The identifier "SPAC22G7.11c" corresponds to a genomic locus in Schizosaccharomyces pombe (fission yeast), annotated as a conserved protein-coding gene involved in cell wall biosynthesis . This gene is distinct from human CD11c (ITGAX), a well-characterized integrin subunit targeted by antibodies like ab52632 .
Key distinctions:
The SPAC22G7.11c gene product interacts with Sup11p, a protein critical for β-1,6-glucan synthesis and septum formation in fission yeast . While no direct antibodies against SPAC22G7.11c are reported, related studies use:
The absence of SPAC22G7.11c-specific antibodies likely stems from:
Limited commercial demand: Fission yeast proteins often lack antibody development pipelines compared to human targets.
Functional redundancy: SPAC22G7.11c’s role overlaps with other glucan-modifying enzymes, reducing prioritization for reagent development .
Sequence conservation: Homology to Saccharomyces cerevisiae Kre9 complicates species-specific antibody design .
Researchers studying SPAC22G7.11c employ indirect methods:
Genetic knockouts: To assess β-1,6-glucan defects in sup11Δ mutants
Mass spectrometry: For post-translational modification analysis
Custom antibody production: Immunize with SPAC22G7.11c-derived peptides (e.g., residues 50-150 lacking homology to Kre9).
CRISPR tagging: Endogenous tagging with HA/FLAG for existing antibody compatibility.
Structural studies: Cryo-EM of SPAC22G7.11c-Sup11p complexes to identify immunogenic epitopes.
SPAC22G7.11c appears to be a gene in S. pombe based on its systematic naming convention. Developing antibodies against its protein product enables researchers to study its expression, cellular localization, protein interactions, and potential roles in cellular processes. For chromatin-associated proteins in S. pombe, such as those mentioned in research studies, antibodies allow investigation of their roles in processes like nucleosome architecture, DNA damage response, and cell cycle regulation .
Methodologically, researchers would typically:
Express recombinant SPAC22G7.11c protein or peptides
Immunize animals (rabbits, mice, rats) to generate polyclonal antibodies
Alternatively, use phage display technology to develop fully human antibodies
Screen and validate antibodies for specificity against the target protein
Proper validation is critical to ensure experimental reproducibility and reliable results:
Western blot comparison between wild-type and SPAC22G7.11c deletion strains
Epitope mapping to confirm binding to expected protein regions
Cross-reactivity testing against related proteins
Applications-specific validation (e.g., IP, ChIP, IF)
Verification through alternative detection methods (e.g., tagged proteins)
Similar validation approaches were used in studies of monoclonal antibodies, where newly identified antibodies were tested for specific binding to cell surface-associated targets in multiple cell lines through ELISA and flow cytometry .
| Application | Purpose | Key Optimization Parameters |
|---|---|---|
| Western Blotting | Protein detection and quantification | Extraction buffer, antibody dilution, incubation time |
| Immunoprecipitation | Protein complex isolation | Lysis conditions, antibody amount, wash stringency |
| ChIP/ChIP-seq | DNA-protein interaction mapping | Crosslinking time, sonication, antibody specificity |
| Immunofluorescence | Subcellular localization | Fixation method, permeabilization, antibody concentration |
| Flow Cytometry | Quantitative protein analysis | Cell preparation, antibody titration, appropriate controls |
These applications are particularly relevant for studying chromatin-associated proteins in S. pombe, as demonstrated in research on chromatin regulators like Abo1 and HIRA, where techniques such as ChIP were employed to assess their impact on nucleosome architecture .
Optimization for Western blotting with SPAC22G7.11c antibodies should consider:
Cell lysis: Glass bead disruption in buffer containing protease inhibitors to preserve protein integrity
Protein loading: 20-40 μg total protein per lane for standard detection
Transfer parameters: 100V for 1 hour (wet transfer) for efficient protein transfer
Blocking: 5% non-fat milk or 3% BSA in TBST (test both for optimal signal-to-noise ratio)
Primary antibody incubation: Typically 1:1000 dilution overnight at 4°C
Detection system: Select based on required sensitivity (ECL for standard detection, fluorescence for quantification)
When developing antibodies against specific targets, researchers have found that different antibody formats (Fab, IgG, scFv) may show varying binding profiles against the same antigen, which should be considered during protocol optimization .
For effective ChIP experiments with SPAC22G7.11c antibodies:
Crosslinking: Optimize formaldehyde concentration (1-3%) and time (5-20 minutes)
Chromatin fragmentation: Sonicate to generate 200-500 bp fragments, verify fragmentation by gel
Immunoprecipitation: Use 2-5 μg antibody per IP reaction, incubate overnight at 4°C
Washing: Include stringent washes to reduce background
Elution and reversal: 65°C for 4-6 hours to reverse crosslinks
Controls: Include input DNA, IgG control, and when possible, a SPAC22G7.11c deletion strain
This approach aligns with methodologies used for studying chromatin regulators in S. pombe, where ChIP techniques were applied to understand the impact of proteins like Abo1 on global nucleosome architecture .
Key considerations for immunofluorescence in S. pombe include:
Cell wall digestion: Enzymatic treatment with zymolyase to enhance antibody accessibility
Fixation: Test both formaldehyde (3-4%) and methanol fixation methods
Permeabilization: Optimized Triton X-100 concentration (0.1-0.5%)
Antibody concentration: Typically higher than Western blot (1:100 to 1:500)
Controls: Include SPAC22G7.11c deletion strains and secondary-only controls
Counterstaining: DAPI for nuclei visualization, phalloidin for cell shape reference
Proper subcellular localization can provide insights into protein function, similar to how flow cytometry assays were used to demonstrate specific binding of antibodies to cell surface targets in research studies .
Epitope mapping strategies include:
ELISA with overlapping peptides spanning the SPAC22G7.11c sequence
Domain-specific recombinant fragments expressed and purified for binding assays
Competitive binding assays with defined peptides
Alanine scanning mutagenesis of key residues
Advanced structural approaches (hydrogen-deuterium exchange MS, X-ray crystallography)
This approach is conceptually similar to methods described for epitope mapping of anti-CD22 antibodies, where researchers expressed protein fragments containing different domains and evaluated them in ELISA to determine binding epitopes within specific regions of the target protein .
To improve antibody specificity:
Affinity purification against recombinant SPAC22G7.11c protein
Pre-absorption with lysates from deletion strains
Epitope-specific purification using peptide columns
Consider developing recombinant antibodies using phage display technology
In silico analysis to identify unique epitopes for targeted antibody generation
Phage display methodology has been successfully used to identify highly specific antibodies, such as those against CD22, where researchers isolated dominant clones through multiple rounds of panning and screening to obtain antibodies with distinct epitopes and binding characteristics .
For interaction studies:
| Method | Principle | Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-immunoprecipitation | Pull-down of protein complexes | Preserves native interactions | May miss transient interactions |
| Proximity ligation | In situ detection of nearby proteins | Visualizes interactions in intact cells | Requires high antibody specificity |
| ChIP-reChIP | Sequential IP of protein complexes on DNA | Identifies co-occupancy on chromatin | Technically challenging |
| FRET/BRET | Energy transfer between labeled proteins | Quantitative, real-time | Requires protein tagging |
| Mass spectrometry | Identification of co-purified proteins | Unbiased discovery | Requires highly specific antibodies |
These approaches would be particularly relevant for chromatin-associated proteins, where identifying interaction partners can provide insights into regulatory mechanisms, similar to studies that investigated the physical interaction between chromatin factors and histone chaperones .
Common issues and solutions:
Protein extraction: Ensure complete cell lysis using optimized protocols for yeast cells
Epitope accessibility: Test different denaturing conditions or sample preparation methods
Antibody concentration: Perform titration experiments to determine optimal concentration
Incubation conditions: Extend incubation time or adjust temperature
Detection sensitivity: Use enhanced chemiluminescence or amplification systems
Protein abundance: Consider enrichment steps for low-abundance proteins
When working with antibodies against cell surface proteins, researchers have found that different antibody formats (Fab vs IgG) can show significant differences in binding effectiveness, suggesting that format considerations are important for optimizing signal detection .
When facing conflicting data:
Consider epitope accessibility differences between techniques (native vs. denatured conditions)
Evaluate method-specific limitations (sensitivity thresholds, background issues)
Assess protein modifications that might affect antibody recognition in different contexts
Verify results with alternative antibodies targeting different epitopes
Use complementary non-antibody methods (tagged proteins, mass spectrometry)
Consider native conformation differences in various experimental conditions
Complementary approaches are often necessary, as demonstrated in studies where both ELISA and flow cytometry were used to confirm binding characteristics of antibodies to their targets .
For accurate quantification:
Western blot: Densitometry with standard curves using recombinant protein
Fluorescence-based detection: Digital imaging with appropriate controls
ELISA: Absorbance measurements calibrated against standards
Flow cytometry: Mean fluorescence intensity measurements
Image analysis: Integrated density measurements for immunofluorescence
Statistical validation: Multiple biological and technical replicates
Proper quantification is essential for understanding protein functions in different cellular contexts, such as how the expression or localization of chromatin regulators might change during processes like DNA damage response or quiescence in S. pombe .
Modern computational approaches include:
Homology modeling to predict antibody structure from sequence
De novo CDR loop conformation prediction for optimized binding
Ensemble protein-protein docking to predict antibody-antigen interactions
Structure characterization to identify potential liabilities
In silico engineering to improve affinity, selectivity, and stability
These computational tools allow researchers to construct reliable 3D structural models directly from sequence and predict antibody-antigen complex structures through ensemble protein-protein docking, significantly accelerating antibody design and optimization .
Emerging alternatives include:
CUT&RUN/CUT&Tag: Improved sensitivity and specificity over traditional ChIP
Nanobodies: Smaller binding proteins with enhanced tissue penetration
Aptamers: Nucleic acid-based binding molecules with high specificity
Protein tagging: CRISPR-mediated endogenous tagging for direct visualization
Proximity-dependent labeling: BioID or APEX2 for interactome mapping
Single-cell protein analysis: Detecting protein expression heterogeneity
These alternative approaches can complement antibody-based methods and may overcome limitations in certain experimental contexts, providing more comprehensive insights into protein function and regulation.
Advanced chromatin studies could include:
ChIP-seq combined with ATAC-seq to correlate protein binding with chromatin accessibility
Hi-ChIP to connect protein binding with 3D genome organization
Live-cell imaging with antibody fragments to track dynamics
Single-molecule approaches to study protein residence time on chromatin
Mass spectrometry of immunoprecipitated chromatin to identify associated factors
These approaches would be particularly relevant for proteins similar to the chromatin regulators studied in S. pombe, where understanding their impact on nucleosome architecture and chromatin organization provides insights into their roles in processes like gene regulation and DNA damage response .