Can I use phospho-tyrosine antibodies for IHC?

Antibodies directed against phosphorylated tyrosine (PY) represent a significant challenge with respect to IHC assays. It is not uncommon for anti-PY antibodies to demonstrate cross-reactivity with other proteins with phosphorylated tyrosines. This is common with RTKs for which membrane staining is typically seen. So, if one is working with an antibody directed against one phospho-RTK and there is some cross-reactivity with other phospho-RTKs, one cannot safely interpret a signal at the membrane to be specific.

Last updated: February 23, 2024