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PPP1R1A / Protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 1A · IHC design guide
Design Immunohistochemistry for PPP1R1A
Plan PPP1R1A staining in paraffin sections using the catalog antibody’s IHC protocol. Compare nuclear and cytoplasmic staining in pancreatic endocrine cells with the tissue pattern reported by HPA (HPA tissue IHC).
Evidence assembled Oct 2026 · For research use; verify linked source records and product datasheet before use
PPP1R1A Immunohistochemistry Experimental Design Guide
Expected localisation, validated protocols, controls and antibodies — the at-a-glance facts below, then the full design guide.
Must know before staining
| Expected localisation | Nuclear and cytoplasmic staining (HPA tissue IHC) | |
| Staining pattern | Islet endocrine cells: nuclear and cytoplasmic (HPA tissue IHC) | |
| Antigen retrieval | EDTA pH 8.0 HIER, heat-mediated (datasheet M11390) | |
| Positive control | Pancreas | |
| Negative control | Adipose tissue+4 more · see all |
Important caveats
Reasons your staining may differ from the expected pattern.
| Fixation | Keep fixation consistent across paraffin sections. (standard IHC practice; not target-specific) | |
| Caveat | Antibody staining and RNA show low consistency (HPA tissue IHC) | |
| Regulation | Expression regulation unreported (UniProt) | |
| Isoform / epitope | No isoforms or signal/propeptide annotated (UniProt) |
Section 1
Recommended PPP1R1A IHC & IF Protocols
The catalog antibody’s IHC-P protocol is accompanied by one published paraffin-section pancreas protocol with fluorescence imaging (PMC3717856).
| Sample | Paraffin-embedded human liver tissue; fixative not specified (datasheet M11390) |
| Fixation | Image fixative and duration unreported (datasheet M11390); verify before use. |
| Sectioning | 4–5 µm sections on charged slides (standard) |
| Deparaffinisation | Xylene, graded ethanol series to water (standard) |
| Antigen retrieval | Heat retrieval: EDTA pH 8.0 (datasheet M11390); 20 min, 95–100 °C (standard) |
| Peroxidase block | 3% H2O2, 10 min, room temperature (standard) |
| Blocking | 10% goat serum (datasheet M11390) |
| Primary antibody | Rabbit monoclonal (clone GEG-16) anti-PPP1R1A, 1:50 recommended; image 2 μg/ml (datasheet M11390) |
| Primary incubation | Overnight at 4 °C (datasheet M11390) |
| Detection | HRP-conjugated secondary, DAB chromogen (datasheet M11390) |
| Counterstain | Hematoxylin, blue, dehydrate and mount (standard) |
| Expected result | PPP1R1A-positive staining in pancreatic endocrine cells of pancreas (HPA tissue IHC: Medium). HPA tissue profile: Nuclear and cytoplasmic expression mainly in islets of Langerhans and renal tubules. No signal in the no-primary control. |
💡Decision noteStart with EDTA pH 8.0 heat retrieval (datasheet M11390); the published pancreas protocol used citrate pH 6.0 (PMC3717856).
Section 2
What Is the Expected PPP1R1A Staining Pattern?
In paraffin-section IHC, expect PPP1R1A in nuclei and cytoplasm, mainly in pancreatic islets and renal tubules (HPA tissue IHC). Pancreatic endocrine cells show medium staining; renal tubular cells show low staining (HPA tissue IHC). HPA rates the tissue staining Approved, while reporting low consistency with RNA expression data (HPA tissue IHC). UniProt annotates no transmembrane segment and gives no subcellular location (UniProt Q13522).
| Discrete nuclear and cytoplasmic staining in pancreatic islet cells, with weaker staining in renal tubules (HPA tissue IHC). | This fits the reported distribution: pancreatic endocrine cells are medium and renal tubular cells are low (HPA tissue IHC). Score the cell population and each compartment separately so weak tubular signal is not mistaken for a failed run (HPA tissue IHC; general IHC practice). |
| Strong, exclusively membrane-bound staining with no discernible nuclear or cytoplasmic signal (HPA tissue IHC comparison). | Flag the compartment mismatch as a possible artefact and review controls and morphology (HPA tissue IHC; general IHC practice). UniProt annotates no transmembrane segment, but that alone cannot rule out every association with a membrane (UniProt Q13522 topology). |
| Prominent signal in adipocytes or other cells listed as not detected by HPA (HPA tissue IHC). | Treat this as possible cross-reactivity or endogenous detection activity; inspect the negative control and compare with the islet pattern (HPA tissue IHC; general IHC practice). A reported 'not detected' result is an IHC observation, not proof that every specimen must be negative (HPA tissue IHC). |
| Diffuse colour across cells and surrounding tissue, obscuring islet boundaries (general IHC practice). | The distribution is difficult to score as PPP1R1A when background lacks the reported cell and compartment pattern (HPA tissue IHC). Check blocking, washes, detection controls and antibody dilution as general IHC troubleshooting steps (general IHC practice). |
| No convincing staining in pancreatic endocrine cells on a run intended to detect PPP1R1A (HPA tissue IHC comparison). | The expected medium positive reference is missing (HPA tissue IHC). First verify tissue identity and assay controls, then review retrieval, dilution and detection as general IHC steps; the supplied sources give no PPP1R1A-specific retrieval or fixation requirement (HPA tissue IHC; general IHC practice). |
💡Expected PPP1R1A appearanceCall a positive result when pancreatic endocrine cells show medium nuclear and cytoplasmic staining, with possible low renal tubular staining; prominent staining in HPA-negative adipocytes or membrane-only colour warrants investigation (HPA tissue IHC; UniProt Q13522 topology).
| Cell and tissue selection (HPA tissue IHC) | Pancreatic endocrine cells provide the clearest reported positive at medium intensity; renal tubular cells are low, while adipocytes are reported as not detected (HPA tissue IHC). These are useful comparison populations when reading a paraffin section (HPA tissue IHC; general IHC practice). |
| Strength of tissue-pattern evidence (HPA tissue IHC) | The tissue result is Approved, with external characterization supporting antibody staining, but HPA reports low consistency with RNA expression data (HPA tissue IHC). Interpret a discrepant specimen alongside controls and morphology rather than treating RNA abundance as an IHC intensity scale (HPA tissue IHC; general IHC practice). |
| Antibody validation scope (HPA antibodies) | HPA lists HPA041542 and CAB007811 as Approved for IHC; neither has ICC validation in the supplied antibody record (HPA antibodies). Approved is the stated status here; the payload does not assign either antibody an Enhanced IHC rating (HPA antibodies). |
| Topology and localisation evidence (UniProt Q13522; HPA tissue IHC) | UniProt annotates no transmembrane segment and no subcellular location; the nuclear and cytoplasmic expectation comes from observed tissue staining (UniProt Q13522 topology; HPA tissue IHC). Use that observed pattern to judge a slide without claiming UniProt independently confirms either compartment (UniProt Q13522; HPA tissue IHC). |
| Reported modifications (UniProt Q13522) | UniProt lists modified residues, including phosphorylation at Thr35 and Ser43, Ser46 and Ser47 (UniProt Q13522). The supplied records do not establish whether these modifications change IHC staining or whether either HPA antibody distinguishes modified PPP1R1A (UniProt Q13522; HPA antibodies). |
| Situation | Likely cause | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| The pancreatic islet reference has no signal (HPA tissue IHC comparison). | A failed detection step, unsuitable assay setting or an incorrectly identified reference section is possible (general IHC practice). | Confirm endocrine-cell morphology and control performance; review antigen retrieval, antibody dilution and chromogenic detection using the assay's documented settings (general IHC practice). No PPP1R1A-specific retrieval condition is supplied (HPA tissue IHC). |
| The renal tubules appear negative while the islet reference stains (HPA tissue IHC comparison). | Tubular staining is reported as low, compared with medium in pancreatic endocrine cells (HPA tissue IHC). | Inspect tubular cells at an appropriate magnification and compare them with a negative control before calling the run unsuccessful (HPA tissue IHC; general IHC practice). |
| Adipocytes show prominent colour (HPA tissue IHC comparison). | HPA reports adipocytes as not detected; cross-reactivity or endogenous detection activity is possible (HPA tissue IHC; general IHC practice). | Compare a negative control and the positive islet pattern; review detection and blocking steps if colour persists outside the expected cells (HPA tissue IHC; general IHC practice). |
| Signal is diffuse across the section (general IHC practice). | Background from insufficient blocking, washing or an overly concentrated reagent can obscure cellular staining (general IHC practice). | Check negative controls, then review blocking, wash steps and the documented antibody dilution; score only a distinguishable cellular pattern (general IHC practice). |
| Staining is confined to membranes (HPA tissue IHC comparison). | The pattern differs from HPA's nuclear and cytoplasmic description, so artefact or nonspecific staining is possible (HPA tissue IHC; general IHC practice). | Check section morphology and detection controls, then compare the staining with pancreatic endocrine cells on a reference section (HPA tissue IHC; general IHC practice). |
| Can IF/ICC confirm the nuclear and cytoplasmic pattern? | The supplied HPA subcellular record has no main location or ICC-IF images, and the listed antibodies have no ICC validation status (HPA subcellular; HPA antibodies). | Treat IF/ICC localisation as unconfirmed by this payload and use a separately validated IF/ICC guide for that application (HPA subcellular; HPA antibodies). |
Experiment evidence
IHC & IF images showing PPP1R1A staining
M11390 · IHCIHC analysis of PPP1R1A using anti-PPP1R1A antibody (M11390) . PPP1R1A was detected in a paraffin-embedded section of human liver tissue. He
M11390 · IHCIHC analysis of PPP1R1A using anti-PPP1R1A antibody (M11390) . PPP1R1A was detected in a paraffin-embedded section of human liver cancer tis
HPA · Cerebral cortexHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Cerebral cortex. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000135447-PPP1R1A/tissue/cerebral+cortex#imid_17812188
HPA · ColonHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Colon. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000135447-PPP1R1A/tissue/colon#imid_17812122
HPA · LiverHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Liver. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000135447-PPP1R1A/tissue/liver#imid_17812115
HPA · PancreasHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Pancreas. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000135447-PPP1R1A/tissue/pancreas#imid_17812074
← swipe / scroll for more images →
Real IHC / IF data behind the staining-pattern expectations in this section.
Sample controls for PPP1R1A IHC & IF
🧪Run pancreas first: pancreatic endocrine cells should stain at a medium level (HPA: pancreatic endocrine cells, Medium). Use adipose tissue adipocytes as the negative tissue (HPA: adipocytes, Not detected); on the pancreas slide, assess neighboring non-endocrine cells as candidate internal negatives and expect only background staining.
Positive control tissue: Pancreas (Pancreatic endocrine cells, HPA Medium)
Negative control tissue: Adipose tissue (HPA Not detected)
ICC-IF cell lines (HPA subcellular resource): HPA carries no ICC-IF cell line for PPP1R1A; derive a cell-line control from the positive tissue's cell type (Pancreatic endocrine cells) and confirm it by RNA or western blot first.
Technical controls: Include a no-primary (secondary-only) control, a concentration-matched rabbit IgG isotype control, and a PPP1R1A knockout specimen as a biological negative (caption: rabbit primary; standard IHC practice). Quench endogenous peroxidase and check the pancreas section for background DAB signal before scoring (caption: HRP/DAB detection; standard IHC practice).
⚠️Feasibility: A target-specific fixation window or fixation effect is unreported, and the selected M11390 paraffin-section caption does not state the fixative (caption: fixative unreported). The caption uses heat retrieval in EDTA at pH 8.0, but does not establish that retrieval is required; the supplied evidence does not show whether frozen sections or IF would be easier (caption: EDTA retrieval; HPA: no ICC-IF images listed). In pancreas, endogenous peroxidase can add chromogenic background, so interpret weak staining against the no-primary control (standard IHC practice).
HPA tissue IHC evidence for PPP1R1A
Comprehensive Human Protein Atlas IHC scoring per tissue (reliability: Approved — Low consistency between antibody staining and RNA expression data. External characterization data supports antibody staining.). Rows are taken directly from the HPA tissue chart — click any row's HPA link to view the source.
Positive expression · recommended positive controls
| Tissue | Cell type | Level | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pancreas | Pancreatic endocrine cells | Medium | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
Undetected expression · recommended negative controls
| Tissue | Cell type | Level | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adipose tissue | Adipocytes | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Adrenal gland | Glandular cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Appendix | Glandular cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Bone marrow | Hematopoietic cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Breast | Adipocytes | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
Section 3
Advanced PPP1R1A IHC Tips
Troubleshoot PPP1R1A staining in paraffin sections using the M11390 liver image as the workflow reference and HPA tissue patterns as context.
How should I adjust retrieval when PPP1R1A staining is weak or uneven?
Start with heat mediated retrieval in EDTA pH 8.0 for paraffin sections (datasheet M11390). The reference liver image used that buffer before incubation with 2 μg/ml primary antibody overnight at 4°C (caption M11390). If staining is weak, vary heating duration in small steps while keeping buffer and antibody conditions fixed, and run a reference section beside each test (standard IHC practice). Check whether stronger retrieval improves staining within cells without increasing diffuse background or damaging section structure (standard IHC practice). Record the heating method and duration because the caption does not specify them (caption M11390).
Could fixation explain weak PPP1R1A staining in paraffin sections?
Target specific fixation sensitivity for PPP1R1A is unknown from the supplied evidence; the reference paraffin section does not report its fixative (caption M11390). Document fixative, fixation duration, processing schedule, and section age for each specimen before comparing staining intensity (standard IHC practice). Process a reference section alongside the test material using EDTA pH 8.0 retrieval and the same primary incubation conditions (datasheet M11390; standard IHC practice). If specimens differ in fixation history, compare matched material before attributing weaker staining to biology (standard IHC practice). Neither the reported tissue staining pattern nor the protein’s modifications establish a fixation effect (HPA tissue IHC; UniProt Q13522).
Which cellular compartments should count as plausible PPP1R1A staining?
Assess nuclear and cytoplasmic staining separately: both are described in the HPA tissue profile, mainly in islets of Langerhans and renal tubules (HPA tissue IHC). UniProt provides no subcellular location annotation for PPP1R1A, so compartment alone cannot validate a signal (UniProt Q13522). Its record lists no transmembrane segment; a sharply membrane restricted pattern therefore deserves additional scrutiny, although topology does not settle intracellular distribution (UniProt Q13522). Score only intact cells and compare the same compartment across adjacent sections and controls (standard IHC practice). Interpret faint renal tubular staining cautiously because HPA lists tubular cells at a low level (HPA tissue IHC).
Could epitope state change the apparent PPP1R1A staining pattern?
The supplied record lists 0 annotated isoforms and does not identify the catalog antibody’s epitope, so epitope coverage cannot be assumed (UniProt Q13522; caption M11390). PPP1R1A has reported phosphorylation at Thr35 and Ser43, Ser46, and Ser47; the record does not establish whether these modifications affect antibody binding (UniProt Q13522). Keep retrieval at EDTA pH 8.0 initially and compare staining across sections processed together before interpreting differences as protein abundance (datasheet M11390; standard IHC practice). If an independently characterized antibody is available, compare cellular patterns and document its epitope information before drawing conclusions about modification dependent staining (standard IHC practice).
How can I check a PPP1R1A IHC pattern by multiplex immunofluorescence?
For a separate IF experiment, pair PPP1R1A with a validated pancreatic endocrine cell marker when examining islets, where HPA reports medium staining in endocrine cells (HPA tissue IHC; standard IF practice). Choose fluorophores after inspecting unstained tissue in each channel, placing the weaker target signal in a channel with lower autofluorescence (standard IF practice). Test gentle permeabilisation for access to intracellular epitopes; PPP1R1A has no annotated transmembrane segment, but its antibody epitope is unspecified (UniProt Q13522; caption M11390). Include single stain and secondary only controls to assess bleed through and background (standard IF practice). The EDTA pH 8.0 condition documents IHC retrieval, not IF validation (datasheet M11390).
What should I check when DAB background obscures PPP1R1A staining?
First compare a no primary section with the stained section to distinguish detection background from antibody associated staining (standard IHC practice). The reference liver image used 10% goat serum blocking, 2 μg/ml primary antibody overnight at 4°C, and DAB development (caption M11390). In a peroxidase workflow, include an appropriate endogenous peroxidase block and check whether diffuse brown signal persists without primary antibody (standard IHC practice). If it does, review blocking, washes, detection reagent, and DAB development time before increasing primary concentration (standard IHC practice). Compare background and cellular contrast on sections processed in the same run (standard IHC practice).
How should I quantify PPP1R1A staining across paraffin sections? ⚠ ANSWER MARKED FOR VERIFICATION
Define tissue regions and cell populations before scoring, then record the percentage of positive cells and staining intensity within each chosen compartment (standard IHC practice). An H-score combines percentages at intensity grades 0–3 and spans 0–300; apply one threshold and scoring rule across the comparison (standard IHC practice). Normalise positive counts to the number of eligible cells, or stained area to measured tissue area, rather than to the whole slide (standard IHC practice). Score endocrine cells separately from surrounding pancreas because HPA reports medium staining specifically in pancreatic endocrine cells (HPA tissue IHC). Report retrieval, staining run, and excluded damaged regions alongside the scores (standard IHC practice).
How do I distinguish plausible PPP1R1A staining from artefact?
Look for reproducible cellular staining in intact structures, with particular attention to pancreatic endocrine cells and renal tubules described in the tissue profile (HPA tissue IHC; standard IHC practice). HPA describes nuclear and cytoplasmic expression but also reports low consistency between antibody staining and RNA expression, so agreement with that pattern is supportive rather than decisive (HPA tissue IHC). Treat edge accentuation, necrotic areas, and signal persisting in a no primary control as possible artefacts (standard IHC practice). Check peroxidase blocking when DAB appears in locations without convincing cellular staining (standard IHC practice). The reference liver image demonstrates detection in a paraffin section under EDTA pH 8.0 retrieval, without identifying every stained cell type (caption M11390).
Boster reagents
Best PPP1R1A / Protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 1A IHC Antibodies
M11390 has real IHC data from human paraffin-embedded liver sections (M11390 IHC caption); IF/ICC is listed for human, mouse and rat (M11390 catalog applications and reactivity).
Real IHC data
Anti-PPP1R1A Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody
Cat # M11390
M11390 shows PPP1R1A staining in paraffin-embedded human liver and liver cancer sections (M11390 IHC captions). IF/ICC is listed, with human, mouse and rat reactivity, but no IF image is supplied (M11390 catalog applications, reactivity and image alts).
Which to pick: For tissue IHC, choose rabbit monoclonal M11390: its own caption documents staining in a paraffin-embedded human liver section, with EDTA pH 8.0 retrieval and DAB detection; the fixative is unreported (M11390 catalog; M11390 IHC caption). For IF/ICC or work involving mouse or rat, M11390 is the listed option based on its application and reactivity entries; the supplied images do not demonstrate IF or staining in those species (M11390 catalog applications, reactivity and image alts).
Each figure is that product's own IHC / IF validation image from its datasheet.
References
- UniProt Consortium. UniProt entry Q13522 (PPR1A_HUMAN, Protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 1A).
- Human Protein Atlas. PPP1R1A tissue IHC expression (reliability: Approved).
- Human Protein Atlas. PPP1R1A subcellular location (ICC-IF): Highest expression in RPTEC/TERT1: 30.1 nTPM.
- Human Protein Atlas. PPP1R1A antibody validation summary (2 antibodies).
- Potential of protein phosphatase inhibitor 1 as biomarker of pancreatic β-cell injury in vitro and in vivo. Diabetes 2013 — PMC3717856.
- PubMed PMID:8611507 — UniProt-cited evidence.
- PubMed PMID:15489334 — UniProt-cited evidence.
- PubMed PMID:11564868 — UniProt-cited evidence.
Immunohistochemistry protocol sheet for PPP1R1A (Protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 1A). Expected localisation Nuclear and cytoplasmic staining (HPA tissue IHC). Antigen retrieval: EDTA pH 8.0 HIER, heat-mediated (datasheet M11390). Validated IHC antibody: M11390 at 1:50 recommended; image 2 μg/ml (the product's own IHC validation image is shown). Controls (HPA): positive Pancreas (Pancreatic endocrine cells); negative Adipose tissue. IHC-P workflow on paraffin sections; fixative unspecified. Protocol steps: 1. Sample: Paraffin-embedded human liver tissue; fixative not specified (datasheet M11390); 2. Fixation: Image fixative and duration unreported (datasheet M11390); verify before use.; 3. Sectioning: 4–5 µm sections on charged slides (standard); 4. Deparaffinisation: Xylene, graded ethanol series to water (standard); 5. Antigen retrieval: Heat retrieval: EDTA pH 8.0 (datasheet M11390); 20 min, 95–100 °C (standard); 6. Peroxidase block: 3% H2O2, 10 min , room temperature (standard); 7. Blocking: 10% goat serum (datasheet M11390); 8. Primary antibody: Rabbit monoclonal (clone GEG-16) anti-PPP1R1A, 1:50 recommended; image 2 μg/ml (datasheet M11390); 9. Primary incubation: Overnight at 4 °C (datasheet M11390). Watch for: Fixation: Keep fixation consistent across paraffin sections. (standard IHC practice; not target-specific); Caveat: Antibody staining and RNA show low consistency (HPA tissue IHC); Isoform / epitope: No isoforms or signal/propeptide annotated (UniProt); Regulation: Expression regulation unreported (UniProt). Evidence: UniProt Q13522, HPA tissue IHC · Approved, HPA cell-line RNA · Highest expression in RPTEC/TERT1: 30.1 nTPM, Datasheet M11390, PMC3717856. QR code links to https://www.bosterbio.com/bosterbio-gene-info-cards/PPP1R1A/immunohistochemistry-ihc-guide.