[Preparation, purification and identification of the polyclonal antibody of PHD finger protein 8]

PHD finger protein 8 (PHF8) is a novel protein with PHD domain and Jmjc domain, which may play important role in regulating transcription and histone demethylation. It is necessary to generate the antibody against PHF8 in order to further study its biological function. First we constructed plasmid pET41b-PHF8 (aa886-936) and expressed the GST-PHF8 (aa886-936) fusion protein in Escherichia coli BL21. We then purified the fusion protein by Glutathione Sepharose 4B beads and subjected to immunize the rabbits for acquiring antiserum. We obtained PHF8 polyclonal antibody by affinity purifying the antiserum with CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B beads. The antibody was effective in Western blotting and immunofluorescence with high specificity. Immunofluorescence also showed that PHF8 protein was located in nucleus in HeLa cells.