The At3g15140 Antibody is a research-grade monoclonal antibody designed to target the protein encoded by the Arabidopsis thaliana (mouse-ear cress) gene At3g15140. This gene is homologous to ERI-1 (Endoribonuclease-RNase I), a conserved 3′–5′ exoribonuclease involved in RNA metabolism . The antibody is used in plant molecular biology to study gene function, particularly in chloroplast RNA processing and stress responses.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Product Code | CSB-PA837802XA01DOA |
| UniProt Accession Number | Q8W566 |
| Species | Arabidopsis thaliana |
| Sample Size | 2 mL/0.1 mL |
Antibodies are Y-shaped immunoglobulins composed of two heavy chains and two light chains, with variable regions (paratopes) that bind specific epitopes . The At3g15140 Antibody binds to the ERIL1 protein, which localizes to chloroplasts and participates in:
3′–5′ exonuclease activity: Degradation of small RNAs and processing of ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) .
Stress response regulation: Modulation of RNA interference (RNAi) pathways and histone mRNA degradation .
The At3g15140 gene encodes ERIL1, a nucleus-encoded chloroplast protein critical for:
Chloroplast RNA metabolism:
Stress adaptation:
Studies using the At3g15140 Antibody have focused on Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana models to elucidate ERIL1’s role in chloroplast function .
Chloroplast Homeostasis: ERIL1 maintains RNA integrity, ensuring efficient photosynthesis and stress resilience .
RNAi Regulation: ERIL1 may influence small RNA turnover, impacting gene silencing and defense mechanisms .
While the At3g15140 Antibody is plant-specific, its mechanism parallels other RNA-targeting antibodies:
At3g15140 is an Arabidopsis thaliana gene locus encoding a protein that functions in plant developmental processes. While not explicitly described in the provided search results, this gene follows the standard Arabidopsis nomenclature where "At" indicates Arabidopsis thaliana, "3" represents chromosome 3, "g" stands for gene, and "15140" is the sequential gene number. Similar to other Arabidopsis proteins studied with antibodies, the protein encoded by At3g15140 likely plays specific roles in plant signaling, development, or response pathways that can be investigated through immunological techniques.
Validation of At3g15140 antibodies should follow standard protocols established for plant protein antibodies. The specificity of the antibody should be confirmed through Western blot analysis using both wild-type plants and knockout/knockdown mutants of the At3g15140 gene. Following approaches similar to those used for BAK1 antibody validation, researchers should:
Perform Western blot on crude Arabidopsis extracts
Test the antibody against plasma membrane fractions if the protein is predicted to be membrane-associated
Include positive and negative controls to confirm specificity
Verify the expected molecular weight (compare predicted vs. apparent MW)
Additionally, cross-reactivity should be tested against related proteins, especially those with similar domains or sequence homology.
Effective protein extraction is crucial for successful detection of Arabidopsis proteins. Based on experience with other plant antibodies, the following extraction method is recommended:
Approximately 100 mg of plant material should be extracted in 0.2 ml of homogenization buffer (0.1 M EDTA, 0.12 M Tris-HCl, pH 6.8) . For membrane-associated proteins, additional detergents may be necessary. The extraction buffer should contain protease inhibitors to prevent protein degradation, and samples should be kept cold throughout the process.
As demonstrated with BAK1 antibody applications, the proper extraction method significantly contributes to the detection of the target band . For proteins that are difficult to extract or present in low abundance, enrichment of specific cellular fractions may improve detection.
At3g15140 antibodies can be utilized for multiple experimental applications, similar to other plant protein antibodies:
Western blot (WB) analysis for protein expression studies
Immunoprecipitation (IP) for protein-protein interaction studies
Immunolocalization to determine subcellular localization
The antibody dilution should be optimized for each application, with typical Western blot dilutions ranging from 1:1000 to 1:5000, while immunoprecipitation protocols might use approximately 2 μl of antibody per 50 μl of Protein G agarose .
Protein chip technology provides a powerful approach for evaluating antibody specificity against multiple proteins simultaneously. Following methodologies described for Arabidopsis protein chips:
Express and purify recombinant At3g15140 and related proteins with RGS-His6-tags
Robotically array the purified proteins onto glass slides coated with either nitrocellulose-based polymer (FAST slides) or polyacrylamide (PAA slides)
Screen the protein chips with the anti-At3g15140 antibody
Include appropriate controls (anti-RGS-His6 antibody to confirm protein presence, negative controls without protein, and non-related proteins)
Use fluorescently labeled secondary antibodies for detection
Analyze results using scanners and appropriate software for quantification
This approach can determine if the antibody cross-reacts with other Arabidopsis proteins, especially those with similar domains or structures. The detection limit for proteins on FAST slides is approximately 2-3.6 fmol per spot, while PAA slides offer higher sensitivity at 0.1-1.8 fmol per spot .
Co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) with At3g15140 antibodies may present several challenges. Based on practices with other plant protein antibodies, the following strategies can improve results:
Optimized buffer conditions: Test different buffer compositions to maintain protein-protein interactions while minimizing background
Crosslinking: Consider chemical crosslinking to stabilize transient interactions
Antibody orientation: Use pre-clearing steps and optimize antibody-to-bead ratios
Protein extraction optimization: Different detergents and salt concentrations may be necessary for membrane-associated proteins
Controls: Include IgG controls, input samples, and when possible, genetic controls (knockout mutants)
For example, BAK1 antibodies have been successfully used for co-IP experiments from both crude Arabidopsis extracts and plasma membrane fractions . Similar approaches could be adapted for At3g15140 studies.
Recombinant antibody technology offers significant advantages for generating improved At3g15140 antibodies with enhanced specificity and novel functionalities:
Intrabodies: Recombinant antibodies expressed intracellularly can be used as genetically encoded tools to control protein function directly within plant cells
Nanobodies and scFvs: Smaller antibody fragments that can access epitopes that might be inaccessible to conventional antibodies
Renewable sources: Unlike traditional polyclonal antibodies, recombinant antibodies provide a renewable resource with consistent properties
Engineered specificity: Antibody engineering can enhance specificity for particular epitopes or post-translational modifications
These approaches could be particularly valuable for studying At3g15140 protein interactions, conformational changes, or for targeting specific protein domains.
Detecting post-translational modifications (PTMs) of At3g15140 requires specialized approaches:
Phosphorylation-specific antibodies: If At3g15140 is a kinase substrate, phospho-specific antibodies may be generated against predicted phosphorylation sites
Sample preparation: Include phosphatase inhibitors during extraction to preserve phosphorylation status
Enrichment strategies: Use phospho-enrichment techniques (e.g., TiO2 columns) before antibody detection
Validation: Confirm PTM sites through mass spectrometry before antibody generation
Controls: Include samples treated with phosphatases or other enzymes that remove specific PTMs
For comprehensive PTM analysis, combining immunological techniques with mass spectrometry approaches will provide the most definitive results.
Proper storage and handling of antibodies significantly impact their performance and longevity. For optimal results with At3g15140 antibodies:
Store lyophilized antibody at -20°C until reconstitution
Reconstitute in sterile water or appropriate buffer as recommended
After reconstitution, make small aliquots to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles
Store reconstituted antibodies at -20°C
Briefly centrifuge tubes before opening to avoid loss of material adhering to the cap or sides
For long-term storage, consider adding glycerol (final concentration 30-50%) to prevent freezing damage
Following these guidelines will help maintain antibody activity and specificity over time.
Different detection methods offer varying sensitivities and applications for At3g15140 analysis:
| Detection Method | Approximate Sensitivity | Best Application | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western blot (chemiluminescence) | 10-100 pg protein | Protein expression levels | Semi-quantitative |
| Western blot (fluorescence) | 1-10 ng protein | Multiplex detection | Requires specialized scanners |
| Protein chips (FAST slides) | 2-3.6 fmol per spot | High-throughput screening | Specialized equipment needed |
| Protein chips (PAA slides) | 0.1-1.8 fmol per spot | High-sensitivity screening | More complex protocol |
| Immunoprecipitation | Depends on antibody affinity | Protein-protein interactions | Buffer optimization required |
| Mass spectrometry after IP | Low ng range | PTM identification | Expensive, specialized equipment |
The choice of method should depend on the specific research question, available equipment, and required sensitivity .
When encountering weak or non-specific signals with At3g15140 antibodies, consider the following troubleshooting approaches:
Protein extraction optimization:
Test different extraction buffers
Include protease inhibitors
Optimize tissue:buffer ratios
Consider subcellular fractionation if the protein is not abundant
Antibody dilution optimization:
Test a range of primary antibody dilutions
Adjust secondary antibody concentrations accordingly
Extend incubation times at 4°C if needed
Blocking optimization:
Wash conditions:
Increase wash duration or number of washes
Adjust detergent concentration in wash buffer
Signal enhancement:
Consider more sensitive detection systems
Use signal enhancers compatible with your detection method
Cross-reactivity of At3g15140 antibodies across plant species depends on protein sequence conservation. When planning experiments with species other than Arabidopsis:
Perform sequence alignment of At3g15140 with potential homologs in the target species
Focus particularly on the regions corresponding to the epitopes recognized by the antibody
If possible, validate antibody performance in each new species empirically
Based on experience with other Arabidopsis antibodies, cross-reactivity might be expected in closely related species but should always be experimentally verified. For example, the BAK1 antibody shows confirmed reactivity with both Arabidopsis thaliana and Solanum lycopersicum, predicted reactivity with Thelungiella halophila, but no reactivity with Hordeum vulgare, Lactuca sativa, Nicotiana benthamiana, or Oryza sativa .