The WDR75 antibody is a polyclonal or monoclonal immunoglobulin directed against epitopes of the WDR75 protein. Its primary role is to enable detection of WDR75 in various experimental contexts, including:
Immunoblotting: To assess protein abundance in whole-cell lysates or subcellular fractions .
Immunofluorescence: To visualize nucleolar localization of WDR75 under basal or stress conditions .
Subcellular fractionation: To confirm WDR75’s enrichment in nucleolar compartments .
A table summarizing key antibody properties and applications is provided below:
WDR75 is essential for pre-rRNA transcription and nucleolar stability. Antibody-based studies have demonstrated:
RPA194 stabilization: WDR75 knockdown reduces RPA194 protein levels, impairing RNA Pol I activity .
Nucleolar stress response: Under ribotoxic stress (e.g., Actinomycin D), WDR75 redistributes to nucleolar caps, colocalizing with fibrillarin and RPA194 .
WDR75 depletion activates the RPL5/RPL11-dependent p53 stabilization pathway, leading to:
Cell cycle arrest: Reduced S-phase progression and enhanced G1/G2 populations .
Senescence induction: WDR75 knockdown triggers senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity .
Phylogenetic analysis of 70 mammalian WDR75 sequences revealed:
Purifying selection: 25% of sites under strong negative selection, reflecting functional importance .
Adaptive divergence: Transcript variants in Homo sapiens and Pan paniscus exhibit diversifying selection .
Experimental validation of WDR75 antibodies includes:
Specificity: siRNA-mediated knockdown of WDR75 abolishes immunoblot signals in U2OS cells .
Sensitivity: Detection of endogenous WDR75 in subcellular fractions (e.g., nucleolar extracts) .
Cross-reactivity: Confirmed in human, mouse, and primate models .
The WDR75 antibody is critical for studying:
WDR75 (WD Repeat Domain 75) is a nucleolar protein that plays a crucial role in ribosome biogenesis. It functions as a ribosome biogenesis factor and is part of the small subunit (SSU) processome, which is the first precursor of the small eukaryotic ribosomal subunit. WDR75 is involved in:
Nucleolar processing of pre-18S ribosomal RNA
Positive regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase I
Supporting pre-rRNA transcription by maintaining optimal levels of RPA194 (a key subunit of RNA polymerase I)
The importance of WDR75 is underscored by the fact that its depletion activates the RPL5/RPL11-dependent p53 stabilization checkpoint, leading to impaired cellular proliferation and senescence, highlighting its essential role in normal cellular function .
Based on manufacturer data, commercially available WDR75 antibodies have been validated for multiple applications:
The most robust validation has been performed for IHC and ICC/IF applications, with detailed subcellular localization data available through resources like the Human Protein Atlas .
WDR75 antibodies typically detect a predominantly nucleolar localization pattern in immunofluorescence studies. This observation has been confirmed through multiple approaches:
GFP-tagged WDR75 localizes predominantly to nucleoli under unperturbed growth conditions
Subcellular fractionation followed by immunoblotting validates the nucleolar localization of endogenous WDR75
Immunofluorescence staining with WDR75 antibodies shows localization to the nucleoplasm and nucleoli
Interestingly, under ribosomal stress conditions (e.g., treatment with Actinomycin D or BMH-21), WDR75 redistributes to nucleolar caps, colocalizing with markers like fibrillarin (FIB) and RPA194 .
When selecting a WDR75 antibody, consider these key factors:
Epitope location: Some antibodies target the N-terminal region , while others target specific internal sequences . The epitope location matters particularly if you're studying:
Host species and clonality: Most available WDR75 antibodies are rabbit polyclonals , but consider:
Cross-reactivity concerns if working with rabbit tissues
Batch-to-batch variability with polyclonals
Compatibility with other antibodies in multi-labeling experiments
Validated applications: Ensure the antibody is validated for your specific application with data demonstrating:
Species reactivity: Most WDR75 antibodies react with human samples, with some cross-reactivity to mouse and rat (88% sequence identity) .
Detecting nucleolar proteins like WDR75 requires special considerations in immunofluorescence protocols:
Fixation optimization:
For nucleolar proteins, paraformaldehyde fixation (4%, 10-15 minutes) preserves nucleolar structure
Methanol fixation may improve accessibility to some nucleolar epitopes but can disrupt certain protein-protein interactions
Permeabilization considerations:
Use 0.1-0.5% Triton X-100 for adequate nuclear permeabilization
For dense nucleolar structures, consider extending permeabilization time
Alternative: 0.5% Saponin may provide gentler permeabilization while maintaining nucleolar morphology
Antibody concentration optimization:
Co-staining strategy:
Signal amplification options:
For weak signals, consider tyramide signal amplification
Use of confocal microscopy with z-stacking to properly resolve nucleolar structures
Proper experimental controls are essential for interpreting results with WDR75 antibodies:
The rescue control is particularly important, as demonstrated in previous research where ectopically expressed WDR75-GFP (resistant to siRNA targeting the 3′UTR) functionally rescued the p53-triggering phenotype of WDR75 depletion, confirming specificity of the observed effects .
WDR75 antibodies provide powerful tools for investigating ribosome biogenesis stress responses:
Nucleolar reorganization studies:
p53 checkpoint activation analysis:
Ribosomal protein interaction studies:
IP with WDR75 antibodies followed by mass spectrometry can identify interaction partners
Co-IP experiments can verify specific interactions with RPL5/RPL11 during stress responses
Proximity ligation assays can visualize dynamic interactions between WDR75 and other SSU processome components
Cell cycle analysis integration:
Studying WDR75 transcript variants presents unique challenges requiring specialized methodological approaches:
Transcript variant-specific detection strategies:
Standard WDR75 antibodies may not distinguish between transcript variants
Design custom antibodies against unique N-terminal sequences in transcript variants
For the human and bonobo transcript variants (X2) that start 64 amino acids downstream, develop antibodies against the unique first seven amino acids
Integrated RNA-protein analysis approaches:
Combine RNA-seq to quantify transcript variant expression with protein-level detection
RT-PCR with variant-specific primers followed by Western blotting
Single-cell analysis correlating transcript variant expression with protein localization
Structural impact assessment:
Evolution-informed analysis:
Research has shown that WDR75 positively affects pre-rRNA synthesis by stabilizing RPA194. WDR75 antibodies can help elucidate this mechanism through:
Proximity-based interaction studies:
Proximity ligation assays (PLA) using antibodies against WDR75 and RPA194
FRET/FLIM approaches with labeled antibodies to assess direct interactions
IP-mass spectrometry to identify bridging proteins in the WDR75-RPA194 complex
Quantitative correlation analysis:
Domain-specific interaction mapping:
Competition assays with peptides corresponding to WDR75 domains
Structure-guided mutagenesis followed by co-IP with WDR75 and RPA194 antibodies
Selective domain deletion constructs to identify regions required for RPA194 stabilization
Functional recovery experiments:
Cross-reactivity is a common challenge with antibodies against conserved proteins like WDR75:
Sources of WDR75 antibody cross-reactivity:
Validation approaches for confirming specificity:
siRNA knockdown of WDR75 in Western blot and immunofluorescence
Pre-absorption with immunizing peptide to confirm epitope specificity
Testing antibody on WDR75 knockout cell lines (if available)
Comparison of staining patterns across multiple WDR75 antibodies targeting different epitopes
Optimization strategies to minimize cross-reactivity:
Increase blocking time and concentration (5% BSA or 5-10% normal serum)
Include 0.1-0.3% Triton X-100 in antibody diluent to reduce non-specific binding
Optimize antibody concentration and incubation time
Consider using monoclonal antibodies for higher specificity
For tissues with high background, use biotin-free detection systems
The specificity of WDR75 antibodies should be validated in each experimental system, as documented in previous studies where siRNA knockdown confirmed antibody specificity .
When different WDR75 antibodies yield contradictory results, consider these systematic approaches:
Epitope mapping analysis:
Compare epitope locations of different antibodies
N-terminal antibodies may give different results than those targeting internal regions
Potential post-translational modifications may block epitope accessibility
Protein-protein interactions may mask certain epitopes
Expression system variables:
Methodological cross-validation:
Combine multiple detection methods (WB, IF, IP)
Use fractionation approaches to confirm subcellular localization
Consider non-antibody methods (RNA-seq, mass spectrometry)
Employ CRISPR tagging of endogenous WDR75 for validation
Experimental condition variations:
Systematic antibody comparison:
Side-by-side testing under identical conditions
Titration series for each antibody
Detailed documentation of buffer compositions and incubation parameters
Blind analysis of staining patterns to avoid confirmation bias
Studying nucleolar proteins like WDR75 benefits from specialized imaging approaches:
Super-resolution microscopy options:
Structured illumination microscopy (SIM) provides 2x resolution improvement
Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy can resolve nucleolar subcompartments
Single-molecule localization microscopy (PALM/STORM) for nanoscale distribution analysis
Expansion microscopy physically enlarges samples for enhanced resolution
Live-cell imaging strategies:
Correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM):
Combines immunofluorescence localization with ultrastructural context
immunogold labeling for electron microscopy
Cryo-electron tomography for 3D ultrastructural analysis
Quantitative image analysis approaches:
3D reconstruction of nucleolar structures
Colocalization analysis using Pearson's or Manders' coefficients
FRAP (fluorescence recovery after photobleaching) to study dynamics
Single-particle tracking for movement within nucleolar compartments
Multi-modal imaging integration:
Combined detection of WDR75 protein (antibody) and pre-rRNA (FISH)
Metabolic labeling of nascent RNA with EU combined with WDR75 immunofluorescence
Multi-spectral imaging for simultaneous detection of multiple nucleolar components
Label-free techniques (Raman microscopy) combined with immunofluorescence
WDR75 antibodies offer promising tools for investigating the role of ribosome biogenesis in disease:
Ribosomopathy diagnostic applications:
WDR75 antibodies could potentially serve as diagnostic tools for ribosomopathies
Altered WDR75 expression/localization patterns may correlate with disease subtypes
Integration with other ribosomal protein markers for comprehensive profiling
Cancer biomarker potential:
Therapeutic target validation:
Mechanistic studies of oncogenic stress:
Investigation of WDR75's role in nucleolar stress response in cancer cells
Analysis of WDR75-dependent p53 checkpoint in different genetic backgrounds
Correlation of WDR75 expression with cancer cell sensitivity to nucleolar stress inducers
Modern research benefits from integrating antibody-based detection with multi-omics approaches:
Integrative ChIP-seq approaches:
ChIP-seq using WDR75 antibodies to identify genomic binding sites
Integration with RNA Pol I ChIP-seq data to elucidate cooperative binding
Correlation with pre-rRNA transcription sites
Analysis of chromatin states at WDR75 binding regions
Spatial proteomics applications:
Proximity labeling (BioID, APEX) with WDR75 to identify proximal proteins in different cellular states
Mass spectrometry combined with WDR75 IP to identify interaction partners
Spatial proteomics mapping of nucleolar reorganization during stress
Cross-linking mass spectrometry to identify direct interaction interfaces
Single-cell multi-omics integration:
Single-cell IF for WDR75 combined with scRNA-seq
Correlation of WDR75 protein levels with transcriptomic signatures
CITE-seq adaptation for simultaneous protein and RNA profiling
Spatial transcriptomics to correlate WDR75 localization with local RNA processing
CRISPR screening approaches:
CRISPR screens for genes affecting WDR75 localization/function
Antibody-based readouts for high-content CRISPR screens
CRISPR activation/inhibition of WDR75 followed by proteomic analysis
Synthetic lethality screens in the context of WDR75 modulation
These integrated approaches can provide a systems-level understanding of WDR75's role in ribosome biogenesis and cellular stress responses.