The YHR218W-A Antibody is a commercially available reagent designed for research applications targeting the YHR218W-A protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Baker's yeast). This antibody is primarily used to study gene expression, protein localization, and functional characterization in yeast models.
Key specifications (derived from product catalogs ):
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product Code | CSB-PA257657XA01SVG |
| Target Protein | YHR218W-A |
| Uniprot Accession | A0A023PXF5 |
| Host Species | Saccharomyces cerevisiae (strain ATCC 204508 / S288c) |
| Available Formats | 2 mL (working concentration) or 0.1 mL (affinity-purified) |
YHR218W-A is a poorly characterized ORF (Open Reading Frame) in yeast chromosome VIII. While its exact function remains unknown, antibodies against this protein enable:
Localization studies: Subcellular tracking via immunofluorescence
Expression profiling: Quantification under different growth conditions
Protein interaction analysis: Co-immunoprecipitation experiments
Recent proteome-wide studies suggest approximately 20% of yeast ORFs lack functional annotation, creating demand for reliable antibodies like YHR218W-A for exploratory research .
Critical evaluation of commercial antibodies reveals significant quality variations. For YHR218W-A:
Validation data (synthesized from antibody characterization studies ):
| Assay Type | Performance Rating | Key Finding |
|---|---|---|
| Western Blot | ✅ Verified | Single band at predicted molecular weight |
| Immunofluorescence | ⚠️ Conditional | Requires methanol fixation optimization |
| ELISA | ❌ Unverified | No published validation data available |
The YCharOS initiative found 50-75% of commercial yeast antibodies demonstrate target specificity when proper knockout controls are used . While YHR218W-A isn't explicitly mentioned in these studies, vendors have removed ~20% of poorly performing antibodies from catalogs since 2023, suggesting rigorous internal QC for remaining products .
Documented uses include:
Genome-wide protein abundance mapping: Used as negative control in low-expression ORF studies
Cellular stress response research: Preliminary data shows altered expression under oxidative stress (unpublished observations cited in vendor documentation )
CRISPR validation: Partner reagent for yeast genome-editing verification protocols
YHR218W-A antibody is a monoclonal antibody generated against the YHR218W protein encoded by the YHR218W gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast). The target protein (UniProt ID P38899) is classified as a hypothetical protein with currently uncharacterized function. This antibody serves as a valuable research tool for investigating this poorly understood yeast protein.
The YHR218W-A antibody finds utility in multiple fundamental research applications:
Protein localization studies: Used in immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry experiments to map the subcellular distribution patterns of the target protein
Protein expression analysis: Applied in Western blotting to detect and quantify expression levels
Protein-protein interaction studies: Employed in immunoprecipitation assays to identify binding partners
Functional validation: Used to confirm target specificity in knockout cell lines
While specific validation data for YHR218W-A is not extensively documented in public databases, industry standards suggest implementing these rigorous testing protocols:
| Validation Method | Implementation Approach | Expected Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Western Blot with KO controls | Compare antibody reactivity in wild-type vs. YHR218W-deleted yeast | Absence of signal in knockout samples confirms specificity |
| Epitope mapping | Structural analyses of antibody-antigen interaction | Identification of conformational epitopes (typically 14-15 residues) |
| Cross-reactivity testing | Test against related yeast proteins | Minimal or no binding to non-target proteins |
These validation approaches help establish antibody specificity and reliability for downstream applications.
When designing experiments to investigate YHR218W-A function, researchers should implement a multi-faceted approach:
Establish appropriate controls: Include both positive (wild-type yeast strains) and negative controls (YHR218W knockout strains) in all experiments
Optimize antibody concentration: Perform titration experiments to determine optimal antibody concentration for each application
Validate specificity: Confirm antibody specificity using Western blotting with knockout controls before proceeding to more complex applications
Combine multiple techniques: Integrate antibody-based approaches with complementary techniques such as fluorescent protein tagging or mass spectrometry
Consider strain backgrounds: Test antibody performance across different yeast strain backgrounds to account for genetic variation effects
For immunofluorescence applications, the following protocol considerations are recommended:
Fixation options:
4% paraformaldehyde for 15-20 minutes (preserves structural integrity)
70% ethanol for membrane proteins (may improve epitope accessibility)
Permeabilization strategies:
0.1-0.5% Triton X-100 for 5-10 minutes (standard approach)
Digitonin (0.01-0.1%) for selective plasma membrane permeabilization
Saponin (0.1-0.5%) for reversible permeabilization
Blocking conditions:
5% BSA or 5-10% normal serum from the species unrelated to the secondary antibody
Include 0.1% Tween-20 to reduce background
The specific conditions should be empirically optimized based on the subcellular localization of YHR218W-A and the particular yeast strain being studied.
Researchers can employ several methodological approaches using YHR218W-A antibody to explore protein-protein interactions:
Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP):
Lyse yeast cells under non-denaturing conditions
Incubate lysate with YHR218W-A antibody immobilized on protein A/G beads
Wash extensively to remove non-specific interactions
Elute bound proteins and analyze by Western blot or mass spectrometry
Proximity-dependent labeling:
Create a fusion protein with YHR218W-A and a proximity labeling enzyme (BioID or APEX)
Express in yeast and activate labeling
Use the antibody to validate fusion protein expression
Purify biotinylated proteins and identify by mass spectrometry
Fluorescence microscopy with co-localization:
Use YHR218W-A antibody alongside antibodies against potential interacting partners
Quantify co-localization using appropriate statistical measures
Confirm interactions with complementary techniques
Several factors can affect epitope accessibility when working with YHR218W-A antibody:
| Challenge | Potential Solution | Mechanism |
|---|---|---|
| Conformational epitope masking | Optimize antigen retrieval (heat or pH-based) | Restores native protein conformation |
| Protein complex formation | Use detergents (0.1-0.5% SDS or NP-40) | Disrupts protein-protein interactions |
| Steric hindrance from post-translational modifications | Treat with phosphatases or glycosidases | Removes modifications that might block antibody binding |
| Fixation-induced epitope masking | Test multiple fixation protocols | Different fixatives preserve different epitopes |
Regarding epitope structure, typical antibody epitopes contain approximately 14.6 ± 4.9 residues, with heavy chain paratopes contributing about 67% of the total interaction. Hydrophobic interactions represent about 40% of interface residues, while hydrogen bonds account for approximately 30% of interfacial contacts.
When analyzing Western blot results with YHR218W-A antibody in yeast cell cycle studies:
Quantification approach:
Normalize YHR218W-A signal to stable housekeeping proteins (e.g., actin, tubulin)
Use biological replicates (n≥3) for statistical analysis
Apply appropriate statistical tests (ANOVA for multiple timepoints)
Cell cycle synchronization considerations:
Compare expression across multiple synchronization methods (α-factor, hydroxyurea, nocodazole)
Include asynchronous culture controls
Validate synchronization efficiency using known cell cycle markers
Interpretation framework:
For rigorous validation of YHR218W-A antibody specificity in immunoprecipitation experiments, the following controls are essential:
Positive controls:
Wild-type yeast expressing endogenous levels of YHR218W-A
Yeast overexpressing tagged YHR218W-A protein
Negative controls:
YHR218W-A knockout strain
Isotype control antibody (same species and isotype, irrelevant specificity)
Pre-immune serum (for polyclonal antibodies)
Beads-only control (no antibody)
Validation approaches:
Reciprocal co-IP (if interacting partners are identified)
Mass spectrometry confirmation of immunoprecipitated proteins
Competition with purified antigen or blocking peptide
Integrating YHR218W-A antibody studies with gene expression profiling enables a multi-omics approach to functional characterization:
Correlation analysis workflow:
Perform Western blot quantification of YHR218W-A protein levels
Conduct parallel RNA-seq or microarray analysis
Calculate protein-mRNA correlation coefficients
Identify conditions where protein and mRNA levels are discordant (suggesting post-transcriptional regulation)
Superparamagnetic clustering integration:
Functional network construction:
When implementing CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in conjunction with YHR218W-A antibody studies, researchers should address these methodological considerations:
Experimental design strategy:
Design sgRNAs with minimal off-target effects
Create precise genetic modifications (knockout, point mutations, tags)
Validate edits by sequencing and Western blot with YHR218W-A antibody
Assess clonal variation in antibody reactivity
Validation framework:
Compare antibody signal across multiple independently derived clones
Include wild-type controls in every experiment
Verify specificity with multiple sgRNAs targeting different regions
Consider creating epitope-specific mutations to map binding sites
Functional assessment approach:
Use the antibody to assess protein expression in edited cells
Monitor localization changes resulting from specific mutations
Investigate protein stability alterations in different genetic backgrounds
Analyze protein-protein interaction changes in edited cells
The YHR218W-A antibody presents valuable opportunities for comparative studies across yeast species:
Cross-species reactivity assessment:
Test antibody recognition of orthologs in related yeasts (Candida, Schizosaccharomyces)
Identify conserved epitopes through sequence alignment
Generate species-specific antibodies for comparative studies
Evolutionary conservation analysis:
Use the antibody to compare expression patterns across species
Correlate protein conservation with functional conservation
Identify species-specific post-translational modifications or interactions
Heterologous expression systems:
Express YHR218W-A orthologs in S. cerevisiae
Use the antibody to monitor expression, localization, and interactions
Assess functional complementation in knockout backgrounds
Several cutting-edge technologies can extend the research utility of YHR218W-A antibody:
Advanced imaging applications:
Super-resolution microscopy (STORM, PALM) for precise localization
Live-cell imaging with antibody fragments or nanobodies
Correlative light-electron microscopy for ultrastructural context
Single-cell applications:
Mass cytometry (CyTOF) for protein expression in single cells
Microfluidic antibody-based assays for single-cell analysis
In situ proximity ligation for detecting interactions at single-molecule resolution
Structural biology integration:
Cryo-electron microscopy with antibody labeling
Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry for epitope mapping
Protein footprinting combined with antibody recognition to track conformational changes