ZO-3 Antibody (Rabbit mAb) [C8F20]

Application: Reactivity: Human

Lane 1: Caco2, Lane 2: MCF7

Experiment Essentials

WB
Recommended SDS-PAGE separating gel concentration: 5%.
Recommended WB dilution ratio: 1:100000

Usage Information

Dilution
WB1:1000 IF1:250

Application
WB, IF

Reactivity
Human

Source
Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody

Storage Buffer
PBS, pH 7.2+50% Glycerol+0.05% BSA+0.01% NaN3

Storage (from the date of receipt)
-20°C (avoid freeze-thaw cycles), 2 years

Predicted MW
101 kDa

Positive Control	Caco2 cells; MCF7 cells
Negative Control

Experimental Methods

WB
Experimental Protocol: Sample preparation 1. Tissue: Lyse the tissue sample by adding an appropriate volume of ice-cold RIPA/NP-40 Lysis Buffer (containing Protease Inhibitor Cocktail)，and homogenize the tissue at a low temperature or lyse it by sonication on ice, then incubate on ice for 30 minutes. 2. Adherent cell: Aspirate the culture medium and wash the cells with ice-cold PBS twice. Lyse the cells by adding an appropriate volume of RIPA/NP-40 Lysis Buffer (containing Protease Inhibitor Cocktail) , sonicate to lyse the cells, and incubate on ice for 30 minutes. 3. Suspension cell: Transfer the culture medium to a pre-cooled centrifuge tube. Centrifuge and aspirate the supernatant. Wash the cells with ice-cold PBS twice. Lyse the cells by adding an appropriate volume of RIPA/NP-40 Lysis Buffer (containing Protease Inhibitor Cocktail) , sonicate to lyse the cells, and incubate on ice for 30 minutes. 4. Place the lysate into a pre-cooled microcentrifuge tube. Centrifuge at 4°C for 15 min. Collect the supernatant; 5. Remove a small volume of lysate to determine the protein concentration; 6. Combine the lysate with protein loading buffer. Boil 20 µL sample under 95-100°C for 5 min. Centrifuge for 5 min after cool down on ice. Electrophoretic separation 1. According to the concentration of extracted protein, load appropriate amount of protein sample and marker onto SDS-PAGE gels for electrophoresis. Recommended separating gel (lower gel) concentration: 5%. Reference Table for Selecting SDS-PAGE Separation Gel Concentrations 2. Power up 80V for 30 minutes. Then the power supply is adjusted (110 V~150 V), the Marker is observed, and the electrophoresis can be stopped when the indicator band of the predyed protein Marker where the protein is located is properly separated. (Note that the current should not be too large when electrophoresis, too large current (more than 150 mA) will cause the temperature to rise, affecting the result of running glue. If high currents cannot be avoided, an ice bath can be used to cool the bath.) Transfer membrane 1. Take out the converter, soak the clip and consumables in the pre-cooled converter; 2. Activate PVDF membrane with methanol for 1 min and rinse with transfer buffer; 3. Install it in the order of "black edge of clip - sponge - filter paper - filter paper - glue -PVDF membrane - filter paper - filter paper - sponge - white edge of clip"; 4. The protein was electrotransferred to PVDF membrane. ( 0.45 µm PVDF membrane is recommended ) Reference Table for Selecting PVDF Membrane Pore Size Specifications Recommended conditions for wet transfer: 200 mA, 120 min. ( Note that the transfer conditions can be adjusted according to the protein size. For high-molecular-weight proteins, a higher current and longer transfer time are recommended. However, ensure that the transfer tank remains at a low temperature to prevent gel melting.) Block 1. After electrotransfer, wash the film with TBST at room temperature for 5 minutes; 2. Incubate the film in the blocking solution for 1 hour at room temperature; 3. Wash the film with TBST for 3 times, 5 minutes each time. Antibody incubation 1. Use primary antibody dilution buffer to prepare the primary antibody working liquid (recommended dilution ratio for primary antibody 1:100000), gently shake and incubate with the film at 4°C overnight; 2. Wash the film with TBST 3 times, 5 minutes each time; 3. Add the secondary antibody to the blocking solution and incubate with the film gently at room temperature for 1 hour; 4. After incubation, wash the film with TBST 3 times for 5 minutes each time. Antibody staining 1. Add the prepared ECL luminescent substrate (or select other color developing substrate according to the second antibody) and mix evenly; 2. Incubate with the film for 1 minute, remove excess substrate (keep the film moist), wrap with plastic film, and expose in the imaging system.

WB

Experimental Protocol:

Sample preparation

1. Tissue: Lyse the tissue sample by adding an appropriate volume of ice-cold RIPA/NP-40 Lysis Buffer (containing Protease Inhibitor Cocktail)，and homogenize the tissue at a low temperature or lyse it by sonication on ice, then incubate on ice for 30 minutes.

2. Adherent cell: Aspirate the culture medium and wash the cells with ice-cold PBS twice. Lyse the cells by adding an appropriate volume of RIPA/NP-40 Lysis Buffer (containing Protease Inhibitor Cocktail) , sonicate to lyse the cells, and incubate on ice for 30 minutes.

3. Suspension cell: Transfer the culture medium to a pre-cooled centrifuge tube. Centrifuge and aspirate the supernatant. Wash the cells with ice-cold PBS twice. Lyse the cells by adding an appropriate volume of RIPA/NP-40 Lysis Buffer (containing Protease Inhibitor Cocktail) , sonicate to lyse the cells, and incubate on ice for 30 minutes.

4. Place the lysate into a pre-cooled microcentrifuge tube. Centrifuge at 4°C for 15 min. Collect the supernatant;

5. Remove a small volume of lysate to determine the protein concentration;

6. Combine the lysate with protein loading buffer. Boil 20 µL sample under 95-100°C for 5 min. Centrifuge for 5 min after cool down on ice.

Electrophoretic separation

1. According to the concentration of extracted protein, load appropriate amount of protein sample and marker onto SDS-PAGE gels for electrophoresis. Recommended separating gel (lower gel) concentration: 5%. Reference Table for Selecting SDS-PAGE Separation Gel Concentrations

2. Power up 80V for 30 minutes. Then the power supply is adjusted (110 V~150 V), the Marker is observed, and the electrophoresis can be stopped when the indicator band of the predyed protein Marker where the protein is located is properly separated. (Note that the current should not be too large when electrophoresis, too large current (more than 150 mA) will cause the temperature to rise, affecting the result of running glue. If high currents cannot be avoided, an ice bath can be used to cool the bath.)

Transfer membrane

1. Take out the converter, soak the clip and consumables in the pre-cooled converter;

2. Activate PVDF membrane with methanol for 1 min and rinse with transfer buffer;

3. Install it in the order of "black edge of clip - sponge - filter paper - filter paper - glue -PVDF membrane - filter paper - filter paper - sponge - white edge of clip";

4. The protein was electrotransferred to PVDF membrane. ( 0.45 µm PVDF membrane is recommended ) Reference Table for Selecting PVDF Membrane Pore Size Specifications

Recommended conditions for wet transfer: 200 mA, 120 min.

( Note that the transfer conditions can be adjusted according to the protein size. For high-molecular-weight proteins, a higher current and longer transfer time are recommended. However, ensure that the transfer tank remains at a low temperature to prevent gel melting.)

Block

1. After electrotransfer, wash the film with TBST at room temperature for 5 minutes;

2. Incubate the film in the blocking solution for 1 hour at room temperature;

3. Wash the film with TBST for 3 times, 5 minutes each time.

Antibody incubation

1. Use primary antibody dilution buffer to prepare the primary antibody working liquid (recommended dilution ratio for primary antibody 1:100000), gently shake and incubate with the film at 4°C overnight;

2. Wash the film with TBST 3 times, 5 minutes each time;

3. Add the secondary antibody to the blocking solution and incubate with the film gently at room temperature for 1 hour;

4. After incubation, wash the film with TBST 3 times for 5 minutes each time.

Antibody staining

1. Add the prepared ECL luminescent substrate (or select other color developing substrate according to the second antibody) and mix evenly;

2. Incubate with the film for 1 minute, remove excess substrate (keep the film moist), wrap with plastic film, and expose in the imaging system.

IF
Experimental Protocol: Sample Preparation 1. Adherent Cells: Place a clean, sterile coverslip in a culture dish. Once the cells grow to near confluence as a monolayer, remove the coverslip for further use. 2. Suspension Cells: Seed the cells onto a clean, sterile slide coated with poly-L-lysine. 3. Frozen Sections: Allow the slide to thaw at room temperature. Wash it with pure water or PBS for 2 times, 3 minutes each time. 4. Paraffin Sections: Deparaffinization and rehydration. Wash the slide with pure water or PBS for 3 times, 3 minutes each time. Then perform antigen retrieval. Fixation 1. Fix the cell coverslips/spots or tissue sections at room temperature using a fixative such as 4% paraformaldehyde (4% PFA) for 10-15 minutes. 2. Wash the sample with PBS for 3 times, 3 minutes each time. Permeabilization 1.Add a detergent such as 0.1–0.3% Triton X-100 to the sample and incubate at room temperature for 10–20 minutes. (Note: This step is only required for intracellular antigens. For antigens expressed on the cell membrane, this step is unnecessary.) Wash the sample with PBS for 3 times, 3 minutes each time. Blocking Add blocking solution and incubate at room temperature for at least 1 hour. (Common blocking solutions include: serum from the same source as the secondary antibody, BSA, or goat serum.) Note: Ensure the sample remains moist during and after the blocking step to prevent drying, which can lead to high background. Immunofluorescence Staining (Day 1) 1. Remove the blocking solution and add the diluted primary antibody. 2. Incubate the sample in a humidified chamber at 4°C overnight. Immunofluorescence Staining (Day 2) 1. Remove the primary antibody and wash with PBST for 3 times, 5 minutes each time. 2. Add the diluted fluorescent secondary antibody and incubate in the dark at 4°C for 1–2 hours. 3. Remove the secondary antibody and wash with PBST for 3 times, 5 minutes each time. 4. Add diluted DAPI and incubate at room temperature in the dark for 5–10 minutes. 5. Wash with PBST for 3 times, 5 minutes each time. Mounting 1. Mount the sample with an anti-fade mounting medium. 2. Allow the slide to dry at room temperature overnight in the dark. 3. Store the slide in a slide storage box at 4°C, protected from light.

IF

Experimental Protocol:

Sample Preparation

1. Adherent Cells: Place a clean, sterile coverslip in a culture dish. Once the cells grow to near confluence as a monolayer, remove the coverslip for further use.

2. Suspension Cells: Seed the cells onto a clean, sterile slide coated with poly-L-lysine.

3. Frozen Sections: Allow the slide to thaw at room temperature. Wash it with pure water or PBS for 2 times, 3 minutes each time.

4. Paraffin Sections: Deparaffinization and rehydration. Wash the slide with pure water or PBS for 3 times, 3 minutes each time. Then perform antigen retrieval.

Fixation

1. Fix the cell coverslips/spots or tissue sections at room temperature using a fixative such as 4% paraformaldehyde (4% PFA) for 10-15 minutes.

2. Wash the sample with PBS for 3 times, 3 minutes each time.

Permeabilization

1.Add a detergent such as 0.1–0.3% Triton X-100 to the sample and incubate at room temperature for 10–20 minutes.

(Note: This step is only required for intracellular antigens. For antigens expressed on the cell membrane, this step is unnecessary.)

Wash the sample with PBS for 3 times, 3 minutes each time.

Blocking

Add blocking solution and incubate at room temperature for at least 1 hour. (Common blocking solutions include: serum from the same source as the secondary antibody, BSA, or goat serum.)

Note: Ensure the sample remains moist during and after the blocking step to prevent drying, which can lead to high background.

Immunofluorescence Staining (Day 1)

1. Remove the blocking solution and add the diluted primary antibody.

2. Incubate the sample in a humidified chamber at 4°C overnight.

Immunofluorescence Staining (Day 2)

1. Remove the primary antibody and wash with PBST for 3 times, 5 minutes each time.

2. Add the diluted fluorescent secondary antibody and incubate in the dark at 4°C for 1–2 hours.

3. Remove the secondary antibody and wash with PBST for 3 times, 5 minutes each time.

4. Add diluted DAPI and incubate at room temperature in the dark for 5–10 minutes.

5. Wash with PBST for 3 times, 5 minutes each time.

Mounting

1. Mount the sample with an anti-fade mounting medium.

2. Allow the slide to dry at room temperature overnight in the dark.

3. Store the slide in a slide storage box at 4°C, protected from light.

Datasheet & SDS

Biological Description

Specificity
ZO-3 Antibody (Rabbit mAb) [C8F20] detects endogenous levels of total ZO-3 protein.

Subcellular Location
Cell junction, Cell membrane, Membrane, Nucleus, Tight junction

Uniprot ID
O95049

Clone
C8F20

Synonym(s)
ZO3, TJP3, Tight junction protein ZO-3, Tight junction protein 3, Zona occludens protein 3, Zonula occludens protein 3

Background
ZO-3, encoded by TJP3, belongs to the membrane-associated guanylate kinase family of scaffolding proteins alongside its two closely related paralogs, ZO-1 and ZO-2, and shares the same domain architecture common to this family: three PDZ domains arranged in tandem, followed by a single SH3 domain and a guanylate kinase-like domain positioned toward the C-terminus. ZO-3 concentrates at tight junctions in epithelial cells, and its first PDZ domain, PDZ1, binds directly and specifically to the conserved C-terminal YV dipeptide sequence shared across claudin family members, an interaction demonstrated in vitro for claudins 1 through 8; when claudin-1 or claudin-2 is expressed in fibroblasts that normally lack ZO-2 and ZO-3 but retain ZO-1, the claudins organize into a network at cell-cell borders, and co-transfection of ZO-2 or ZO-3 shows that both are recruited into this claudin-based network alongside the endogenous ZO-1 already present. This recruitment of ZO-2 and ZO-3 depends on two simultaneous, structurally distinct interactions: engagement of their own PDZ1 domain with the claudin C-terminus, and a separate PDZ2-to-PDZ2 interaction with the endogenous ZO-1 already incorporated into the network, meaning ZO-3 assembly at the tight junction requires both direct claudin binding and heterotypic association with ZO-1 rather than claudin engagement alone. Consistent with this claudin-directed recruitment mechanism, isolated PDZ1 and PDZ2 domain fragments of ZO-1, ZO-2, and ZO-3 are each independently recruited to claudin-based tight junctions when introduced into cultured epithelial cells, confirming that these specific domains, rather than the full-length protein, carry the minimal information required for junctional targeting. ZO-3 also binds directly to the cytoplasmic tail of the four-transmembrane tight junction protein occludin, though occludin-deficient intestinal epithelial cells retain normal recruitment of ZO-1, ZO-2, and ZO-3 to functional tight junctions, indicating that claudin binding rather than occludin binding is the primary determinant of ZO protein recruitment to the junction. ZO-3 additionally binds and recruits the polarity protein PATJ to tight junctions, where this interaction connects and stabilizes apical and lateral tight junction components, extending ZO-3's scaffolding function beyond claudin and occludin anchoring into broader apical-basolateral polarity maintenance.

Background

ZO-3, encoded by TJP3, belongs to the membrane-associated guanylate kinase family of scaffolding proteins alongside its two closely related paralogs, ZO-1 and ZO-2, and shares the same domain architecture common to this family: three PDZ domains arranged in tandem, followed by a single SH3 domain and a guanylate kinase-like domain positioned toward the C-terminus. ZO-3 concentrates at tight junctions in epithelial cells, and its first PDZ domain, PDZ1, binds directly and specifically to the conserved C-terminal YV dipeptide sequence shared across claudin family members, an interaction demonstrated in vitro for claudins 1 through 8; when claudin-1 or claudin-2 is expressed in fibroblasts that normally lack ZO-2 and ZO-3 but retain ZO-1, the claudins organize into a network at cell-cell borders, and co-transfection of ZO-2 or ZO-3 shows that both are recruited into this claudin-based network alongside the endogenous ZO-1 already present. This recruitment of ZO-2 and ZO-3 depends on two simultaneous, structurally distinct interactions: engagement of their own PDZ1 domain with the claudin C-terminus, and a separate PDZ2-to-PDZ2 interaction with the endogenous ZO-1 already incorporated into the network, meaning ZO-3 assembly at the tight junction requires both direct claudin binding and heterotypic association with ZO-1 rather than claudin engagement alone. Consistent with this claudin-directed recruitment mechanism, isolated PDZ1 and PDZ2 domain fragments of ZO-1, ZO-2, and ZO-3 are each independently recruited to claudin-based tight junctions when introduced into cultured epithelial cells, confirming that these specific domains, rather than the full-length protein, carry the minimal information required for junctional targeting. ZO-3 also binds directly to the cytoplasmic tail of the four-transmembrane tight junction protein occludin, though occludin-deficient intestinal epithelial cells retain normal recruitment of ZO-1, ZO-2, and ZO-3 to functional tight junctions, indicating that claudin binding rather than occludin binding is the primary determinant of ZO protein recruitment to the junction. ZO-3 additionally binds and recruits the polarity protein PATJ to tight junctions, where this interaction connects and stabilizes apical and lateral tight junction components, extending ZO-3's scaffolding function beyond claudin and occludin anchoring into broader apical-basolateral polarity maintenance.

References
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10601346/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16129888/

Protein Size (kDa)	PVDF Transfer Membrane Pore Size (μm)
< 10	0.22
10-20	0.22
20-30	0.45
30-45	0.45
45-70	0.45
80-100	0.45
100-140	0.45
> 140	0.45

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Protein Size (kDa)	Separating Gel Percentage
4-40	20%
12-45	15%
10-70	12.5%
15-100	10%
25-100	8%
60-210	5%