T7 Antibodies

T7 antibodies are highly specific polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies designed to recognize and bind to the T7 tag, a short peptide sequence derived from the bacteriophage T7 gene 10. This tag, consisting of a 9 or 11 amino acid sequence (MASMTGGQQMG), is commonly fused to recombinant proteins to facilitate their detection, purification, and characterization. T7 antibodies are widely employed in various biochemical and molecular biology applications due to their ability to specifically recognize T7-tagged proteins.

Application and Mechanism

The T7 tag serves as an epitope tag that is recognized by anti-T7 antibodies, enabling researchers to isolate, detect, or analyze T7-tagged recombinant proteins. These antibodies are typically used in immunoprecipitation, Western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), and immunofluorescence assays. They are also applied in affinity purification of T7-tagged proteins via immunoprecipitation methods using protein A/G-based magnetic or agarose beads.

Key Considerations for T7 Antibody Use

• Buffer Conditions: Optimal binding and detection conditions for T7 antibodies depend on the buffer used. For Western blotting, Tris-glycine or Tris-buffered saline with Tween (TBST) is commonly employed. In immunoprecipitation, buffers compatible with protein A or G, such as phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), are preferred.
• Cross-reactivity: T7 antibodies are highly specific for the T7 epitope and exhibit minimal cross-reactivity with other cellular proteins. However, careful consideration must be given to the experimental design to avoid background noise or non-specific binding in complex protein mixtures.
• Antibody Dilution: The dilution factor of the T7 antibody varies depending on the application and antibody concentration. For Western blotting, dilutions between 1:1,000 and 1:10,000 are typical, whereas for immunoprecipitation, higher concentrations may be required.
• Detection Methods: For Western blotting, T7 antibodies are often used in conjunction with horseradish peroxidase (HRP)- or alkaline phosphatase (AP)-conjugated secondary antibodies for chemiluminescent or colorimetric detection, respectively.

T7 antibodies are essential tools in molecular biology and biochemistry for the detection and purification of T7-tagged proteins. Their high specificity, coupled with their ability to perform in various experimental platforms, makes them indispensable for researchers working with epitope-tagged recombinant proteins.