The antibody is a rabbit polyclonal IgG targeting the amino acid residues 1–253 of human UTP11. It is conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), a fluorescent dye that excites at 494 nm and emits at 519 nm, allowing visualization via fluorescence microscopy or flow cytometry .
FITC binds to primary amines (e.g., lysine residues) on the antibody, typically at a ratio of 3–6 FITC molecules per antibody .
Sodium azide preservatives are removed prior to conjugation to prevent interference .
The antibody is optimized for:
Immunofluorescence (IF): Detects UTP11 in fixed cells (e.g., paraformaldehyde-treated) or tissues .
Flow Cytometry: Quantifies UTP11 expression in live or fixed cells .
Western Blotting: While not its primary use, the antibody can be paired with HRP-conjugated secondary antibodies for detection .
IF: Dilute 1:500 in PBS/10% FBS; incubate 1 hour at room temperature in the dark .
Flow Cytometry: Use 1:1000 dilution; pair with FITC-compatible secondary antibodies .
UTP11 is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and correlates with poor prognosis . Studies using this antibody revealed:
Mechanism: UTP11 stabilizes 18S rRNA precursors by binding MPP10, enabling ribosome biogenesis .
Therapeutic Target: Knockdown of UTP11 induces nucleolar stress and ferroptosis in cancer cells via p53-dependent and -independent pathways .
HCC Samples: Elevated UTP11 mRNA and protein levels compared to normal liver tissue (AUC = 0.894 for diagnostic accuracy) .
Cell Lines: High expression in HCC lines (e.g., HepG2, Huh7) vs. normal liver cells .
The antibody demonstrates:
Specificity: Reacts with recombinant UTP11 (1–253 AA) and shows no cross-reactivity in UTP11 knockout samples .
Sensitivity: Detects endogenous UTP11 in immunoprecipitation and western blot assays .
Validation of antibody specificity requires a multi-step approach. First, perform siRNA-mediated knockdown of UTP11 in target cell lines (e.g., HCT116 or HepG2) and confirm reduced protein levels via Western blot . For immunofluorescence, use cells transfected with UTP11-targeting siRNA alongside non-targeting controls. A validated antibody should show diminished fluorescence signal in knockdown cells compared to controls. Additionally, cross-verify localization patterns with subcellular fractionation assays; UTP11 is nucleolar, so co-staining with nucleolar markers like NPM1/B23 is critical . Include secondary antibody-only controls to exclude autofluorescence artifacts. If working with FFPE tissues, antigen retrieval optimization (e.g., pH 9.0 Tris-EDTA buffer) is essential to expose epitopes masked during fixation .
Optimal Western blot conditions involve:
Lysis Buffer: Use RIPA buffer supplemented with RNase inhibitors (e.g., SUPERase-In™) to preserve RNA-protein complexes .
Gel Electrophoresis: 4–12% Bis-Tris gels under reducing conditions (50 mM DTT) to resolve UTP11’s ~55 kDa band .
Transfer: Semi-dry transfer at 25 V for 1 hour to nitrocellulose membranes (0.45 μm pore size).
Blocking: 5% BSA in TBST to minimize non-specific binding.
Antibody Dilution: 1:500–1:1,000 dilution in blocking buffer, incubated overnight at 4°C .
Detection: FITC fluorescence requires imaging systems like LI-COR Odyssey® with 488 nm excitation. Normalize signals to vinculin or GAPDH .
Critical controls include:
Isotype Control: Same-species IgG conjugated to FITC at matching concentrations.
Tissue Specificity: Compare HCC tumors (high UTP11 expression) to adjacent normal liver tissues .
Preabsorption Control: Preincubate antibody with a 10-fold molar excess of recombinant UTP11 protein; signal should diminish.
Disease Correlation: Validate staining against TCGA data showing UTP11 overexpression in HCC (AUC = 0.894) .
To investigate UTP11’s role in mRNA stabilization (e.g., NRF2), perform RIP as follows :
Crosslinking: Treat cells with 1% formaldehyde for 10 min to fix RNA-protein interactions.
Lysis: Use RIP buffer (10 mM Tris, 150 mM NaCl, 0.5% NP-40) with RNase inhibitors.
Immunoprecipitation: Incubate lysates with FITC-conjugated UTP11 antibody-bound magnetic beads overnight at 4°C.
RNA Isolation: Purify co-precipitated RNA using TRIzol® and analyze targets (e.g., NRF2, Oct4) via RT-qPCR. Include input (5% lysate) and IgG controls. A 5-fold enrichment of target mRNA in IP vs. IgG confirms specificity .
Discrepancies in nucleolar vs. cytoplasmic localization often arise from:
Cell Line Variability: HCT116 cells show strong nucleolar UTP11, while HepG2 may exhibit cytoplasmic leakage under stress . Validate using nucleolar isolation kits (e.g., Nucleolar Protein Isolation Kit, Sigma).
Fixation Artifacts: Methanol fixation (−20°C, 10 min) preserves nucleolar architecture better than paraformaldehyde .
Stress Conditions: Ribosomal stress (e.g., Actinomycin D) redistributes UTP11. Correlate localization with nucleolar stress markers (RPL5/RPL11) .
Experimental Workflow:
Genetic Models: Use isogenic p53+/+ and p53−/− HCT116 cells .
UTP11 Knockdown: Transfect siRNA/shRNA and confirm efficiency via qRT-PCR (primers: F-5′-CAGGTCAACGGATTTGGTCT-3′, R-5′-GCAAGTTCCGTTCTCAGTCC-3′) .
Phenotypic Assays:
Cross-talk Analysis: Inhibit p53 (Pifithrin-α) and assess residual ferroptosis to isolate p53-independent effects .
Key Variables:
| Factor | Study A (TCGA) | Study B (HPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Sample Size | 371 HCC | 12 HCC / 5 normal |
| AUC (Diagnosis) | 0.894 | N/A |
| IHC Scoring | H-score > 200 = poor prognosis | Moderate staining in normals |
Resolution: