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PRMT2 / Protein arginine N-methyltransferase 2 · IHC design guide
Design Immunohistochemistry for PRMT2
Plan chromogenic PRMT2 IHC in paraffin sections using the catalog antibody's 1:50–1:200 IHC dilution range (datasheet). Duodenal glandular cells show high staining, but the tissue IHC profile awaits external verification (HPA tissue IHC).
Evidence assembled Oct 2026 · For research use; verify linked source records and product datasheet before use
PRMT2 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 | Cytoplasmic in most tissues (HPA tissue IHC) | |
| Staining pattern | Cytoplasmic staining across most tissues (HPA tissue IHC) | |
| Antigen retrieval | Tris-EDTA pH 9.0 HIER, 95–98 °C, 20 min (rule: nuclear antigen) | |
| Positive control | Duodenum+4 more · see all | |
| Negative control | Adipose tissue+4 more · see all |
Important caveats
Reasons your staining may differ from the expected pattern.
| Fixation | Keep fixation consistent across sections (standard IHC practice; not target-specific) | |
| Caveat | Tissue staining awaits external verification; splice discrepancy flagged (HPA tissue IHC) | |
| Regulation | Hormone exposure drives nuclear entry (UniProt) | |
| Isoform / epitope | 7 isoforms; check antibody epitope coverage (UniProt) |
Section 1
Recommended PRMT2 IHC & IF Protocols
The catalog antibody’s IHC-P protocol is followed by three published PRMT2 IHC protocols (PMC6208368; PMC10182089; PMC5983932).
| Sample | Paraffin-embedded human liver injury tissue; fixative not specified (datasheet A04706) |
| Fixation | Image fixative and duration unreported (datasheet A04706); verify before use. |
| Sectioning | 4–5 µm sections on charged slides (standard) |
| Deparaffinisation | Xylene, graded ethanol series to water (standard) |
| Antigen retrieval | Heat-induced epitope retrieval in Tris-EDTA buffer, pH 9.0, 20 min at 95–98 °C (standard rule: nuclear antigen) |
| Peroxidase block | 3% H2O2, 10 min, room temperature (standard) |
| Blocking | 10% normal serum of the secondary host, 30 min, room temperature (standard) |
| Primary antibody | Rabbit anti-PRMT2, 1:50-1:200 (datasheet A04706) |
| Primary incubation | Overnight at 4 °C (standard) |
| Detection | HRP-polymer secondary, DAB chromogen 5–10 min (standard) |
| Counterstain | Hematoxylin, blue, dehydrate and mount (standard) |
| Expected result | PRMT2-positive staining in glandular cells of duodenum (HPA tissue IHC: High). HPA tissue profile: Cytoplasmic expression in most tissues. No signal in the no-primary control. |
💡Decision noteStart with Tris-EDTA pH 9.0 retrieval at 95–98 °C for 20 min (page retrieval rule; UniProt P55345: nuclear localisation).
Section 2
What Is the Expected PRMT2 Staining Pattern?
PRMT2 staining is expected mainly in the cytoplasm of tissue cells, with possible nuclear signal (HPA: cytoplasmic expression in most tissues; UniProt P55345: cytoplasm and nucleus). Duodenal glandular cells are a strong reference, while several epithelial and neuronal populations show medium staining (HPA: High in duodenal glandular cells; Medium in listed tissues). PRMT2 has no transmembrane segment (UniProt P55345: topology). Tissue IHC reliability is Uncertain (HPA: IHC reliability).
| Duodenal glandular cells show clear cytoplasmic staining, with or without a nuclear component. | This fits the reported tissue pattern and known intracellular locations (HPA: High in duodenal glandular cells; HPA: cytoplasmic expression in most tissues; UniProt P55345: cytoplasm and nucleus). Judge staining within the glandular cells rather than treating any brown material in the section as a positive result. HPA rates the tissue IHC evidence Uncertain, so this is an expected pattern, not definitive antibody validation (HPA: IHC reliability). |
| Staining is predominantly at cell borders, in luminal material, or outside cells. | These are unexpected locations for PRMT2, which lacks a transmembrane segment and is reported in the cytoplasm and nucleus (UniProt P55345: topology and subcellular location). Check morphology and the detection controls before calling such deposits target staining. A nuclear component alone is plausible; UniProt reports movement from cytoplasm to nucleus after hormone exposure (UniProt P55345: subcellular location). |
| Cells reported as unstained show stronger signal than the expected positive population. | Consider cross-reactivity or endogenous detection activity if adipocytes, endometrial stromal cells, or cholangiocytes stain strongly while duodenal glands do not (HPA: Not detected in those cell types; High in duodenal glandular cells). The comparison is cell-specific: a tissue may contain other cell types with different staining. Inspect a reagent control before assigning unexpected signal to PRMT2. |
| Pale, diffuse colour covers cells and surrounding tissue without clear intracellular boundaries. | This is difficult to score as PRMT2 localisation because the reported pattern is intracellular (HPA: cytoplasmic expression in most tissues; UniProt P55345: cytoplasm and nucleus). General IHC checks include a primary-omission control, blocking and washes. Compare those controls with intact cell morphology and a known-positive cell population before interpreting faint colour as expression. |
| No staining appears in duodenal glandular cells. | A negative result in this reference population conflicts with its reported High staining (HPA: duodenal glandular cells). First check tissue preservation, primary-antibody application and detection-system performance as general IHC workflow checks. Then review the catalog antibody’s IHC-P instructions. HPA’s IHC reliability is Uncertain, so one negative section cannot establish that PRMT2 is absent (HPA: IHC reliability). |
💡Expected PRMT2 appearanceCall a section positive when identifiable duodenal glandular cells have distinct, mainly cytoplasmic intracellular signal, possibly with nuclear signal (HPA: High in duodenal glandular cells; HPA: cytoplasmic expression in most tissues; UniProt P55345: nucleus); diffuse deposits or strong staining confined to HPA Not detected cell types require control review (HPA: tissue IHC).
| Choice of reference cell population | Duodenal glandular cells offer the strongest listed tissue-IHC example (HPA: High). Colon glandular cells and bronchial respiratory epithelial cells are listed as Medium (HPA: tissue IHC). Adipocytes, endometrial stromal cells and cholangiocytes are listed as Not detected in their specified tissues (HPA: tissue IHC). Compare the named cell populations, not whole-organ averages. |
| Intracellular distribution | Tissue IHC is described as cytoplasmic in most tissues (HPA: tissue IHC). Supported ICC-IF locations are nucleoplasm and cytosol (HPA: subcellular). UniProt also reports cytoplasm-to-nucleus movement after hormone exposure (UniProt P55345: subcellular location). Thus a nuclear component merits inspection, while membrane or extracellular staining does not match the reported locations. |
| Isoforms and antibody recognition | UniProt lists 7 PRMT2 isoforms (UniProt P55345: isoforms). The supplied evidence gives no epitope for the catalog antibody, so it cannot establish which isoforms contribute to a stain. If tissue staining differs from expectation, consult antibody-specific epitope information before attributing the difference to a particular isoform. |
| Evidence strength | The tissue-IHC profile is rated Uncertain, with pending external verification and a splice or transcript discrepancy (HPA: IHC reliability description). Both listed HPA antibodies have Uncertain IHC status; one has Supported ICC status (HPA: antibody validation). Treat agreement with the tissue profile as supporting context and use controls to assess the actual section. |
| IF/ICC interpretation | Q: Where should PRMT2 appear in IF/ICC? A: Nucleoplasm and cytosol are the supported locations (HPA: subcellular ICC-IF). This is a localisation cross-check for images, not an IF/ICC protocol or an IHC antibody-validation claim; tissue IHC retains an Uncertain reliability rating (HPA: tissue IHC reliability). |
| Situation | Likely cause | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| The expected glandular signal is absent or very weak. | Duodenal glandular cells are reported High, so the section, staining run or antibody conditions may need review (HPA: duodenal glandular cells). | Confirm the named cells are present and preserved; check a run control and the catalog antibody’s IHC-P instructions. Review retrieval and dilution using that protocol rather than assuming a PRMT2-specific fixation effect; none is supplied here. |
| Signal is mainly nuclear, with little visible cytoplasm. | Nuclear PRMT2 is plausible, including reported movement after hormone exposure (UniProt P55345: subcellular location); tissue IHC is described as cytoplasmic in most tissues (HPA: tissue IHC). | Check that nuclear colour lies within identifiable cells and compare the cytoplasm in the same population. Review controls and tissue context before rejecting the result solely for its nuclear component. |
| Colour is strongest along membranes or in extracellular material. | Those locations do not match the reported cytoplasmic and nuclear distribution or the absence of a transmembrane segment (UniProt P55345: subcellular location and topology). | Inspect whether colour follows cell boundaries, folds or deposits rather than intracellular structures. Compare a primary-omission control and the expected glandular-cell pattern before scoring it as PRMT2. |
| Adipocytes or cholangiocytes stain strongly. | Those specified cell types are listed as Not detected, making strong signal unexpected in the HPA tissue profile (HPA: adipocytes; cholangiocytes). | Verify the cell identity and compare adjacent expected-positive cells. Use a primary-omission control to assess detection activity; investigate antibody specificity if the unexpected cellular signal persists. |
| All tissue compartments have a similar faint brown haze. | A uniform haze lacks the cell-resolved intracellular pattern needed for interpretation (HPA: cytoplasmic expression in most tissues; UniProt P55345: cytoplasm and nucleus). | Review blocking, washing and chromogen development as general IHC steps. Compare the primary-omission control and avoid scoring diffuse background as weak PRMT2 positivity. |
| Two tissue sections give different apparent staining patterns. | PRMT2 is widely expressed, but HPA reports different levels across named cell populations; the tissue-IHC profile is Uncertain (UniProt P55345: tissue specificity; HPA: tissue IHC and reliability). | Compare equivalent cell types, section quality and the same run controls. Record cytoplasmic and nuclear staining separately, and avoid inferring a biological change from intensity alone. |
Experiment evidence
IHC & IF images showing PRMT2 staining
A04706 · IHCImmunohistochemistry of paraffin-embedded human liver injury using PRMT2 antibody at dilution of 1:100 (x40 lens).
HPA · Cerebral cortexHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Cerebral cortex. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000160310-PRMT2/tissue/cerebral+cortex#imid_7463353
HPA · ColonHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Colon. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000160310-PRMT2/tissue/colon#imid_7461463
HPA · LiverHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Liver. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000160310-PRMT2/tissue/liver#imid_7461464
HPA · KidneyHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Kidney. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000160310-PRMT2/tissue/kidney#imid_7461473
HPA · ICC-IF A-431Human Protein Atlas immunofluorescence, A-431, antibody HPA018976; green = PRMT2, blue = nucleus, red = microtubules.
HPA · ICC-IF A-431Human Protein Atlas immunofluorescence, A-431, antibody HPA018976; green = PRMT2, blue = nucleus, red = microtubules.
← swipe / scroll for more images →
Real IHC / IF data behind the staining-pattern expectations in this section.
Sample controls for PRMT2 IHC & IF
🧪Run duodenum first: its glandular cells should stain for PRMT2 (HPA: High in duodenal glandular cells). Use adipose tissue adipocytes as the negative tissue (HPA: Not detected in adipocytes); on the duodenal slide, assess unstained non-glandular cells as internal background without assuming they are validated PRMT2-negative cells (standard IHC practice).
Positive control tissue: Duodenum (Glandular cells, HPA High)
Negative control tissue: Adipose tissue (HPA Not detected)
ICC-IF cell lines (HPA subcellular resource): HPA ICC-IF images show PRMT2 in A-431, U-251MG, U2OS, with annotated localisation: Nucleoplasm (supported), Cytosol (supported) (HPA subcellular).
Technical controls: Include a no-primary, secondary-only control and a concentration-matched isotype control from the primary antibody’s host species and clonality; confirm target specificity with PRMT2 knockout tissue or a validated immunizing-peptide block (standard IHC practice). For chromogenic staining, quench endogenous peroxidase and check the duodenal no-primary slide for residual signal (standard IHC practice).
⚠️Feasibility: No target-specific fixation window or antigen-retrieval dependency is reported in the supplied evidence; optimize retrieval on matched paraffin sections (supplied target/application evidence; standard IHC practice). The selected A04706 paraffin-section caption reports human liver injury at 1:100, but its fixative is unreported (caption: A04706). Frozen-section feasibility and relative ease versus paraffin IHC are unreported; IF/ICC images exist for A-431, U-251MG and U2OS, with nucleoplasmic and cytosolic localization (HPA: subcellular). Duodenal endogenous peroxidase can complicate chromogenic interpretation if quenching leaves residual signal (standard IHC practice).
HPA tissue IHC evidence for PRMT2
Comprehensive Human Protein Atlas IHC scoring per tissue (reliability: Uncertain — Pending external verification. Caution, Splice and/or transcript discrepancy exists.). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duodenum | Glandular cells | High | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Adrenal gland | Glandular cells | Medium | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Appendix | Glandular cells | Medium | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Bronchus | Respiratory epithelial cells | Medium | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Caudate | Neuronal cells | Medium | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
Undetected expression · recommended negative controls
| Tissue | Cell type | Level | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adipose tissue | Adipocytes | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Breast | Adipocytes | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Endometrium | Cells in endometrial stroma | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Epididymis | Glandular cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Liver | Cholangiocytes | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
Section 3
Advanced PRMT2 IHC Tips
Troubleshoot PRMT2 staining by assessing retrieval, tissue processing, cellular distribution and controls before interpreting chromogenic signal (UniProt P55345; HPA tissue IHC).
How should I retrieve PRMT2 in paraffin sections when nuclear staining is weak?
Start with Tris-EDTA pH 9.0 heat-induced epitope retrieval at 95–98 °C for 20 min (page retrieval specification: nuclear antigen). Cool sections gradually, then compare a retrieved section with a no-primary control under identical chromogenic detection conditions (standard IHC practice). PRMT2 can occupy the cytoplasm and nucleus, so assess both compartments before deciding that retrieval failed (UniProt P55345 subcellular location). If signal remains weak, test a shorter retrieval time on adjacent sections while keeping antibody incubation and detection constant; excessive heating can damage morphology and complicate scoring (standard IHC practice).
Could fixation explain weak or uneven PRMT2 staining in paraffin sections?
Target-specific PRMT2 sensitivity to fixation is unknown from the supplied evidence; the selected A04706 caption reports paraffin embedding but does not state a fixative (A04706 tissue-IHC caption). Record the actual fixative, fixation duration and processing history for each specimen before comparing staining intensity (standard IHC practice). On matched sections, keep Tris-EDTA pH 9.0 retrieval at 95–98 °C for 20 min constant while checking morphology and staining uniformity (page retrieval specification; standard IHC practice). Treat differences between specimens with undocumented processing as provisional, since fixation effects cannot be inferred from tissue expression patterns or PRMT2 topology (HPA tissue IHC; UniProt P55345 topology).
Should PRMT2 stain nuclei, cytoplasm, or both in my tissue?
Assess nuclear and cytoplasmic staining separately: PRMT2 is reported in both compartments, while HPA describes cytoplasmic expression in most tissues (UniProt P55345 subcellular location; HPA tissue IHC profile). Hormone exposure can shift PRMT2 from cytoplasm to nucleus, so document exposure conditions before comparing nuclear fractions (UniProt P55345, PubMed:17587566). HPA supports nucleoplasmic and cytosolic localisation in its subcellular dataset, but its tissue-IHC reliability is uncertain (HPA subcellular; HPA tissue IHC reliability). Check whether apparent nuclear colour follows cellular boundaries under the counterstain, and score ambiguous cells separately rather than assigning them to either compartment (standard IHC practice).
How could PRMT2 isoforms or epitope location change my IHC result?
PRMT2 has 7 listed isoforms, including PRMT2Alpha, PRMT2Beta and PRMT2Gamma, so an antibody may detect different subsets depending on its mapped epitope (UniProt P55345 isoforms; standard antibody interpretation). The supplied material does not map the A04706 epitope; obtain that information before claiming that negative cells lack every PRMT2 isoform (A04706 tissue-IHC caption; UniProt P55345 isoforms). PRMT2 contains an SH3 domain at residues 30–89 and a methyltransferase domain at 99–432, which can guide epitope review if mapping becomes available (UniProt P55345 domains). Compare staining with an independently validated antibody targeting a documented, distinct region when isoform coverage matters (standard IHC practice).
How can I check PRMT2 localisation by multiplex IF alongside this IHC guide?
For a separate IF/ICC experiment, pair PRMT2 with a validated marker of the cell type being assessed, then compare cytosolic and nucleoplasmic signal within those marked cells (HPA subcellular; standard IF practice). Choose fluorophores after inspecting unstained tissue autofluorescence, favouring channels with clearer separation from that background (standard IF practice). PRMT2 has no transmembrane segment and is reported in cytoplasm and nucleus; use a mild, empirically checked permeabilisation step to access intracellular epitopes, with its effect determined by the antibody epitope and fixation used (UniProt P55345 topology and subcellular location; standard IF practice). Include single-stain and no-primary controls to assess bleed-through and background (standard IF practice).
What should I change when PRMT2 chromogenic staining is diffuse or widespread?
First compare the stained section with no-primary and detection-only controls, and inspect whether colour is confined to cells rather than folds, debris or section edges (standard IHC practice). Block endogenous peroxidase before an HRP/DAB workflow and titrate antibody and detection incubation against a matched control section (standard IHC practice). The A04706 caption documents staining of paraffin-embedded human liver injury at 1:100, but gives no fixative or background assessment (A04706 tissue-IHC caption). Because HPA reports cytoplasmic expression in most tissues yet rates its tissue-IHC evidence uncertain, widespread colour alone cannot establish specific PRMT2 staining (HPA tissue IHC profile and reliability).
How should I quantify PRMT2 IHC when nuclear and cytoplasmic signals differ? ⚠ ANSWER MARKED FOR VERIFICATION
Define the cell population and score nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments separately, using the same threshold and counterstain review across specimens (UniProt P55345 subcellular location; standard IHC practice). Report the percentage of positive cells and, when intensity is reproducible, an H-score calculated from percentages at each intensity grade (standard IHC practice). If counting discrete positive cells, report density per mm² of evaluable tissue or a specified compartment, excluding folds and necrotic areas (standard IHC practice). Normalise comparisons to the number of eligible cells or evaluable area, and document acquisition settings and control-section performance for each staining batch (standard IHC practice).
Which staining patterns support genuine PRMT2 rather than tissue artefact?
Give greatest weight to cell-associated cytoplasmic or nuclear staining that repeats in intact tissue and exceeds matched negative controls (UniProt P55345 subcellular location; standard IHC practice). HPA reports high signal in duodenal glandular cells and no detected signal in adipocytes, but its tissue-IHC reliability is uncertain, so use those patterns as cautious context (HPA tissue IHC). Investigate dominant staining in implausible compartments, isolated section edges or necrotic regions before assigning PRMT2 positivity (UniProt P55345 subcellular location; standard IHC practice). Persistent DAB colour in no-primary controls suggests endogenous enzyme activity or detection background; reassess the peroxidase block and detection reagents (standard IHC practice).
Boster reagents
Best PRMT2 / Protein arginine N-methyltransferase 2 IHC Antibodies
A04706 has real IHC data from paraffin-embedded human liver injury tissue (catalog IHC image caption). IF is listed as an application, with Human, Mouse and Rat reactivity (catalog applications and reactivity).
Real IHC data
Anti-PRMT2 Antibody
Cat # A04706
A04706 will render with an IHC image of paraffin-embedded human liver injury tissue stained at 1:100 (catalog IHC image caption). A04706 lists IHC and IF applications and Human, Mouse and Rat reactivity; no IF image is supplied (catalog applications, reactivity and image records).
Which to pick: Choose A04706 for paraffin-section IHC because its own image documents that preparation in human liver injury tissue; the fixative is unreported (catalog IHC image caption). For IF, A04706 lists IF at 1:50–1:200, but no IF image or ICC validation is supplied (catalog applications, IF dilution and image records). For cross-species work, A04706 lists Human, Mouse and Rat reactivity, while its supplied IHC image documents human tissue only (catalog reactivity and IHC image caption).
Each figure is that product's own IHC / IF validation image from its datasheet.
References
- UniProt Consortium. UniProt entry P55345 (ANM2_HUMAN, Protein arginine N-methyltransferase 2).
- Human Protein Atlas. PRMT2 tissue IHC expression (reliability: Uncertain).
- Human Protein Atlas. PRMT2 subcellular location (ICC-IF): Localized to the nucleoplasm and cytosol..
- Human Protein Atlas. PRMT2 antibody validation summary (2 antibodies).
- Disruption of protein arginine N-methyltransferase 2 regulates leptin signaling and produces leanness in vivo through loss of STAT3 methylation. Circulation research 2010 — PMC2997704.
- PRMT2 links histone H3R8 asymmetric dimethylation to oncogenic activation and tumorigenesis of glioblastoma. Nature communications 2018 — PMC6208368.
- PRMT2 promotes RCC tumorigenesis and metastasis via enhancing WNT5A transcriptional expression. Cell death & disease 2023 — PMC10182089.
- Protein arginine N-methyltransferase 2 reverses tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer cells through suppression of ER-α36. Oncology reports 2018 — PMC5983932.
- PubMed PMID:9545638 — UniProt-cited evidence.
- PubMed PMID:9196002 — UniProt-cited evidence.
- PubMed PMID:21820040 — UniProt-cited evidence.
Immunohistochemistry protocol sheet for PRMT2 (Protein arginine N-methyltransferase 2). Expected localisation Cytoplasmic in most tissues (HPA tissue IHC). Antigen retrieval: Tris-EDTA pH 9.0 HIER, 95–98 °C, 20 min (rule: nuclear antigen). Validated IHC antibody: A04706 at 1:50-1:200 (the product's own IHC validation image is shown). Controls (HPA): positive Duodenum (Glandular cells); negative Adipose tissue. IHC workflow; specimen preparation unspecified. Protocol steps: 1. Sample: Paraffin-embedded human liver injury tissue; fixative not specified (datasheet A04706); 2. Fixation: Image fixative and duration unreported (datasheet A04706); 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-induced epitope retrieval in Tris-EDTA buffer, pH 9.0 , 20 min at 95–98 °C…; 6. Peroxidase block: 3% H2O2, 10 min , room temperature (standard); 7. Blocking: 10% normal serum of the secondary host, 30 min , room temperature (standard); 8. Primary antibody: Rabbit anti-PRMT2, 1:50-1:200 (datasheet A04706); 9. Primary incubation: Overnight at 4 °C (standard). Watch for: Fixation: Keep fixation consistent across sections (standard IHC practice; not target-specific); Caveat: Tissue staining awaits external verification; splice discrepancy flagged (HPA tissue IHC); Isoform / epitope: 7 isoforms; check antibody epitope coverage (UniProt); Regulation: Hormone exposure drives nuclear entry (UniProt). Evidence: UniProt P55345, HPA tissue IHC · Uncertain, HPA ICC-IF · nucleoplasm and cytosol., Datasheet A04706, PMC6208368, PMC10182089. QR code links to https://www.bosterbio.com/bosterbio-gene-info-cards/PRMT2/immunohistochemistry-ihc-guide.