Development and precise characterization of phospho-site-specific antibody of Ser(357) of IRS-1: elimination of cross reactivity with adjacent Ser(358).

Antibodies that recognize specifically phosphorylated sites on proteins are widely utilized for studying the regulation and biological function of phosphoproteins. The proposed strategy is a powerful, analytical tool allowing the generation of phospho-site specific antibodies albeit adjacent phosphorylation sites are present. Here, we demonstrate the assessment and elimination of cross reactivity of phospho-site-specific-Ser(357) IRS-1 antibody. While determining the specificity of p-Ser(357) antiserum we came across the cross reactivity of the antiserum with adjacent Ser(358) which was successfully abolished by an improved immuno-purification method. The specificity of the purified antiserum was then verified by indirect ELISA, results of ELISA were also mirrored in the experiments carried out in BHK-IR cells using different mutants of IRS-1 carrying mutations at either Ser(357)/Ser(358)/Ser(357/358). Immuno-purified-p-Ser(357) did not react with IRS-1 Ala(357) and IRS-1 Ala(357/358). In conclusion, the present study describes generation and characterization of p-Ser(357) IRS-1 antibody, which reacts with IRS-1 in site specific and phosphorylation state-dependent manner without showing cross reactivity to adjacent Ser(358). This antibody can be effectively used to further clarify the inhibitory role of Ser(357) in insulin signal transduction.