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PSMD11 / 26S proteasome non-ATPase regulatory subunit 11 · IHC design guide
Design Immunohistochemistry for PSMD11
Plan PSMD11 staining in paraffin sections using the observed cytoplasmic pattern in immune cells and testis basal cells (HPA tissue IHC). Interpret staining with the reported low consistency between antibody staining and RNA expression in mind (HPA tissue IHC).
Evidence assembled Oct 2026 · For research use; verify linked source records and product datasheet before use
PSMD11 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 immune cells and testis basal cells (HPA tissue IHC) | |
| Staining pattern | Cytoplasmic staining in immune and testis basal cells (HPA tissue IHC) | |
| Antigen retrieval | Tris-EDTA pH 9.0 HIER, 95–98 °C, 20 min (rule: nuclear antigen) | |
| Positive control | Testis+4 more · see all | |
| Negative control | Breast+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 | Staining shows low consistency with RNA expression (HPA tissue IHC) | |
| Regulation | Higher in ESCs; falls with differentiation (UniProt) | |
| Isoform / epitope | 2 isoforms; check epitope coverage for each (UniProt) |
Section 1
Recommended PSMD11 IHC & IF Protocols
The catalog antibody’s IHC-P protocol is followed by three published PSMD11 paraffin-section protocols (PMC11165170; PMC11965110; PMC12541842).
| Sample | Paraffin-embedded human breast carcinoma tissue; fixative not specified (datasheet A08940) |
| Fixation | Image fixative and duration unreported (datasheet A08940); 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-PSMD11, 1:50-1:200 (datasheet A08940) |
| 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 | PSMD11-positive staining in sertoli cells of testis (HPA tissue IHC: High). HPA tissue profile: Cytoplasmic expression in immune cells and basal cells of testis. 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).
Section 2
What Is the Expected PSMD11 Staining Pattern?
PSMD11 is a proteasome subunit found in the nucleus and cytosol, with no transmembrane segment (UniProt O00231). In tissue IHC, expect chiefly cytoplasmic staining in selected cells, including strong staining in testis Sertoli cells and moderate staining in lung macrophages (HPA tissue IHC). HPA rates the tissue staining “Approved” but reports low consistency with RNA expression; interpret the pattern alongside cell identity and controls (HPA tissue IHC).
| Cytoplasmic staining is strong in testis Sertoli cells; nearby cells show a different intensity. | This matches the reported high Sertoli-cell signal (HPA tissue IHC). Use the named cell population when judging a positive result: the HPA tissue summary also describes cytoplasmic staining in immune cells and basal cells of testis, so confirm the cells on the section rather than assuming all testicular cells should stain equally (HPA tissue IHC). |
| A lung macrophage has moderate cytoplasmic staining, with little staining in surrounding structures. | This is compatible with the reported moderate macrophage signal (HPA tissue IHC). Moderate staining is also reported in bone marrow hematopoietic cells, heart cardiomyocytes, kidney glomerular cells, placenta decidual cells and tonsil non-germinal-center cells (HPA tissue IHC). Differences among these cell types need not indicate assay failure; score each against its reported pattern (HPA tissue IHC). |
| Staining is confined to cell borders or extracellular material, with no convincing intracellular signal. | Treat this as a suspect compartment pattern: PSMD11 has no transmembrane segment and is assigned to the nucleus and cytosol (UniProt O00231). Nuclear staining alone is not automatically wrong, because nuclear localization is reported by UniProt and nucleoplasmic localization by HPA ICC-IF (UniProt O00231; HPA subcellular). Check morphology, detection controls and a known-positive section before calling the border signal specific (general IHC practice). |
| Strong staining appears in a cell population listed as not detected, while expected positive cells remain weak. | Consider cross-reactivity or endogenous detection activity before interpreting the signal as PSMD11 (general IHC practice). HPA lists breast adipocytes and bronchus basal cells among its not-detected examples, but its tissue IHC reliability note reports low staining-to-RNA consistency (HPA tissue IHC). A single unexpected positive cell type therefore warrants controls and review of its identity, not an automatic biological conclusion. |
| The section has diffuse color throughout, or a known-positive Sertoli-cell section has no specific signal. | Uniform haze obscures cell-level localization and suggests background from the detection workflow (general IHC practice). Absent staining in Sertoli cells conflicts with HPA's high testis result, but does not alone identify the failed step (HPA tissue IHC). Review the section, reagent and control results together before scoring the test specimen as negative (general IHC practice). |
💡Expected PSMD11 appearanceCall a result convincing when identifiable testis Sertoli cells show strong intracellular, chiefly cytoplasmic staining, or lung macrophages show moderate cytoplasmic staining (HPA tissue IHC); diffuse color or isolated cell-border staining without an intracellular pattern is suspect (general IHC practice; UniProt O00231 topology).
| Cell type and tissue | HPA reports high staining in testis Sertoli cells, moderate staining in several named cell populations, low staining in endometrial glandular cells, and not-detected staining in several others (HPA tissue IHC). Choose the comparison cell population explicitly; whole-section color can hide these differences (general IHC practice). |
| Strength of tissue evidence | The tissue IHC profile is “Approved,” with low consistency between antibody staining and RNA expression; HPA advises viewing images for staining in unannotated cells or structures (HPA tissue IHC). Treat the listed levels as observed reference patterns, not guaranteed results for every specimen (HPA tissue IHC). |
| Intracellular location | UniProt places PSMD11 in the nucleus and cytosol and reports no transmembrane segment (UniProt O00231). HPA ICC-IF places it mainly in the nucleoplasm and Golgi apparatus, with additional sperm structures (HPA subcellular). These IF locations inform compartment review but do not specify a separate paraffin IHC pattern. |
| Isoforms and processing | Two isoforms are listed, with no signal peptide or propeptide and a reported chain spanning residues 2–422 (UniProt O00231). The supplied sources do not identify the catalog antibody's epitope or establish whether it recognizes both isoforms; an unexpected IHC pattern cannot be assigned to one isoform from these records. |
| IF/ICC Q&A | Can IF/ICC be read like tissue IHC? HPA reports approved nucleoplasm and Golgi localization in ICC-IF, while its tissue IHC summary emphasizes cytoplasmic staining in selected cells (HPA subcellular; HPA tissue IHC). Use the separate IF/ICC guide for that application; the supplied records do not establish an IF protocol here. |
| Situation | Likely cause | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| No staining in a testis section containing identifiable Sertoli cells. | A failed staining run or an unsuitable section is possible (general IHC practice); HPA reports high Sertoli-cell staining (HPA tissue IHC). | Confirm the Sertoli cells are present and preserved, then review the primary-antibody, retrieval and detection steps against the IHC-validated antibody's instructions; compare with a successfully stained control section (general IHC practice). |
| All cells have pale, even chromogenic haze. | Incomplete blocking, excess detection reagent or insufficient washing can create diffuse background (general IHC practice). | Inspect the no-primary control, check blocking and wash steps, and adjust the detection workflow according to its instructions before judging PSMD11 localization (general IHC practice). |
| Color persists in the no-primary control during enzyme-based detection. | Endogenous enzyme activity or the detection system can contribute color independently of the primary antibody (general IHC practice). | For an HRP system, verify the endogenous-peroxidase block and inspect the detection-only control; correct the background before interpreting cell staining (general IHC practice). |
| Signal appears only at cell borders or in extracellular deposits. | That distribution is difficult to reconcile with the reported nucleus and cytosol localization and absence of a transmembrane segment (UniProt O00231). | Recheck cell boundaries and precipitate-like deposits, then compare the no-primary control and a reported positive cell population on a parallel section (general IHC practice; HPA tissue IHC). |
| A nominally not-detected cell type stains strongly. | Cell misidentification, cross-reactivity or endogenous detection activity are possibilities (general IHC practice); HPA's not-detected calls are observations from its tissue IHC profile (HPA tissue IHC). | Verify the cell type and inspect controls. Compare the result with HPA images and a reported positive population; retain the discrepancy in the record because HPA notes low consistency with RNA expression (HPA tissue IHC). |
| A nuclear signal appears despite an expected cytoplasmic tissue pattern. | Nuclear PSMD11 is supported by UniProt, and HPA ICC-IF reports nucleoplasmic localization (UniProt O00231; HPA subcellular). Tissue IHC emphasizes cytoplasmic staining in selected cells (HPA tissue IHC). | Assess whether the signal is cell-associated and reproducible in controls; record nuclear and cytoplasmic staining separately rather than discarding the section solely for nuclear color (general IHC practice). |
Experiment evidence
IHC & IF images showing PSMD11 staining
A08940 · IHCImmunohistochemistry (IHC) analyzes of PSMD11 (R310) pAb in paraffin-embedded human breast carcinoma tissue at 1:100.
HPA · Cerebral cortexHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Cerebral cortex. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000108671-PSMD11/tissue/cerebral+cortex#imid_12062823
HPA · ColonHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Colon. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000108671-PSMD11/tissue/colon#imid_12060177
HPA · LiverHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Liver. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000108671-PSMD11/tissue/liver#imid_12060162
HPA · KidneyHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Kidney. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000108671-PSMD11/tissue/kidney#imid_12060179
HPA · ICC-IF A-549Human Protein Atlas immunofluorescence, A-549, antibody HPA067433; green = PSMD11, blue = nucleus, red = microtubules.
HPA · ICC-IF A-549Human Protein Atlas immunofluorescence, A-549, antibody HPA067433; green = PSMD11, blue = nucleus, red = microtubules.
← swipe / scroll for more images →
Real IHC / IF data behind the staining-pattern expectations in this section.
Sample controls for PSMD11 IHC & IF
🧪Run testis first: Sertoli cells should stain (HPA: High in Sertoli cells). Use breast adipocytes as the negative tissue comparator (HPA: Not detected in breast adipocytes); on the testis slide, use any unstained neighboring cells to judge background, without assuming they are confirmed PSMD11-negative.
Positive control tissue: Testis (Sertoli cells, HPA High)
Negative control tissue: Breast (HPA Not detected)
ICC-IF cell lines (HPA subcellular resource): HPA ICC-IF images show PSMD11 in A-549, CACO-2, U2OS, ASC52telo, hTERT-RPE1 (serum starved), Sperm, KOLF2.1J, with annotated localisation: Nucleoplasm (approved), Golgi apparatus (approved) (HPA subcellular).
Technical controls: Include no-primary (secondary-only), host-species- and clonality-matched isotype, and PSMD11-knockout controls where available (standard IHC practice). Block endogenous peroxidase and check background in the testis section before scoring chromogenic staining (standard IHC practice).
⚠️Feasibility: No target-specific fixation window or fixation effect is reported; the selected A08940 paraffin-section caption specifies 1:100 but does not report a fixative (catalog caption: A08940, 1:100; fixative unreported). Retrieval dependence is unreported, so optimize antigen retrieval on the positive section (standard IHC practice). Paraffin-section IHC is illustrated, while the supplied IF evidence is from cell lines and provides no frozen-section or tissue-IF comparison; assess testis background before interpreting weak staining (catalog caption: paraffin-embedded breast carcinoma; HPA: ICC-IF cell-line images; standard IHC practice).
HPA tissue IHC evidence for PSMD11
Comprehensive Human Protein Atlas IHC scoring per tissue (reliability: Approved — Low consistency between antibody staining and RNA expression data. Antibody staining in cells/structures not annotated, view images.). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Testis | Sertoli cells | High | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Bone marrow | Hematopoietic cells | Medium | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Endometrium | Glandular cells | Low | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Heart muscle | Cardiomyocytes | Medium | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Kidney | Cells in glomeruli | Medium | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
Undetected expression · recommended negative controls
| Tissue | Cell type | Level | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breast | Adipocytes | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Bronchus | Basal cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Cerebellum | Cells in granular layer | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Cervix | Glandular cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Duodenum | Glandular cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
Section 3
Advanced PSMD11 IHC Tips
Troubleshoot PSMD11 staining in paraffin sections by checking retrieval, compartment, cell identity and controls before comparing chromogenic IHC scores.
What retrieval conditions should I try first for weak PSMD11 staining?
Start with Tris-EDTA at pH 9.0, heated to 95–98 °C for 20 min (page antigen-retrieval setting). Let sections cool consistently before washing, then compare the same control tissue across runs so retrieval differences remain interpretable (standard IHC practice). The catalog image shows PSMD11 staining in paraffin-embedded human breast carcinoma at 1:100, but its caption does not report a retrieval method (A08940 tissue-IHC caption). If signal remains weak, vary heating duration in small increments while holding antibody dilution and detection constant, and reject conditions that increase diffuse background or damage tissue morphology (standard IHC practice).
How should I assess whether fixation is limiting PSMD11 detection?
Target-specific fixation sensitivity is unknown from the supplied evidence; the paraffin-embedded breast carcinoma caption does not state a fixative or fixation duration (A08940 tissue-IHC caption). Record the fixative and processing history for each section, and compare sections with known, consistent handling before changing staining conditions (standard IHC practice). If signal differs between specimens, repeat staining with the same retrieval, antibody dilution and detection run to isolate processing effects (standard IHC practice). Avoid treating PSMD11 topology, phosphorylation sites or tissue staining patterns as evidence that a particular fixative preserves its epitope (UniProt O00231; HPA tissue IHC).
Which compartments should show credible PSMD11 staining in paraffin sections?
Evaluate nuclear and cytoplasmic staining separately because PSMD11 is reported in the nucleus and cytosol (UniProt O00231 subcellular location). The subcellular imaging record places it mainly in nucleoplasm and Golgi apparatus, although those observations come from ICC/IF and need tissue-specific confirmation (HPA subcellular). A purely membranous rim is difficult to reconcile with a protein lacking a transmembrane segment, so inspect section edges and the detection controls before scoring it (UniProt O00231 topology; standard IHC practice). Score compartments within identified cell populations, using morphology and a consistent counterstain, rather than averaging all visible stain across a mixed tissue field (standard IHC practice).
Can isoforms or modified residues explain divergent PSMD11 staining?
PSMD11 has 2 annotated isoforms, and the supplied antibody caption does not identify its binding epitope (UniProt O00231 isoforms; A08940 tissue-IHC caption). The protein has an annotated PCI domain at residues 224–392 and reported modifications including acetylation at residue 2 and phosphorylation at residues 14 and 23 (UniProt O00231). These annotations cannot establish which isoform or modification state the catalog antibody detects in paraffin sections (UniProt O00231; A08940 tissue-IHC caption). For discordant staining, obtain epitope information from antibody documentation and compare matched controls under identical retrieval and detection conditions before assigning an isoform-specific explanation (standard IHC practice).
How could I check an IHC pattern with multiplex immunofluorescence?
Use a separate IF/ICC validation workflow and include a cell-identity marker suited to the specimen, such as a Sertoli-cell marker when examining testis, where Sertoli cells show high tissue-IHC staining (HPA tissue IHC; standard IF practice). Select spectrally separated fluorophores and place the weaker signal in a channel with low tissue autofluorescence, checking unstained sections first (standard IF practice). PSMD11 has no transmembrane segment, so permeabilise the plasma membrane to access intracellular epitopes; no membrane-facing epitope side is specified (UniProt O00231 topology; standard IF practice). Compare nuclear and cytoplasmic signal with single-label and secondary-only controls, and do not assume the paraffin IHC caption establishes IF fixation conditions (UniProt O00231 subcellular location; A08940 tissue-IHC caption; standard IF practice).
What should I check when PSMD11 staining looks diffuse or widespread?
Run a no-primary control and inspect whether color develops in the same structures; endogenous peroxidase and nonspecific detection can contribute chromogenic signal (standard IHC practice). Apply a peroxidase block, suitable protein blocking and thorough washes, then develop DAB for a consistent time across comparison sections (standard IHC practice). The catalog image used 1:100 in paraffin-embedded human breast carcinoma, which is a starting reference rather than proof that this dilution suits every specimen (A08940 tissue-IHC caption). Because PSMD11 occurs in nuclear and cytosolic compartments, judge unwanted signal by compartment, cell morphology and controls instead of assuming all broad staining is artefactual (UniProt O00231 subcellular location; standard IHC practice).
How should I quantify PSMD11 IHC across mixed cell populations? ⚠ ANSWER MARKED FOR VERIFICATION
Define the scored cell population and compartment before analysis, then report the percentage of positive cells and an H-score if intensity can be graded reproducibly (standard IHC practice). For scattered positive immune cells, positive-cell density per mm² may better preserve differences in cellularity; normalise that count to the analysed tissue area (standard IHC practice). For an H-score, normalise counts to the total number of eligible cells in the same compartment and region, excluding folds, necrosis and section edges by a predefined rule (standard IHC practice). Keep retrieval, detection and image thresholds constant, and analyse relevant cell classes separately because tissue-IHC expression varies by cell type (HPA tissue IHC; standard IHC practice).
How can I distinguish credible PSMD11 signal from a staining artefact?
Look for reproducible staining in plausible intracellular compartments and identified cells: PSMD11 is reported in nucleus and cytosol, while tissue IHC reports high signal in testis Sertoli cells and medium signal in lung macrophages (UniProt O00231 subcellular location; HPA tissue IHC). Treat an isolated membranous outline, section-edge gradient or necrotic focus cautiously, and compare it with a no-primary control and intact neighboring tissue (UniProt O00231 topology; standard IHC practice). Check endogenous peroxidase when DAB color appears without primary antibody (standard IHC practice). The HPA tissue profile is classified Approved but notes low consistency between staining and RNA data, so corroborate unexpected cell-specific patterns before biological interpretation (HPA tissue IHC).
Boster reagents
Best PSMD11 / 26S proteasome non-ATPase regulatory subunit 11 IHC Antibodies
The catalog includes human- and mouse-reactive PSMD11 antibodies for IHC and IF; only A08940 has a supplied IHC image, from a human paraffin-embedded breast carcinoma section (catalog applications and reactivity; A08940 image caption).
Real IHC data
Anti-PSMD11 (R310) Antibody
Cat # A08940
A08940 is the only SKU with a rendered card; its IHC image shows a human paraffin-embedded breast carcinoma section at 1:100 (A08940 image caption). Its listed applications are IHC and WB, and its declared reactivity is human, mouse and rat (catalog: A08940 applications and reactivity).
Which to pick: For tissue IHC, choose A08940: its own image documents staining in a paraffin-embedded human section; the fixative is unreported (A08940 image caption). For IF/ICC, A08940-1 lists IF at 1:50 and human and mouse reactivity, but has no supplied IF image (catalog: A08940-1 applications, dilution, reactivity and image alts). For a rat sample, A08940 is the listed option; both antibodies are rabbit polyclonals, and cross-species staining still needs validation in the intended tissue (catalog: host, clone and reactivity).
Each figure is that product's own IHC / IF validation image from its datasheet.
References
- UniProt Consortium. UniProt entry O00231 (PSD11_HUMAN, 26S proteasome non-ATPase regulatory subunit 11).
- Human Protein Atlas. PSMD11 tissue IHC expression (reliability: Approved).
- Human Protein Atlas. PSMD11 subcellular location (ICC-IF): Mainly localized to the nucleoplasm and the Golgi apparatus. In addition localized to the perinuclear theca and principal piece..
- Human Protein Atlas. PSMD11 antibody validation summary (2 antibodies).
- Identification of PSMD11 as a novel cuproptosis- and immune-related prognostic biomarker promoting lung adenocarcinoma progression. Cancer medicine 2024 — PMC11165170.
- PSMD11 and PSMD14 may serve as novel biomarkers for the prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Frontiers in oncology 2025 — PMC11965110.
- Hypoxia-induced shift in the phenotype of proteasome from 26S toward immunoproteasome triggers loss of immunoprivilege of mesenchymal stem cells. Cell death & disease 2020 — PMC7272449.
- Osimertinib resistance-based immune prognostic related gene signature in EGFR mutant lung adenocarcinoma, in which PSMD11 promotes tumor progression. Translational lung cancer research 2025 — PMC12541842.
- PubMed PMID:9119060 — UniProt-cited evidence.
- PubMed PMID:9426256 — UniProt-cited evidence.
- PubMed PMID:14702039 — UniProt-cited evidence.
Immunohistochemistry protocol sheet for PSMD11 (26S proteasome non-ATPase regulatory subunit 11). Expected localisation Cytoplasmic in immune cells and testis basal cells (HPA tissue IHC). Antigen retrieval: Tris-EDTA pH 9.0 HIER, 95–98 °C, 20 min (rule: nuclear antigen). Validated IHC antibody: A08940 at 1:50-1:200 (the product's own IHC validation image is shown). Controls (HPA): positive Testis (Sertoli cells); negative Breast. IHC-P workflow on paraffin sections; fixative unspecified. Protocol steps: 1. Sample: Paraffin-embedded human breast carcinoma tissue; fixative not specified (datasheet A08940); 2. Fixation: Image fixative and duration unreported (datasheet A08940); 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-PSMD11, 1:50-1:200 (datasheet A08940); 9. Primary incubation: Overnight at 4 °C (standard). Watch for: Fixation: Keep fixation consistent across sections. (standard IHC practice; not target-specific); Caveat: Staining shows low consistency with RNA expression (HPA tissue IHC); Isoform / epitope: 2 isoforms; check epitope coverage for each (UniProt); Regulation: Higher in ESCs; falls with differentiation (UniProt). Evidence: UniProt O00231, HPA tissue IHC · Approved, HPA ICC-IF · Mainly localized to the nucleoplasm and the Golgi apparatus. In…, Datasheet A08940, PMC11165170, PMC11965110. QR code links to https://www.bosterbio.com/bosterbio-gene-info-cards/PSMD11/immunohistochemistry-ihc-guide.