Recombinant Human IFT52 Protein: Research Guide & Applications

Recombinant Human IFT52 Protein is a critical component of the IFT-B intraflagellar transport complex, enabling researchers to investigate cilia assembly, ciliopathy mechanisms, and IFT complex interactions in vitro.

Product Name

Recombinant Human IFT52 Protein

SKU

rp374648

Gene Name

IFT52 (also known as NGD5, BSAP3)

Protein Complex

IFT-B complex (intraflagellar transport complex B)

Primary Function

Mediates anterograde intraflagellar transport essential for cilia assembly and maintenance

Research Relevance

Implicated in ciliopathies including Bardet-Biedl syndrome and related disorders

Supplier

Aladdin Scientific

Protein Background and Biological Function

IFT52, encoded by the IFT52 gene (also designated NGD5 and BSAP3 in some databases), is an evolutionarily conserved component of the IFT-B sub-complex within the intraflagellar transport (IFT) machinery. Intraflagellar transport is the bidirectional movement of multi-protein particles along the axoneme of cilia and flagella, a process indispensable for the assembly, maintenance, and sensory function of these organelles.

Within the IFT-B complex, IFT52 occupies a central scaffolding role, interacting with multiple IFT-B core components including IFT88, IFT74, and IFT46. This network of interactions stabilizes the IFT-B complex and ensures proper docking of ciliary cargo during anterograde (base-to-tip) transport driven by kinesin-2 motors. Loss-of-function studies in model organisms such as Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Caenorhabditis elegans, and murine systems have demonstrated that IFT52 deficiency results in severe ciliogenesis defects, underscoring its non-redundant role in cilia biology.

Recombinant Human IFT52 Protein (SKU: rp374648) provides researchers with a well-defined, recombinant source of this protein, supporting biochemical characterization, protein–protein interaction studies, and functional assays in the context of IFT complex biology.

Research Applications

Recombinant Human IFT52 Protein is suitable for a range of in vitro research applications:

• Protein–Protein Interaction Studies: IFT52 serves as an ideal bait or prey protein in pull-down assays, co-immunoprecipitation experiments, and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analyses to map IFT-B complex interaction networks.
• Biochemical Reconstitution: Enables in vitro reconstitution of partial or complete IFT-B sub-complexes to study complex assembly kinetics and stoichiometry.
• Antibody Validation: Provides a positive control antigen for validating anti-IFT52 antibodies in Western blotting, ELISA, and immunofluorescence assays.
• Structural Biology: Suitable as a component for cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) or X-ray crystallography studies aimed at resolving IFT complex architecture.
• Ciliopathy Research: Supports mechanistic investigation of ciliopathies such as Bardet-Biedl syndrome, Joubert syndrome, and nephronophthisis, in which IFT complex dysfunction is implicated.
• Drug Discovery Screening: Can be used in binding or activity assays to identify small molecules that modulate IFT complex assembly or function.

Handling, Reconstitution, and Storage Guidelines

To maintain the activity and integrity of Recombinant Human IFT52 Protein, adhere to the following best-practice guidelines:

• Initial Receipt: Upon receipt, briefly centrifuge the vial to consolidate the contents before opening. Inspect the vial for integrity and confirm lot number against the certificate of analysis (CoA).
• Reconstitution: If supplied in lyophilized form, reconstitute in the buffer recommended on the product datasheet. Use sterile, nuclease-free water or a compatible physiological buffer (e.g., PBS with a carrier protein such as 0.1% BSA) to minimize adsorptive losses. Allow the solution to equilibrate gently; avoid vigorous vortexing.
• Working Aliquots: Prepare single-use aliquots immediately after reconstitution to prevent repeated freeze–thaw cycles, which can lead to protein aggregation and loss of activity.
• Storage Temperature: Store lyophilized protein at –20 °C or –80 °C as specified in the CoA. Reconstituted protein should be stored at –80 °C for long-term use or at 4 °C for short-term use (typically within 1 week).
• Freeze–Thaw Cycles: Limit freeze–thaw cycles to a minimum (ideally no more than three) to preserve protein integrity.
• Carrier Protein: Addition of a carrier protein (e.g., 0.1% BSA) to dilute working solutions is recommended to reduce non-specific adsorption to tube surfaces and maintain protein stability at low concentrations.

Note: Always consult the specific product datasheet and CoA provided with SKU rp374648 for precise reconstitution volumes, recommended buffers, and confirmed storage conditions, as formulation details may vary by lot.

Quality, Purity, and Verification

Recombinant Human IFT52 Protein from Aladdin Scientific is manufactured using recombinant expression systems under controlled conditions. Key quality attributes to review on the CoA and datasheet include:

• Purity: Purity is typically assessed by SDS-PAGE and/or HPLC. Consult the specific lot CoA for the confirmed purity percentage for SKU rp374648.
• Identity Confirmation: Protein identity should be confirmed by mass spectrometry or N-terminal sequencing, as documented in the CoA.
• Biological Activity: Where applicable, functional activity may be confirmed through binding assays with known IFT-B interaction partners. Refer to the datasheet for activity specifications.
• Endotoxin Level: For cell-based assays, verify the endotoxin content (typically measured by LAL assay) on the CoA to ensure it falls within acceptable limits.
• Sterility: If the protein will be used in cell culture applications, confirm sterility specifications with the relevant CoA documentation.

Researchers are strongly encouraged to run an internal positive control and molecular weight verification (e.g., by Western blot using a validated anti-IFT52 antibody) upon first use of each new lot to confirm expected performance.

Regulatory Status and Intended Use

Recombinant Human IFT52 Protein (SKU: rp374648) is supplied by Aladdin Scientific strictly for in vitro research use only. This product is not intended for diagnostic, therapeutic, or clinical use in humans or animals. It has not been evaluated or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), or equivalent regulatory bodies for any clinical application.

Users are responsible for ensuring that this product is used in compliance with applicable local, national, and institutional regulations, including biosafety guidelines relevant to recombinant proteins. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn when handling the protein, and disposal should follow institutional hazardous biological material protocols.

For further regulatory or safety information, consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) available from Aladdin Scientific upon request.

Frequently asked questions

What is the biological role of IFT52 in cilia assembly?

IFT52 is an essential structural component of the IFT-B complex, which mediates anterograde intraflagellar transport from the ciliary base to the tip. It interacts with multiple IFT-B core proteins (including IFT88, IFT74, and IFT46) to stabilize the complex and facilitate the delivery of axonemal cargo necessary for cilia assembly and maintenance. Loss of IFT52 function in multiple model organisms results in ciliogenesis failure.

How should Recombinant Human IFT52 Protein be stored to maintain its activity?

Lyophilized Recombinant Human IFT52 Protein should be stored at –20 °C or –80 °C as specified in the certificate of analysis. After reconstitution, prepare single-use aliquots and store at –80 °C for long-term use or at 4 °C for short-term use within approximately one week. Repeated freeze–thaw cycles should be strictly minimized to prevent protein aggregation and loss of activity.

What applications is Recombinant Human IFT52 Protein (rp374648) validated for?

This protein is suitable for in vitro applications including protein–protein interaction studies (pull-down, co-IP, SPR), biochemical reconstitution of IFT-B complexes, antibody validation (Western blot, ELISA, immunofluorescence), structural biology experiments (cryo-EM, crystallography), and ciliopathy mechanistic research. Please consult the product datasheet and CoA for lot-specific validated applications.

Is Recombinant Human IFT52 Protein suitable for clinical or diagnostic use?

No. Recombinant Human IFT52 Protein (rp374648) is supplied for in vitro research use only and is not approved or intended for diagnostic, therapeutic, or clinical applications in humans or animals. Researchers must comply with all applicable institutional and regulatory biosafety requirements when using this product.

Which ciliopathies are associated with IFT52 dysfunction?

IFT52 dysfunction has been implicated in ciliopathies characterized by defective IFT-B complex function, including conditions related to Bardet-Biedl syndrome, Joubert syndrome, and nephronophthisis spectrum disorders. These diseases arise from impaired cilia assembly or signaling due to IFT complex disruption, making IFT52 a relevant research target in this disease area.

References

1. Taschner M, Bhogaraju S, Lorentzen E. Architecture and function of IFT complex proteins in ciliogenesis. Differentiation. 2012;83(2):S12-22. doi:10.1016/j.diff.2011.11.001
2. Taschner M, Weber K, Mourao A, et al. Structural basis of outer dynein arm intraflagellar transport by the IFT-B complex. Nat Chem Biol. 2016;12(2):122-128. doi:10.1038/nchembio.1997
3. Kozminski KG, Johnson KA, Forscher P, Rosenbaum JL. A motility in the eukaryotic flagellum unrelated to flagellar beating. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1993;90(12):5519-5523. doi:10.1073/pnas.90.12.5519
4. Hernandez-Hernandez V, Pravincumar P, Diaz-Font A, et al. Bardet-Biedl syndrome proteins control the cilia length through regulation of actin polymerization. Hum Mol Genet. 2013;22(19):3858-3868. doi:10.1093/hmg/ddt241

Products are supplied for research and development use only. Not for use in humans, animals, diagnosis, or therapy.