Application of Immunofluorescence Staining to Study ErbB Family of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases

Methods Mol Biol. 2017:1652:109-116. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7219-7_7.

Abstract

Immunofluorescence staining is an effective method for visualizing ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases and to monitor their expression, phosphorylation, and localization in individual cells. However, immunofluorescence staining for membrane proteins is required preserving integrity of cell membrane intact by protecting the cells from organic solvents. Permeabilization of cells may increase nonspecific intracellular background signal as an inevitable result. This chapter describes procedures for the application of indirect immunofluorescence staining for ErbB receptors in adherent and suspended cells as well as in paraffin-embedded tissue sections.

Keywords: EGFR; ErbB; HER2; Immunofluorescence; Receptor; Staining.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Humans
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism

Substances

  • ErbB Receptors
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Receptor, ErbB-2