubiquitin, and candidate substrates
In vivo ubiquitination assays employing co-transfection of TRIM55, ubiquitin (wild-type or mutants to identify specific linkage types), and substrate proteins
Substrate identification methodology:
Use co-immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry
Employ proximity-based labeling techniques (BioID or APEX)
Screen potential substrates based on bioinformatic prediction of interaction motifs
Ubiquitin chain analysis:
Utilize ubiquitin mutants (K48, K63, etc.) to determine chain topology
Employ linkage-specific antibodies for detection
Apply mass spectrometry to identify ubiquitination sites and chain types
Proteasomal degradation analysis:
Quantitative measurement of TRIM55 E3 ligase activity can be approached through:
In vitro reconstitution assays:
Prepare recombinant TRIM55 protein with confirmed structural integrity
Establish a reaction system with purified E1, appropriate E2 enzymes, ubiquitin, ATP, and substrate proteins
Quantify ubiquitin transfer using Western blot or ELISA-based detection
Determine enzyme kinetics parameters (Km, Vmax) for TRIM55 activity
Cellular ubiquitination assays:
Develop fluorescent reporter systems using TRIM55 substrate fusion proteins
Apply flow cytometry to quantify substrate degradation rates in living cells
Implement FRET-based approaches to measure TRIM55-substrate interactions in real-time
Pharmacological modulation:
Test inhibitors of E1, E2, or proteasome to validate the specificity of TRIM55-mediated effects
Evaluate TRIM55 activity in response to relevant physiological or pathological stimuli
Structure-function analysis:
When validating TRIM55 antibody specificity for immunoprecipitation experiments, implement these critical controls:
Antibody validation controls:
TRIM55 knockout or knockdown lysates as negative controls
TRIM55 overexpression lysates as positive controls
Pre-adsorption of the antibody with recombinant TRIM55 protein
Comparison of results using multiple antibodies targeting different TRIM55 epitopes
Immunoprecipitation specificity controls:
IgG isotype control to assess non-specific binding
Reciprocal co-immunoprecipitation to confirm interaction
Input control (5-10% of pre-immunoprecipitation lysate)
Competitive peptide blocking to confirm epitope specificity
Binding interaction validation:
To elucidate the differential roles of TRIM55 across cancer types, researchers should employ:
Multi-cancer expression profiling:
Analyze TRIM55 expression across cancer types using tissue microarrays
Correlate expression patterns with clinical parameters and outcomes
Compare primary tumors with metastatic samples to assess stage-specific functions
Target identification in different contexts:
Perform immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry in multiple cancer cell types
Compare TRIM55 interactomes across cancer types to identify unique and shared binding partners
Validate cancer-specific interactions using co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assays
Functional impact assessment:
Conduct parallel loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies across cancer cell lines
Measure effects on proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis
Develop co-culture systems to assess tumor-microenvironment interactions
Pathway analysis:
For optimal immunohistochemical analysis using TRIM55 antibodies on clinical samples:
Sample preparation optimization:
Evaluate fixation conditions (duration and fixative type)
Compare antigen retrieval methods (heat-induced vs. enzymatic)
Test different blocking reagents to minimize background staining
Antibody validation for IHC:
Determine optimal antibody dilution through titration experiments
Validate using positive control tissues (skeletal muscle)
Include TRIM55-deficient tissues as negative controls
Perform peptide competition assays to confirm specificity
Signal detection optimization:
Compare DAB-based and fluorescence-based detection systems
Evaluate signal amplification methods for low-expression samples
Establish appropriate counterstaining protocols
Quantification and analysis:
To investigate TRIM55's role in the noncanonical NF-κB pathway, implement these experimental designs:
Pathway component analysis:
Monitor processing of p100 to p52 in response to TRIM55 manipulation
Assess phosphorylation status of IKKα
Evaluate nuclear translocation of RelB/p52 complexes
Measure expression of noncanonical NF-κB target genes
Ubiquitination analysis:
Characterize TRIM55-mediated ubiquitination of p100
Determine ubiquitin chain types (K48 vs. K63) using linkage-specific antibodies
Identify specific lysine residues on p100 targeted by TRIM55
Analyze the role of VCP-UFD1-NPL4 complex formation
B cell functional assays:
Evaluate germinal center formation in TRIM55-deficient mice
Assess antibody production following immunization
Analyze B cell proliferation, activation, and differentiation
Investigate TRIM55's role in B cell-dependent autoimmune models
Signaling dynamics:
To investigate TRIM55's role in regulating mRNA stability:
RNA-protein interaction analysis:
RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) to assess TRIM55's association with target mRNAs
Cross-linking immunoprecipitation (CLIP) to map binding sites with nucleotide resolution
RNA electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) to characterize binding affinities
mRNA stability measurements:
Actinomycin D chase experiments to measure half-lives of target mRNAs
Nuclear run-on assays to distinguish effects on transcription from effects on stability
Polysome profiling to assess translation efficiency
Mechanistic investigation:
Analyze TRIM55's effect on RNA-binding proteins like NF90
Examine ubiquitination status of RNA-binding proteins in response to TRIM55
Identify RNA motifs that confer TRIM55-dependent regulation
Use mutagenesis to validate functional RNA-protein interaction sites
High-throughput approaches:
To minimize nonspecific binding in Western blot using TRIM55 antibodies:
Antibody quality assessment:
Test multiple TRIM55 antibodies targeting different epitopes
Validate antibody specificity using TRIM55 knockdown/knockout samples
Consider using monoclonal antibodies for higher specificity
Protocol optimization:
Sample preparation improvements:
Ensure complete protein denaturation
Add reducing agents to disrupt protein aggregates
Pre-clear lysates with Protein A/G beads
Optimize SDS-PAGE conditions for better protein separation
Signal detection optimization:
Use highly specific secondary antibodies
Implement short exposure times to reduce background
Consider using fluorescent secondary antibodies for better quantification
Apply digital image acquisition with appropriate dynamic range settings
To address variability in TRIM55 detection across tissue types:
Tissue-specific extraction optimization:
Adjust lysis buffer composition based on tissue characteristics
Develop tissue-specific homogenization protocols
Include additional protease inhibitors for tissues with high protease activity
Optimize protein extraction temperature and duration
Detection system adaptation:
Adjust antibody concentration based on TRIM55 expression levels in different tissues
Implement signal amplification methods for low-expressing tissues
Use detection systems with appropriate dynamic range
Consider multiplex detection systems to include loading controls
Normalization strategies:
Select appropriate loading controls for each tissue type
Implement total protein normalization approaches
Apply digital image analysis with appropriate normalization algorithms
Use standard curves with recombinant TRIM55 for absolute quantification
Validation approaches:
When facing contradictions between TRIM55 transcript and protein levels:
Regulatory mechanism investigation:
Examine post-transcriptional regulation (miRNAs targeting TRIM55 mRNA)
Assess post-translational modifications affecting TRIM55 protein stability
Investigate autoubiquitination as a potential self-regulatory mechanism
Evaluate protein degradation rates using cycloheximide chase assays
Technical validation:
Verify primers specificity for transcript analysis
Confirm antibody specificity for protein detection
Assess potential isoform-specific detection differences
Evaluate sensitivity limits of detection methods
Biological context consideration:
Examine time-dependent relationship between transcript and protein levels
Investigate tissue-specific or cell-type-specific regulatory mechanisms
Consider disease state or stress conditions affecting translation efficiency
Evaluate the impact of the tumor microenvironment on protein stability
Integrative analysis:
To investigate TRIM55's therapeutic potential in cancer using antibodies:
Biomarker development applications:
Evaluate TRIM55 expression in patient cohorts using tissue microarrays
Correlate expression patterns with treatment response and patient outcomes
Develop standardized immunohistochemical protocols for clinical application
Assess TRIM55 as part of multi-marker panels for patient stratification
Mechanism-based therapeutic screening:
Use TRIM55 antibodies to monitor pathway activation in drug screening assays
Assess drug effects on TRIM55-substrate interactions
Evaluate modulation of TRIM55 E3 ligase activity by candidate compounds
Screen for compounds that alter TRIM55 protein levels or localization
Combination therapy assessment:
Monitor TRIM55 pathway activation in response to standard therapies
Identify synergistic effects between TRIM55 modulation and existing treatments
Investigate resistance mechanisms involving TRIM55-regulated pathways
Develop rational combination strategies based on TRIM55 mechanistic insights
Treatment response monitoring:
To characterize TRIM55's interaction with the ubiquitin-proteasome system:
E2 enzyme partnership identification:
Screen E2 enzyme panels for TRIM55 cooperation
Perform in vitro ubiquitination assays with purified components
Use proximity-based labeling to identify E2 enzymes interacting with TRIM55 in cells
Validate functional partnerships through genetic knockdown approaches
Ubiquitin chain topology analysis:
Employ ubiquitin mutants (K48R, K63R, etc.) to determine chain linkage specificity
Use linkage-specific antibodies in Western blot analysis
Apply mass spectrometry to identify ubiquitination sites and chain compositions
Implement in vitro chain assembly assays to determine TRIM55's intrinsic specificity
Proteasomal targeting mechanism:
Assess direct interaction between TRIM55 and proteasome components
Evaluate the role of shuttle factors in TRIM55-mediated degradation
Use fluorescent reporter systems to track proteasomal degradation dynamics
Implement proteasome inhibitors to confirm dependency of TRIM55 effects
Regulatory feedback mechanisms:
To effectively compare TRIM55 function across model systems:
Expression system standardization:
Develop consistent protein tagging strategies across models
Use identical promoters for transgene expression when possible
Quantify expression levels to ensure comparable TRIM55 concentrations
Consider inducible expression systems to control timing and level
Cross-species functional analysis:
Perform sequence and structural comparisons of TRIM55 orthologs
Conduct complementation studies using species-specific variants
Develop species-specific antibodies that recognize conserved epitopes
Generate humanized animal models for translational studies
Phenotypic readout harmonization:
Implement standardized assays across different model systems
Develop quantitative metrics that can be compared between models
Use time-course analyses to align developmental or disease stages
Apply systems biology approaches to integrate multi-level data
Translational correlation:
When designing in vivo experiments to study TRIM55 function in cancer models:
Model selection and development:
Compare xenograft, syngeneic, and genetically engineered mouse models
Consider tissue-specific conditional knockout/knockin approaches
Develop inducible systems to study temporal aspects of TRIM55 function
Evaluate orthotopic models to maintain appropriate tumor microenvironment
Endpoint measurement optimization:
Implement in vivo imaging for longitudinal tumor growth monitoring
Design multiparameter analysis of tumor characteristics (size, invasion, angiogenesis)
Develop protocols for circulating tumor cell and metastasis detection
Plan comprehensive immunophenotyping of tumor microenvironment
Intervention timing considerations:
Design experiments addressing preventive versus therapeutic interventions
Establish protocols for early versus advanced disease stages
Consider combination with standard therapies at clinically relevant timing
Implement survival analysis with appropriate power calculations
Analytical validation:
The contradictory roles of TRIM55 across cancer types present both challenges and opportunities for precision medicine:
Context-dependent biomarker development:
Design cancer-specific TRIM55 diagnostic panels
Develop algorithms integrating TRIM55 status with other molecular markers
Establish threshold values for TRIM55 expression that predict outcomes in each cancer type
Create companion diagnostics for TRIM55-targeting therapeutic approaches
Mechanism-based treatment stratification:
Identify molecular signatures that predict TRIM55 function in individual tumors
Develop assays measuring activity of TRIM55 downstream pathways
Generate patient-derived organoids to test TRIM55-related interventions
Implement functional testing of tumor samples for TRIM55-dependent responses
Dual-targeting strategies:
Design approaches simultaneously targeting TRIM55 and its critical substrates
Develop context-specific combination therapies based on TRIM55 signaling profiles
Create synthetic lethality approaches leveraging TRIM55 status
Implement adaptive clinical trial designs incorporating TRIM55 biomarkers
Treatment resistance considerations:
Emerging methodologies to enhance understanding of TRIM55's role in immune regulation include:
Advanced immune cell analysis techniques:
Single-cell RNA-seq to identify TRIM55-dependent immune cell subpopulations
Mass cytometry (CyTOF) for high-dimensional immune phenotyping
Spatial transcriptomics to assess TRIM55 function in tissue microenvironments
CRISPR-based genetic screens in primary immune cells
Advanced imaging approaches:
Intravital microscopy to track TRIM55-dependent immune cell dynamics
Multiplexed ion beam imaging (MIBI) or imaging mass cytometry for spatial context
Live-cell imaging with TRIM55 activity reporters
Super-resolution microscopy to study nanoscale organization of signaling complexes
Systems immunology frameworks:
Multi-omics integration of genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data
Network analysis of TRIM55-dependent signaling in immune contexts
Machine learning approaches to identify TRIM55-regulated immune signatures
Mathematical modeling of TRIM55's contribution to immune homeostasis
Humanized immune models:
To integrate TRIM55 functional data with broader cancer genomics and proteomics datasets:
Multi-omics data integration:
Correlate TRIM55 expression with mutation landscapes across cancer types
Identify genomic alterations affecting TRIM55 function or regulation
Map TRIM55-dependent ubiquitylome changes using proteomics
Correlate transcriptional signatures with TRIM55 activity states
Network-based analytical approaches:
Construct protein-protein interaction networks centered on TRIM55
Develop gene regulatory networks incorporating TRIM55 and its targets
Implement pathway enrichment analysis for TRIM55-dependent processes
Create predictive models of TRIM55 activity based on multi-omics profiles
Public database integration:
Mine cancer genomics databases (TCGA, ICGC) for TRIM55-related patterns
Utilize proteomics repositories to validate TRIM55 targets
Leverage patient-derived data to establish clinical correlations
Implement meta-analysis approaches to identify conserved TRIM55 functions
Computational tool development:
Create algorithms predicting TRIM55 substrates from protein sequence features
Develop visualization tools for TRIM55-centered biological networks
Generate machine learning models predicting TRIM55 function from multi-omics data
Implement text mining approaches to extract TRIM55-related knowledge from literature
The most promising therapeutic applications targeting TRIM55 or its regulatory pathways include:
Context-specific TRIM55 modulation strategies:
Develop inhibitors of TRIM55 E3 ligase activity for gastric cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma contexts where TRIM55 promotes cancer progression
Design TRIM55 stabilizers or gene therapy approaches for colorectal cancer contexts where TRIM55 suppresses cancer
Create substrate-specific modulators that disrupt or enhance specific TRIM55-substrate interactions
Implement combinatorial approaches targeting TRIM55 and its critical partners
Immune modulation through TRIM55 targeting:
Design approaches targeting TRIM55-dependent noncanonical NF-κB signaling for autoimmune diseases
Develop B cell-specific TRIM55 modulators for precision immunotherapy
Create conditional systems for temporary TRIM55 modulation during immune responses
Implement vaccine adjuvants targeting TRIM55-dependent pathways
Pathway-specific intervention strategies:
Target downstream effectors of TRIM55 (c-Myc, HIF1α/VEGF, TGFβ/Smad signaling)
Develop approaches modulating TRIM55-regulated RNA stability mechanisms
Create combination therapies co-targeting TRIM55 and its substrates
Implement synthetic lethality approaches based on TRIM55 status
Advanced delivery technologies: