TRIM65 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase belonging to the TRIM protein family. Its structure includes a conserved TRIM domain with a RING finger (responsible for E3 ligase activity), a B box-type zinc finger, a coiled-coil region, and a C-terminal SPRY domain. These domains enable TRIM65 to interact with various substrate proteins and mediate their ubiquitination . TRIM65 is encoded by a gene located on human chromosome 17q25.1 and is involved in multiple cellular processes including innate immunity, cancer progression, and inflammation regulation .
TRIM65 antibodies are commonly used for:
Western blotting (WB)
Immunofluorescence (IF)
Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)
Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
The HRP-conjugated versions are particularly valuable for Western blot and ELISA applications where direct detection without secondary antibodies is beneficial for reducing background and improving specificity .
Validation of a TRIM65 antibody should include:
Western blot analysis using positive controls (tissues/cells known to express TRIM65) and negative controls (TRIM65 knockout samples or tissues with minimal expression)
Testing reactivity across species if planning cross-species applications
Comparing results with published literature
Performing knockdown/knockout experiments to confirm specificity
Testing different dilutions to optimize signal-to-noise ratio
For HRP-conjugated antibodies specifically, also validate that the conjugation doesn't affect binding specificity by comparing results with unconjugated versions .
For co-immunoprecipitation with TRIM65 antibody:
Lysate preparation:
Harvest cells in non-denaturing lysis buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 1% NP-40, 1 mM EDTA)
Include protease inhibitors and deubiquitinase inhibitors (like N-ethylmaleimide) if studying ubiquitination
Clear lysate by centrifugation (14,000 × g, 15 min, 4°C)
Immunoprecipitation:
Pre-clear lysate with protein A/G beads for 1 hour
Incubate 500-1000 μg of lysate with 2-5 μg TRIM65 antibody overnight at 4°C
Add protein A/G beads for 2-4 hours
Wash 4-5 times with lysis buffer
Elute with 2× SDS sample buffer
For interacting partners like ARHGAP35 or TOX4, proximity ligation assays (PLA) may be more effective than standard IP, as demonstrated in colorectal cancer studies .
The main protocol differences include:
For HRP-conjugated TRIM65 antibody:
Direct detection without secondary antibody
Typically requires lower primary antibody concentrations (1:1000-1:5000)
Shorter protocol time as secondary antibody incubation is eliminated
More sensitive to storage conditions (avoid freeze-thaw cycles)
May have higher background in some applications, requiring optimization of blocking conditions
Detection using chemiluminescent substrates directly after washing
For unconjugated TRIM65 antibody:
Requires species-appropriate secondary antibody
Usually used at 1:500-1:1000 dilutions
Longer protocol with additional incubation and washing steps
More flexible for dual-labeling experiments
Based on published research methodologies, the optimal approach includes:
Cell-based ubiquitination assay:
Co-transfect cells with:
HA/His-tagged ubiquitin
FLAG-tagged TRIM65 (wild-type or RING domain mutant)
GFP/Myc-tagged substrate protein (e.g., MDA5, VCAM-1, ARHGAP35)
Treat with proteasome inhibitor (MG132, 10 μM) for 4-6 hours before harvest
Lyse cells under denaturing conditions (1% SDS buffer with heating)
Dilute lysate and immunoprecipitate substrate protein
Detect ubiquitination by Western blotting with anti-ubiquitin antibody
Linkage-specific ubiquitination analysis:
Use ubiquitin mutants (K48-only, K63-only, K48R, K63R) to determine ubiquitin chain type
Alternatively, use linkage-specific antibodies (anti-K48-Ub, anti-K63-Ub)
This distinction is critical as K48-linked chains typically signal for degradation (as seen with TRIM65-VCAM-1 interaction) while K63-linked chains often regulate signaling (as with TRIM65-MDA5)
In vitro ubiquitination assay:
Purify recombinant TRIM65, E1, E2 enzymes, and substrate
Combine with ATP, ubiquitin in reaction buffer
Incubate at 30°C for 1-2 hours
Analyze by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting
For studying TRIM65's effect on substrate degradation rates, cycloheximide chase assays have proven effective, as demonstrated with ARHGAP35 and p53 .
TRIM65 plays a critical role in antiviral immunity, particularly in the MDA5-mediated pathway:
MDA5 activation mechanism:
TRIM65 specifically interacts with the helicase domain of MDA5 (but not RIG-I)
It catalyzes K63-linked ubiquitination of MDA5 at lysine 743
This ubiquitination is essential for MDA5 oligomerization and activation
Activated MDA5 then signals through MAVS to induce interferon production
Physiological evidence:
TRIM65-deficient mice show:
Complete blockage of EMCV-induced type I interferon production
Normal responses to VSV (which activates RIG-I pathway)
Increased susceptibility to EMCV infection
Inability to produce type I interferon in vivo during EMCV challenge
Pathway specificity:
The specificity of TRIM65 for MDA5 (and not RIG-I) makes it a potential target for selective modulation of specific antiviral pathways.
TRIM65's role in cancer is context-dependent, with evidence supporting oncogenic functions in multiple cancer types:
In Colorectal Cancer (CRC):
TRIM65 is upregulated in CRC tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues
High expression correlates with poor survival, metastasis, and recurrence
Key substrate: ARHGAP35 (p190RhoGAP)
TRIM65 mediates K48-linked ubiquitination and degradation of ARHGAP35
This leads to elevated Rho GTPase activity
Results in increased formation of migration-related structures and enhanced metastasis
TRIM65 overexpression enhances CRC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration
In Cervical Cancer:
TRIM65 expression is significantly higher in cervical cancer tissues
Promotes cell growth and migration
Key substrate: p53
TRIM65 binds to p53 and promotes its ubiquitination and degradation
Accelerates p53 turnover as demonstrated by cycloheximide chase assays
This degradation can be blocked by proteasome inhibitor MG132
In Lung Cancer:
Elevated in cisplatin-resistant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Promotes autophagy and chemoresistance
Mechanism: Induces ubiquitination and degradation of TNRC6A, resulting in suppressed expression of miR-138-5p
Knockdown of TRIM65 enhances cisplatin-induced apoptosis and inhibits autophagy
TRIM65 functions as a critical regulator of inflammation through multiple mechanisms:
VCAM-1 degradation pathway:
TRIM65 targets vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) for ubiquitination
It promotes K48-linked polyubiquitination of VCAM-1, leading to its degradation
This mechanism limits monocyte adherence to endothelium and tissue infiltration
TRIM65-deficient mice show:
Increased sensitivity to LPS-induced death
Sustained and severe pulmonary inflammation
Enhanced monocyte/macrophage infiltration into tissues
The protein levels of TRIM65 and VCAM-1 are inversely correlated during TNFα-induced endothelial activation
Apoptosis regulation:
Macrophage regulation:
These findings suggest TRIM65 generally acts as a negative regulator of inflammation, making it a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases.
For optimal detection of low TRIM65 expression:
Signal amplification methods:
Use tyramide signal amplification (TSA) with HRP-conjugated antibodies
Apply antigen retrieval (citrate buffer pH 6.0, 95°C for 20 min) for fixed tissues
Implement sandwich ELISA with capture and detection antibodies for enhanced sensitivity
Sample preparation optimization:
Enrich for TRIM65-expressing cellular compartments (primarily cytoplasmic, but also nuclear in some contexts)
Concentrate proteins using TCA precipitation or acetone precipitation before Western blot
For tissues, use laser capture microdissection to isolate specific cell populations
Detection system enhancements:
Use high-sensitivity ECL substrates (SuperSignal West Femto)
Extend exposure times with incremental monitoring
Consider cooled CCD camera systems for digital Western blot imaging
Antibody selection considerations:
Research has shown that TRIM65 undergoes phosphorylation that may regulate its activity. To study these modifications:
Phosphorylation detection methods:
Phos-tag SDS-PAGE for mobility shift detection
Phospho-specific antibodies (when available)
Mass spectrometry for global phosphorylation site mapping
In vivo 32P-orthophosphate labeling for dynamic phosphorylation studies
Key observations from literature:
Two discrete bands (57 kDa and 68 kDa) are observed when immunoblotting for TRIM65
The 68 kDa band is sensitive to calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase (CIAP) treatment, confirming it represents phosphorylated TRIM65
This phosphorylated form appears to decrease in tumor samples compared to matched normal tissues
Phosphorylation sites have been identified in colorectal cancer studies
Experimental approach:
Treat cell lysates with phosphatase inhibitors to preserve phosphorylation
Split samples for parallel treatment with and without CIAP
Compare migration patterns on Western blot
For site identification, perform immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry
Functional analysis:
Generate phospho-mimetic and phospho-dead mutants at identified sites
Assess E3 ligase activity, substrate binding, and protein stability
Determine effects on cellular localization using immunofluorescence
To effectively study TRIM65 splice variants or isoforms:
Identification methods:
RT-PCR with primers spanning potential splice junctions
RNA-Seq analysis for comprehensive isoform discovery
5' and 3' RACE to identify novel transcription start sites or polyadenylation sites
Expression analysis:
Isoform-specific qPCR with primers/probes designed to unique exon junctions
Western blotting with antibodies targeting different domains
Create a comparative table of TRIM65 isoform expression across tissues:
| Tissue/Cell Type | Full-length TRIM65 | Variant 1 | Variant 2 | Detection Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endothelial cells | High | Minimal | Minimal | Western blot/qPCR |
| Immune cells | Moderate | Low | Moderate | Western blot/qPCR |
| Colorectal tissue | Variable (↑ in CRC) | Low | Low | IHC/Western blot |
| Cervical tissue | Variable (↑ in CC) | Unknown | Unknown | IHC |
Functional characterization:
Clone individual isoforms into expression vectors
Create domain-specific deletion constructs
Compare:
Subcellular localization using fluorescent tags
Substrate binding affinity via co-IP or PLA
E3 ligase activity through in vitro ubiquitination assays
Effects on signaling pathways relevant to TRIM65 function
CRISPR-based approaches:
Design isoform-specific knockouts by targeting unique exons
Use homology-directed repair to tag endogenous isoforms
Implement exon-specific knock-in of mutations to affect single isoforms
Common pitfalls and their solutions include:
Non-specific bands in Western blot:
Variable results across different tissues/cells:
Conflicting results between protein and mRNA levels:
Antibody performance inconsistencies:
Difficulties detecting interaction partners:
To reconcile contradictory findings about TRIM65:
Context-dependent functions:
TRIM65 exhibits tissue-specific and pathway-specific roles
In antiviral immunity: Positively regulates MDA5 pathway via K63-linked ubiquitination
In inflammation: Negatively regulates by targeting VCAM-1 for degradation via K48-linked ubiquitination
In cancer: Generally oncogenic but through distinct mechanisms in different cancer types
Methodological approach to contradictions:
Create a comprehensive experimental framework that examines:
Cell/tissue type (endothelial vs. epithelial vs. immune cells)
Disease context (cancer vs. inflammation vs. viral infection)
Ubiquitination type (K48 vs. K63-linked chains)
Substrate-specific effects
Analyzing discrepancies systematically:
Integration strategies:
Focus on identifying common molecular mechanisms across systems
Consider transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational regulation
Evaluate subcellular localization differences that might explain functional diversity
Account for feedback loops and compensatory mechanisms in experimental design
When designing experiments to study TRIM65 E3 ligase activity:
Domain-specific functional analysis:
Substrate identification considerations:
Context-specific experimental design:
For immune contexts: Study effects of viral mimics (poly I:C) or viral infection
For inflammatory contexts: Use TNFα, LPS, or ischemia/reperfusion models
For cancer contexts: Compare paired tumor/normal tissues and metastatic/primary samples
Technical considerations for measuring E3 ligase activity:
Include appropriate E2 conjugating enzymes in in vitro assays
Use ubiquitin mutants (K48-only, K63-only) to determine chain specificity
Monitor substrate half-life via cycloheximide chase experiments
Employ proteasome inhibitors to distinguish between signaling vs. degradative ubiquitination
Consider global approaches like di-Gly remnant profiling for identifying ubiquitination sites
In vivo validation approaches: