A commercial ARHGEF17/TEM4 antibody cross-reacts with Nuclear Mitotic Apparatus protein 1 (NuMA)

PLoS One. 2022 Jul 1;17(7):e0268848. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268848. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

The Rho family Guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) ARHGEF17 (also known as TEM4) is a large protein with only 3 annotated regions: an N-terminal actin-binding domain, a Rho-specific dbl homology (DH)- pleckstrin homology (PH) type GEF domain and a seven bladed β propeller fold at the C-terminus with unknown function. TEM4 has been implicated in numerous activities that rely on regulation of the cytoskeleton including cell migration, cell-cell junction formation and the spindle assembly checkpoint during mitosis. Here we have assessed the specificity of a TEM4 polyclonal antibody that has been commonly used as a Western blotting and immunocytochemistry probe for TEM4 in mammalian cells. We find that this antibody, in addition to its intended target, cross-reacts with the Nuclear Mitotic Apparatus Protein 1 (NuMA) in Western blotting and immunoprecipitation, and detects NuMA preferentially in immunocytochemistry. This cross-reactivity, with an abundant chromatin- and mitotic spindle-associated factor, is likely to affect the interpretation of experiments that make use of this antibody probe, in particular by immunocytochemistry and immunoprecipitation.

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antibodies* / immunology
  • Cell Cycle Proteins* / immunology
  • Mammals
  • Microtubules / metabolism
  • Mitosis
  • Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors* / immunology
  • Spindle Apparatus* / metabolism

Substances

  • Actins
  • Antibodies
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors