Great Antibody to Stain Cochlear and Vestibular Hair Cells

December 16, 2015

Neurobiology
Harvard Medical School
Postdoctoral Fellow

Overall

Quality of Results

Ease-of-Optimization

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Company:

Proteus Biosciences Inc

Product Name:

Myosin-VIIa, Rabbit Polyclonal Antibody

Catalog Number:

25-6790

We are interested in hair cell function and hair cell gene delivery. We use different viral vectors to introduce DNA to cochlear hair cells with the aim to study basic biology and to develop therapies for various forms of hearing loss. Hair cells in the vestibular system are also important targets. It is very important to use a specific antibody to stain for hair cells when determining the rate of gene delivery. The cochlea is a very complex organ with many different cell types. We selected this product, because myosin VIIa is selectively expressed in hair cells and would allow discrimination from other cell types.

Experimental Design and Results Summary

Applications

Immunofluorescence

Sample

Whole cochlear organ from mice

Primary Incubation

1:500, overnight at 4C in blocking solution (10% normal goat serum, 0.1% Triton)

Blocking Agent

10% normal goat serum, 0.3% Triton, for antibody incubation we use 0.1% Triton

Secondary Incubation

For secondary antibody, we use anti-rabbit IgG (kappa+lambda) from Life Technologies, 1:1000 in blocking solution for 1h at room temperature

Tertiary Incubation

None

Detection

Secondary antibody is labelled with Alexa488/Alexa594/Alexa647

Results Summary

The antibody works great and is really specific to hair cells in the cochlea and vestibular system. Overnight incubation is important. It will provide a bright enough signal that is detected in the far-red channel. Specific, bright, easy to use.

Additional Notes

None

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Summary

The Good

Specific, bright, easy to use.

The Bad

There is only rabbit available. Researches would love to have the same antibody from other species as well, for combination of other antibodies.

The Bottom Line

This is a great antibody that could be used in any inner ear research group. Unfortunately it is only available from rabbit

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