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TCTN1 / Tectonic-1 · IHC design guide
Design Immunohistochemistry for TCTN1
TCTN1 is a component of the ciliary transition-zone complex (UniProt). Use this IHC-P guide to plan staining controls and interpret the general cytoplasmic tissue pattern (HPA tissue IHC).
Evidence assembled Oct 2026 · For research use; verify linked source records and product datasheet before use
TCTN1 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 | General cytoplasmic staining (HPA tissue IHC) | |
| Staining pattern | Ciliated cells: cytoplasmic staining at ciliary rootlets (HPA tissue IHC) | |
| Antigen retrieval | EDTA pH 8.0 HIER, heat-mediated (datasheet A09350-1) | |
| Positive control | Adrenal gland+4 more · see all | |
| Negative control | Adipose tissue+3 more · see all |
Important caveats
Reasons your staining may differ from the expected pattern.
| Fixation | Matched tissue-IHC evidence does not establish the fixation claim. Validate the specimen-specific method before use. (selected-SKU IHC image A09350-1) | |
| Caveat | Antibody staining has low consistency with RNA expression (HPA tissue IHC) | |
| Regulation | Choroid plexus RNA is tissue enhanced (HPA tissue RNA) | |
| Isoform / epitope | 6 isoforms; signal peptide 1–22; no TM-defined epitope side (UniProt) |
Section 1
Recommended TCTN1 IHC & IF Protocols
The catalog antibody’s IHC-P protocol uses EDTA pH 8.0 retrieval (datasheet A09350-1). One published human GBM tissue-microarray protocol provides a comparison (PMC4198629).
| Sample | Paraffin-embedded human thyroid cancer tissue; fixative not specified (datasheet A09350-1) |
| Fixation | Image fixative and duration unreported (datasheet A09350-1); 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 A09350-1); 20 min, 95–100 °C (standard) |
| Peroxidase block | 3% H2O2, 10 min, room temperature (standard) |
| Blocking | 10% goat serum (datasheet A09350-1) |
| Primary antibody | Rabbit anti-TCTN1, 2-5 μg/ml (datasheet A09350-1) |
| Primary incubation | Overnight at 4 °C (datasheet A09350-1) |
| Detection | HRP-conjugated secondary, DAB chromogen (datasheet A09350-1) |
| Counterstain | Hematoxylin, blue, dehydrate and mount (standard) |
| Expected result | TCTN1-positive staining in glandular cells of adrenal gland (HPA tissue IHC: High). HPA tissue profile: General cytoplasmic expression. No signal in the no-primary control. |
💡Decision noteStart with heat-mediated EDTA pH 8.0 for the catalog antibody (datasheet A09350-1); consider citrate pH 6.0 when adapting the published GBM protocol (PMC4198629).
Section 2
What Is the Expected TCTN1 Staining Pattern?
TCTN1 localizes to the ciliary transition zone near the basal body and is also annotated in the cytoplasm (UniProt Q2MV58 localization). In tissue IHC, expect generally cytoplasmic staining, with high staining reported in bronchial and fallopian tube ciliated cells, kidney tubule cells, and selected neural cells (HPA tissue IHC). HPA rates its tissue staining Approved but reports low consistency with RNA expression (HPA tissue IHC). TCTN1 has no annotated transmembrane segment (UniProt Q2MV58 topology).
| Cytoplasmic staining in kidney tubule cells or adrenal glandular cells; staining at ciliary rootlets in bronchial or fallopian tube ciliated cells. | These match HPA-reported high tissue patterns (HPA tissue IHC). A sharply resolved rootlet signal supports the expected location, but chromogenic staining may not resolve the transition zone itself (UniProt Q2MV58 localization; general IHC practice). |
| Predominantly nuclear or cell-surface staining, without the expected cytoplasmic or ciliary-region pattern. | Review this as a possible artefact in tissue IHC (HPA tissue IHC; UniProt Q2MV58 localization). Nuclear signal alone is not decisive: nucleoplasm is an additional approved ICC-IF location, so assess the antibody, controls, and tissue context (HPA subcellular ICC-IF). |
| Strong staining in adipocytes, bone-marrow hematopoietic cells, ovarian stroma, or placental decidual cells. | These cell populations are reported as not detected (HPA tissue IHC). Check cell identification and controls; cross-reactivity or endogenous detection activity are possible explanations, not conclusions from staining alone (general IHC practice). |
| Uniform chromogen across unrelated cells, extracellular areas, or the whole section. | This distribution does not resemble HPA's general cytoplasmic profile or its cell-specific examples (HPA tissue IHC). Consider nonspecific detection, inadequate blocking or washing, and endogenous activity before assigning TCTN1 expression (general IHC practice). |
| No staining in a well-preserved bronchus or fallopian tube section containing identifiable ciliated cells. | Those ciliated cells are reported High at ciliary rootlets, so absence warrants a technical check (HPA tissue IHC). It does not alone establish biological absence; inspect section quality, retrieval, antibody conditions, and detection controls (general IHC practice). |
💡Expected TCTN1 appearanceA credible positive shows cytoplasmic staining in an HPA-reported High cell population, ideally with ciliary-rootlet staining in bronchial or fallopian tube ciliated cells; widespread uniform staining or strong signal in HPA Not detected populations needs control-based review (HPA tissue IHC; general IHC practice).
| Cell population and location | HPA reports High staining in ciliated cells, kidney tubules, adrenal glandular cells, selected neurons and glia, and lymph-node non-germinal-center cells; several other populations are Low or Not detected (HPA tissue IHC). Score the named cells rather than treating an entire tissue as uniformly positive. |
| Subcellular resolution | TCTN1 is annotated at the ciliary transition zone near the basal body (UniProt Q2MV58 localization). HPA tissue IHC specifically describes ciliary-rootlet staining in bronchus and fallopian tube (HPA tissue IHC). A broad cytoplasmic pattern can still fit its reported tissue profile. |
| Antibody validation and expression agreement | Two listed rabbit polyclonal antibodies, HPA039687 and HPA040036, have Approved IHC status (HPA antibodies). The overall tissue profile nevertheless has low staining–RNA consistency (HPA tissue IHC); treat unexpected tissue results as provisional until controls or another antibody support them. |
| Protein processing and variants | UniProt annotates a signal peptide at residues 1–22, a mature chain at 23–587, six isoforms, and three glycosylation sites (UniProt Q2MV58 processing, isoforms, glycosylation). Epitope information is absent, so these annotations cannot predict which variants this antibody stains or the effect of retrieval. |
| Secretion annotation and topology | UniProt lists TCTN1 as Secreted but cautions that full-length protein might not be secreted; it annotates no transmembrane segment (UniProt Q2MV58 localization, topology). Do not interpret an isolated extracellular or cell-surface deposit as a confirmed positive without supporting controls. |
| Situation | Likely cause | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Expected ciliated-cell or kidney-tubule signal is absent. | The positive population may be missing from the section, or the IHC workflow may have failed (HPA tissue IHC; general IHC practice). | Confirm the relevant cells are present; check the positive control, retrieval conditions, antibody dilution, and detection reagents before scoring the section negative (general IHC practice). |
| Strong staining appears in an HPA Not detected population. | Cell misidentification, nonspecific antibody binding, or endogenous detection activity may account for the discrepancy (HPA tissue IHC; general IHC practice). | Recheck morphology and run omission and detection controls; compare the same cell population with an independently validated antibody when available (general IHC practice). |
| The whole section has diffuse chromogen. | Excess background can arise from detection chemistry, insufficient blocking or washing, or excessive antibody concentration (general IHC practice). | Inspect a no-primary control, blocking and washing steps, and the antibody titration; assess specific cells only after the diffuse signal is controlled (general IHC practice). |
| A nuclear-only pattern dominates the IHC slide. | The pattern differs from HPA's general cytoplasmic tissue profile, although nucleoplasm is an approved additional ICC-IF location (HPA tissue IHC; HPA subcellular ICC-IF). | Check tissue and detection controls, then compare cytoplasmic staining and the relevant cell types before assigning TCTN1 to nuclei in this section (general IHC practice). |
| Staining differs between antibodies or from RNA expectations. | HPA explicitly reports low consistency between tissue antibody staining and RNA expression, despite Approved IHC status for HPA039687 and HPA040036 (HPA tissue IHC; HPA antibodies). | Record the antibody and scored cell population; prioritize reproducible localization and controlled staining, and describe unresolved discordance rather than forcing a positive call (general IHC practice). |
| Can IF/ICC help assess a disputed compartment? | HPA approves actin filaments and primary cilium as main ICC-IF locations, with nucleoplasm as an additional location (HPA subcellular ICC-IF). | Use the separate IF/ICC guide for that application; compare its compartment evidence with IHC controls without assuming an IF pattern will be resolved in chromogenic paraffin sections (HPA subcellular ICC-IF; general IHC practice). |
Experiment evidence
IHC & IF images showing TCTN1 staining
A09350-1 · IHCIHC analysis of TCTN1 using anti-TCTN1 antibody (A09350-1). TCTN1 was detected in a paraffin-embedded section of human thyroid cancer tissue
A09350-1 · IHCIHC analysis of TCTN1 using anti-TCTN1 antibody (A09350-1). TCTN1 was detected in a paraffin-embedded section of human fallopian tube tissue
A09350 · IHCImmunohistochemistry of TCTN1 in human kidney tissue with TCTN1 antibody at 5 μg/mL.
A09350 · IFImmunofluorescence of TCTN1 in Human Kidney cells with TCTN1 antibody at 20 μg/mL.
HPA · Cerebral cortexHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Cerebral cortex. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000204852-TCTN1/tissue/cerebral+cortex#imid_10742039
HPA · ColonHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Colon. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000204852-TCTN1/tissue/colon#imid_10741949
HPA · LiverHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Liver. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000204852-TCTN1/tissue/liver#imid_10741966
HPA · KidneyHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Kidney. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000204852-TCTN1/tissue/kidney#imid_10741967
HPA · ICC-IF A-431Human Protein Atlas immunofluorescence, A-431, antibody HPA040036; green = TCTN1, blue = nucleus, red = microtubules.
HPA · ICC-IF A-431Human Protein Atlas immunofluorescence, A-431, antibody HPA040036; green = TCTN1, blue = nucleus, red = microtubules.
← swipe / scroll for more images →
Real IHC / IF data behind the staining-pattern expectations in this section.
Sample controls for TCTN1 IHC & IF
🧪Run bronchus first: ciliated cells must show staining at the ciliary rootlets (HPA: High in bronchus ciliated cells). Use adipose tissue as the negative tissue; adipocytes are not detected (HPA: Not detected in adipocytes). On the bronchus slide, neighboring cells without visible ciliary rootlets should lack the distinct rootlet pattern and provide a local background reference (HPA: bronchus ciliated-cell staining at ciliary rootlets).
Positive control tissue: Adrenal gland (Glandular cells, HPA High)
Negative control tissue: Adipose tissue (HPA Not detected)
ICC-IF cell lines (HPA subcellular resource): HPA ICC-IF images show TCTN1 in A-431, U2OS, ASC52telo, RPTEC/TERT1, hTERT-RPE1 (serum starved), with annotated localisation: Actin filaments (approved), Primary cilium (approved) (HPA subcellular).
Technical controls: Include a no-primary, secondary-only slide and a concentration-matched rabbit isotype control alongside the rabbit catalog antibody (selected-SKU tissue-IHC caption: rabbit anti-TCTN1); a TCTN1 knockout sample would provide a biological specificity control. Block endogenous peroxidase for HRP/DAB detection and assess background around bronchial ciliary rootlets (selected-SKU tissue-IHC caption: HRP/DAB; HPA: bronchus ciliary-rootlet staining).
⚠️Feasibility: A target-specific fixation window or fixation effect is unreported, and the selected-SKU tissue-IHC caption does not state the fixative. Heat retrieval in EDTA at pH 8.0 was used for the paraffin-section example; whether TCTN1 staining depends on that retrieval condition is unreported (selected-SKU tissue-IHC caption). ICC-IF images exist for this gene (HPA: subcellular ICC-IF images), while frozen-section performance is unreported, so neither can be called easier on this evidence; in bronchus, background at the small ciliary rootlets could be mistaken for the expected pattern (HPA: bronchus ciliary-rootlet staining).
HPA tissue IHC evidence for TCTN1
Comprehensive Human Protein Atlas IHC scoring per tissue (reliability: Approved — Low consistency between antibody staining and RNA expression data.). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adrenal gland | Glandular cells | High | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Bronchus | Ciliated cells (ciliary rootlets) | High | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Caudate | Glial cells | High | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Cerebral cortex | Neuronal cells | High | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Fallopian tube | Ciliated cells (ciliary rootlets) | High | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
Undetected expression · recommended negative controls
| Tissue | Cell type | Level | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adipose tissue | Adipocytes | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Bone marrow | Hematopoietic cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Ovary | Ovarian stroma cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Placenta | Decidual cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
Section 3
Advanced TCTN1 IHC Tips
Troubleshoot TCTN1 staining in paraffin sections by checking retrieval, compartment, controls and scoring before interpreting weak or diffuse signal.
What retrieval should I start with for TCTN1 in paraffin sections?
Start with heat-mediated retrieval in EDTA at pH 8.0 (datasheet A09350-1). The selected paraffin-section example used this condition before an overnight incubation with 2 μg/ml primary antibody at 4°C (datasheet A09350-1). If staining is weak, compare a carefully controlled retrieval time series on adjacent sections while keeping antibody concentration, detection and imaging constant. Check tissue integrity and signal in ciliated-cell rootlets alongside background; strong rootlet staining has been reported in bronchus and fallopian tube (HPA tissue IHC). Record heat exposure and cooling consistently, since retrieval differences can obscure whether a change came from the antibody.
Could fixation explain weak TCTN1 staining in my IHC sections?
Target-specific fixation sensitivity is unknown from the supplied evidence, so first document the fixative, fixation duration and processing history for each section. The selected example identifies a paraffin-embedded human thyroid cancer section but does not state its fixative (datasheet A09350-1). Compare sections processed together, use the same EDTA pH 8.0 retrieval, and check whether morphology remains intact (datasheet A09350-1 retrieval). If signal varies with processing, test matched material with one handling variable changed at a time; interpret that comparison as a workflow finding, not proof of a TCTN1-specific fixation effect. Include a no-primary control to separate detection background from weak staining.
Which TCTN1 staining pattern is plausible in tissue IHC?
Assess staining by cell type and compartment, and inspect ciliated surfaces at sufficient magnification to distinguish a rootlet-associated pattern from diffuse cytoplasm. TCTN1 localizes at the ciliary transition zone near the basal body (UniProt Q2MV58 localisation), while tissue IHC is described as generally cytoplasmic (HPA tissue IHC profile). Strong staining in bronchial and fallopian-tube ciliated-cell rootlets offers a useful morphology-based comparison (HPA tissue IHC). The subcellular record also reports actin filaments, primary cilium and additional nucleoplasmic localisation in IF images (HPA subcellular), but those observations do not by themselves assign every diffuse or nuclear chromogenic signal in tissue to TCTN1.
How could epitope choice change what TCTN1 IHC detects?
Check the catalog antibody’s immunogen coordinates before interpreting a negative section or comparing antibodies; those coordinates are not provided in this payload. TCTN1 has 6 annotated isoforms and a signal peptide at residues 1–22, followed by a 23–587 chain (UniProt Q2MV58). It has no annotated transmembrane segment, and glycosylation sites are reported at residues 36, 295 and 528 (UniProt Q2MV58). Therefore, confirm which isoforms contain the proposed epitope and whether retrieval exposes it in processed tissue before treating different staining patterns as biology. Document the exact antibody, retrieval and scoring region for every comparison.
How should I cross-check TCTN1 localisation by IF?
For the separate IF/ICC workflow, multiplex TCTN1 with a marker identifying ciliated cells or their ciliary structure, then compare signal within the same cells; ciliated-cell rootlets stain strongly in tissue IHC (HPA tissue IHC). Select a fluorophore channel with low tissue autofluorescence and include single-label and no-primary controls so bleed-through or autofluorescence cannot mimic colocalisation. Match permeabilisation to the antibody’s mapped epitope and intended compartment; TCTN1 has no annotated transmembrane segment, while its secretory status is uncertain (UniProt Q2MV58 topology and localisation). Evaluate puncta near the basal body against the reported transition-zone localisation, without assuming that broad cytoplasmic fluorescence is specific (UniProt Q2MV58 localisation).
How can I reduce diffuse or granular DAB background?
Run no-primary and detection-only controls, then inspect whether pigment, endogenous peroxidase or nonspecific secondary binding persists in the same regions. Include a peroxidase block before HRP detection, and titrate blocking and wash conditions while preserving the catalog example’s retrieval in EDTA at pH 8.0 (datasheet A09350-1 retrieval). Its example used 10% goat serum blocking, 2 μg/ml primary antibody overnight at 4°C, and an HRP/DAB readout (datasheet A09350-1). Compare background with the expected cellular pattern rather than simply darkening the chromogen; HPA describes general cytoplasmic tissue staining and strong ciliated-cell rootlets (HPA tissue IHC).
What is a defensible way to score TCTN1 IHC? ⚠ ANSWER MARKED FOR VERIFICATION
Define the cell population and compartment before scoring, then record percent positive cells and an intensity category or calculate an H-score using the same thresholds across sections. For focal ciliary staining, count positive rootlet-associated profiles per mm² of evaluable ciliated epithelium and normalize to the number of ciliated cells or intact epithelial area. Keep exposure, DAB development and section-quality rules consistent, and exclude damaged edges and necrotic regions. Report cytoplasmic and rootlet-associated scores separately: tissue IHC is described as generally cytoplasmic, while bronchial and fallopian-tube ciliated-cell rootlets show high staining (HPA tissue IHC).
When should an apparent TCTN1-positive section be treated cautiously?
Favor signal that follows intact cell morphology and appears in the expected compartment, especially ciliated-cell rootlets, over staining confined to cut edges, necrosis or tissue folds (HPA tissue IHC; UniProt Q2MV58 localisation). Compare the same region with no-primary and peroxidase-control sections to identify nonspecific detection or endogenous enzyme activity. A predominantly luminal or membrane-wide signal needs scrutiny because TCTN1 has no annotated transmembrane segment and its full-length secretion is uncertain (UniProt Q2MV58 topology and localisation). Even plausible staining is not definitive alone: the HPA tissue IHC entry is rated Approved while noting low consistency between antibody staining and RNA expression data (HPA tissue IHC reliability).
Boster reagents
Best TCTN1 / Tectonic-1 IHC Antibodies
Two anti-TCTN1 antibodies have human tissue IHC images (catalog IHC captions); A09350 also has a human kidney-cell IF image (A09350 IF caption). Catalog reactivity spans human, mouse, and rat (catalog reactivity).
Real IHC data
Anti-TCTN1 Antibody ®
Cat # A09350-1
Real IHC data
Anti-Tectonic-1 TCTN1 Antibody
Cat # A09350
A09350-1 has paraffin-section IHC images from human thyroid cancer and fallopian tube tissue (A09350-1 IHC captions). A09350 has a human kidney IHC image and a human kidney-cell IF image (A09350 IHC and IF captions).
Which to pick: For tissue IHC, choose A09350-1 when you want a documented paraffin-section workflow; its IHC caption specifies EDTA retrieval and 2 μg/ml antibody, but does not report the fixative (A09350-1 IHC caption). For cell IF, choose A09350: IF is listed as an application and its image shows human kidney cells at 20 μg/mL; ICC validation is not separately reported (A09350 applications and IF caption). For cross-species planning, A09350-1 lists human, mouse, and rat reactivity, while A09350 lists human and mouse; the shown IHC evidence is human for both, and clonality is unreported (catalog reactivity and IHC captions; catalog clone fields).
Each figure is that product's own IHC / IF validation image from its datasheet.
References
- UniProt Consortium. UniProt entry Q2MV58 (TECT1_HUMAN, Tectonic-1).
- Human Protein Atlas. TCTN1 tissue IHC expression (reliability: Approved).
- Human Protein Atlas. TCTN1 subcellular location (ICC-IF): Mainly localized to the actin filaments and primary cilium. In addition localized to the nucleoplasm..
- Human Protein Atlas. TCTN1 antibody validation summary (2 antibodies).
- Expression and prognostic significance of TCTN1 in human glioblastoma. Journal of translational medicine 2014 — PMC4198629.
- Ginkgolic Acid Inhibits VSMC Proliferation and Migration and Vascular Restenosis by Regulating Cell Cycle Progression and Cytoskeleton Rearrangement Through TCTN1. Cells 2025 — PMC12691368.
- PubMed PMID:16357211 — UniProt-cited evidence.
- PubMed PMID:12975309 — UniProt-cited evidence.
- PubMed PMID:14702039 — UniProt-cited evidence.
Immunohistochemistry protocol sheet for TCTN1 (Tectonic-1). Expected localisation General cytoplasmic staining (HPA tissue IHC). Antigen retrieval: EDTA pH 8.0 HIER, heat-mediated (datasheet A09350-1). Validated IHC antibody: A09350-1 at 2-5 μg/ml (the product's own IHC validation image is shown). Controls (HPA): positive Adrenal gland (Glandular cells); negative Adipose tissue. IHC-P workflow on paraffin sections; fixative unspecified. Protocol steps: 1. Sample: Paraffin-embedded human thyroid cancer tissue; fixative not specified (datasheet A09350-1); 2. Fixation: Image fixative and duration unreported (datasheet A09350-1); 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 A09350-1); 20 min, 95–100 °C (standard); 6. Peroxidase block: 3% H2O2, 10 min , room temperature (standard); 7. Blocking: 10% goat serum (datasheet A09350-1); 8. Primary antibody: Rabbit anti-TCTN1, 2-5 μg/ml (datasheet A09350-1); 9. Primary incubation: Overnight at 4 °C (datasheet A09350-1). Watch for: Fixation: Matched tissue-IHC evidence does not establish the fixation claim. Validate the specimen-specific method before use. (selected-SKU IHC image A09350-1); Caveat: Antibody staining has low consistency with RNA expression (HPA tissue IHC); Isoform / epitope: 6 isoforms; signal peptide 1–22 ; no TM-defined epitope side (UniProt); Regulation: Choroid plexus RNA is tissue enhanced (HPA tissue RNA). Evidence: UniProt Q2MV58, HPA tissue IHC · Approved, HPA ICC-IF · Mainly localized to the actin filaments and primary cilium. In…, Datasheet A09350-1, PMC4198629. QR code links to https://www.bosterbio.com/bosterbio-gene-info-cards/TCTN1/immunohistochemistry-ihc-guide.