HA-tag

HA-tag is a sequence of amino acids in a protein that forms an epitope tag. It is derived from the influenza hemagglutinin protein (HA). The HA-tag is frequently used in the study of protein expression, localization, and interaction.

History

The HA-tag was first developed in the 1980s as a means to identify and isolate proteins in research. It was derived from a portion of the influenza hemagglutinin protein, which was known to be recognized by a specific monoclonal antibody. This allowed researchers to use the antibody to detect and purify any protein that had been engineered to include the HA-tag.

Structure

The HA-tag consists of a short sequence of amino acids: YPYDVPDYA. This sequence is recognized by the monoclonal antibody 12CA5, which binds to the tag and allows for the detection or purification of the tagged protein.

Uses

The HA-tag is widely used in molecular biology research. It can be added to a protein of interest through genetic engineering, allowing the protein to be easily detected and studied. The tag can also be used to purify the protein from a complex mixture, such as a cell lysate, by using the antibody to pull out the tagged protein.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The main advantage of the HA-tag is its small size, which is less likely to interfere with the function of the tagged protein. However, the tag can still sometimes affect protein function, and it may not be recognized by the antibody in all contexts. Additionally, the use of the HA-tag requires the availability of the specific monoclonal antibody.

See Also

• Epitope tag
• Protein tag
• Molecular biology
• Protein purification
• Monoclonal antibody

HA-tag Resources
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