Successful protein blots can be produced via a range of methods, all of which have advantages and disadvantages, yet regardless of the technique, safety should always be a priority.Tris-acetate gels afford the best separation of HMW proteins. If this equipment is unavailable, the tank can be wrapped in ice packs and placed into a cold room, otherwise if an ice bath is absolutely necessary, ensure the level of ice is below that of the electrical components. These include built-in cooling systems that eliminate the need for ice immersion. Still if use of the ‘conventional’ wet transfer method is desirable, there are a number of companies that offer specialized wet transfer equipment. The heated buffer is thought to increase permeability of the polyacrylamide gel, thus facilitating faster protein transfer. One modification, the heat-mediated blotting method, is preferable over the conventional protocol due to enhanced transfer of both high and low molecular weight proteins. The ‘conventional’ wet transfer technique employs the use of a cooling system to reduce heat produced by the electrodes, although over the years modifications have been developed. Wet transfer involves immersing a gel-membrane sandwich in an upright tank of transfer buffer, usually with vertical platinum electrodes. Figure 2 shows the final product of western blotting using semi-dry protein transfer.Ī western blot of collagen-induced platelet activation over time using semi-dry protein transfer Other advantages over wet transfer include more cost efficient electrodes, less complicated power packs, and the ability to blot several gels simultaneously. It is slower than dry blotting, but is generally more rapid and efficient than wet transfer, and is especially suited to low molecular weight proteins.
Semi-dry transfer involves soaking up to six layers of gel, membrane, and filter paper in transfer buffer and sandwiching them between two horizontal plate electrodes. Little data currently exists to support these claims. The company claims their iBlot ® systems produce superior protein transfer quality in comparison to wet and semi-dry methods. The process is repeated up to six times to produce up to 12 blots, as desired.ĭry transfer is becoming increasingly popular due to the Life Technologies’ iBlot ® systems, which boast a blotting time of only 7 min. The technique involves sandwiching a single gel between two membranes and clamping it between glass plates to facilitate diffusion. The diffusion method is not widely utilized as it provides qualitative rather than quantitative transfer, but is especially useful in producing up to 12 blots per SDS-PAGE gel for screening with multiple antibodies. PVDF is also physically stronger than nitrocellulose, so may be preferable for stripping and reprobing. PVDF offers a higher binding capacity than nitrocellulose, but likewise has higher background binding. A number of membranes have been developed in the past, but only nitrocellulose and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) remain popular. Effective protein transfer is also heavily reliant on the gel acrylamide percentage, the molecular weight of electrophoresed proteins, and the blotting membrane used. Electroelution (wet, semi-dry, and dry) and diffusion transfer techniques all have their merits and applications, but it is important to note that method alone will not guarantee a successful blot. There are many safer methods for transferring proteins to a membrane. The protein transfer stage should carry equal risks to PAGE, although many labs adopt the method depicted in Figure 1 of the aforementioned article, which introduces further possibility of electric shock. The buffer should be covered at all times when attached to the power supply to prevent contact with the electrified liquid. Some tanks allow the unit to be plugged into the power pack without covering the buffer. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) is only unsafe if the equipment is not used correctly. To limit risk they should be handled with care, in a fume hood with the use of personal protective equipment. Protein extraction often uses β-mercaptoethanol and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), both of which are corrosive, acutely toxic and the former mutagenic.
Figure 7 from ‘Western Blot: Technique, Theory, and Trouble Shooting’.Īlthough Western blotting involves passing an electric current through a liquid environment, it is not a dangerous technique if performed properly however, it is easy to overlook the risks of each stage.
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