odr-8 Antibody
Description
Molecular Identity of ODR-8
ODR-8 is the C. elegans ortholog of Ufm1-specific protease 2 (UfSP2), a cysteine protease involved in processing the ubiquitin-like modifier Ufm1 . Despite its enzymatic classification, ODR-8’s role in GPCR trafficking is independent of its protease activity . Key features include:
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Gene structure: Located on chromosome X, odr-8 includes conserved catalytic residues (Cys, His, Asp) typical of UfSP family members .
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Expression: Co-expressed with ODR-4 in 12 chemosensory neurons, including AWA and ADL neurons, where it localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) .
Functional Role in GPCR Trafficking
ODR-8 partners with ODR-4 to mediate ER-to-cilia transport of odorant receptors. Key mechanisms include:
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ER complex formation: ODR-8 physically interacts with ODR-4 and GPCRs (e.g., ODR-10) at the ER membrane, suggesting a chaperone-like role in receptor folding or export .
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Cell autonomy: Rescue experiments show ODR-8 functions cell-autonomously; expressing odr-8 in AWA neurons restores ODR-10 ciliary localization and odorant response .
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Catalytic independence: Mutating catalytic residues (Cys116, His357) does not impair ODR-8’s ability to rescue receptor trafficking defects, indicating non-proteolytic functions .
Phenotypic Consequences of odr-8 Mutations
Evolutionary Conservation
ODR-8’s interaction with ODR-4 is conserved in humans, where the ODR4 homolog binds UfSP2 . This suggests a broader role in GPCR biogenesis across species, though human UfSP2’s exact function remains unclear.
Research Tools and Methodologies
While no studies explicitly describe an "odr-8 Antibody," critical tools used to investigate ODR-8 include:
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Transgenic reporters: podr-8::mCherry::odr-8 for neuronal expression profiling .
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Epitope tags: HA- or GFP-tagged ODR-8 constructs for localization studies via anti-HA/GFP antibodies .
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Knockout models: odr-8(ky31) mutants with premature stop codons .
Implications for Therapeutic Development
Though not directly linked to antibody therapeutics, ODR-8’s role in GPCR trafficking highlights its potential as a target for modulating chemosensory signaling. The UfSP2-ODR4 complex could inform strategies for managing GPCR-related disorders in humans .
Product Specs
Constituents: 50% Glycerol, 0.01M PBS, pH 7.4
Target Background
- There are two isoforms of ODR-8: UfSP1 and UfSP2. UfSP2 possesses an additional domain at the N-terminus. Structural analysis has revealed that this extra domain exhibits an MPN fold. While some MPN-domain containing proteins exhibit metalloprotease activity, the MPN domain in UfSP2 does not possess this activity. Instead, it is involved in recognizing and deufmylating the substrate. PMID: 27240952
