Our mouse monoclonal antibodies have been cited in over 100,000 scientific publications. Alongside newly developed clones, we supply many well-established monoclonals that have been standard tools for decades. Examples include:

• 2G10 beta III Tubulin clone – a neuronal cell marker widely used in neuroscience.
• DM1A alpha Tubulin clone – for staining microtubules.
• JC/70A CD31 clone – a reliable endothelial cell marker for immunohistochemistry.

What are mouse monoclonal antibodies?

Mouse monoclonal antibodies are highly specific antibodies produced by identical immune cells derived from a single parent cell. They are created by:

• Injecting a mouse with an antigen (such as a peptide or recombinant protein fragment).
• Fusing antibody-producing B cells with a myeloma cell line to form hybridomas.
• Screening colonies to identify the best-performing antibody clone.

At Abcam, we manufacture monoclonals using hybridoma cells grown in culture, ensuring consistency and avoiding the ascites method. Alternatively, antibody genes can be sequenced and expressed recombinantly for advanced applications.

Advantages and disadvantages of mouse monoclonals

Advantages

• Batch-to-batch consistency – Monoclonals come from a single clonal cell line, reducing variability compared to polyclonals.
• Reproducibility – You can use the same antibody across experiments with confidence.
• Ideal for multiplexing – Works well in multicolor imaging alongside antibodies from other species (rabbit, goat, chicken) using species-specific secondary antibodies.

Disadvantages

• Background issues in mouse tissue – Endogenous IgG and Fc receptors can bind to mouse monoclonals, causing high background. This can be minimized with mouse-on-mouse blocking reagents.
• Limited epitope coverage – Monoclonals target a single epitope, which may reduce detection if the epitope is masked or altered.

Best practices

• Use appropriate blocking reagents for mouse tissue to reduce background.
• Validate monoclonals in your specific application (IHC, WB, IF) before large-scale experiments.
• Combine with antibodies from other species for multiplex imaging.

Ensuring the continued supply of trusted clones

We support the research community by maintaining production of classic monoclonal clones that have shaped scientific progress. Examples include:

• Frataxin clone 17A11
• PCNA clone PC10
• Smooth muscle Actin clone 1A4
• FOXP3 clone 236A/E7
• BRAF V600E mutation-specific clone VE1

These five clones alone have been cited in over 17,000 publications, demonstrating their impact and reliability.

Applications and use cases

Immunohistochemistry (IHC)

Mouse monoclonals are widely used in IHC for tissue staining. For example, JC/70A CD31 is a standard endothelial marker in vascular biology studies.

Western blotting (WB)

Clones like DM1A alpha Tubulin are essential for loading controls and cytoskeletal studies in WB workflows.

Immunofluorescence (IF)

Monoclonals provide sharp, specific staining in IF, making them ideal for cell imaging and co-localization studies.

Diagnostic and translational research

Validated clones such as VE1 for BRAF V600E mutations are critical in cancer diagnostics and targeted therapy research.

FAQs

Why choose mouse monoclonals over polyclonals?
They offer higher consistency and reproducibility, reducing variability between experiments. Learn more about how to choose and use your antibodies here.

Can I use mouse monoclonals on mouse tissue?
Yes, but use mouse-on-mouse blocking reagents to minimize background. Explore our mouse-on-mouse staining protocol here.

Are these antibodies suitable for multiplex imaging?
Absolutely. Combine with antibodies from other species and use species-specific secondary antibodies.