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Electrophoresis Articles

Overview of Western Blotting

By National Diagnostics | September 19, 2011 | Comments Off on Overview of Western Blotting

Proteins can also be detected immunologically following electrophoresis, a technique known as Western blotting. This method relies on the fact that most epitopes (sites recognized by antibodies, generally comprising several amino acids) are still recognizable…

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

By National Diagnostics | September 19, 2011 | Comments Off on Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

One of the most straightforward applications of immunological detection is the ELISA or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In the simplest system, the bound antigen is probed with antibodies that carry covalently attached enzyme molecules. Antibody binding…

Immunostaining with Alkaline Phosphatase

By National Diagnostics | September 19, 2011 | Comments Off on Immunostaining with Alkaline Phosphatase

Alkaline phosphatase catalyzes the removal of a phosphate group from its substrate. A variety of synthetic substrates have been constructed which, on phosphate hydrolysis, liberate chromogens or luminescent compounds. A commonly used chromogenic substrate is…

Mechanism of Immunostaining

By National Diagnostics | September 19, 2011 | Comments Off on Mechanism of Immunostaining

The highly specific binding interaction between antibodies and their unique antigens has been exploited to create sensitive and specific detection systems for proteins. An antibody can be raised and/or purified “against” (i.e. binding to) a…

Staining Proteins Immobilized on Membranes

By National Diagnostics | September 19, 2011 | Comments Off on Staining Proteins Immobilized on Membranes

Immunological detection of proteins requires that proteins be transferred and immobilized onto a membrane support after electrophoresis (see Western Blotting). Staining of the immobilized proteins establishes transfer efficiency, and allows the operator to mark the membrane…

Guide Strip Technique

By National Diagnostics | September 19, 2011 | Comments Off on Guide Strip Technique

In certain instances, the effects of staining a protein may interfere with subsequent analysis. Examples are Coomassie staining when enzymatic activity is required, or silver staining prior to amino acid analysis when covalent modification of…

Silver Staining Protein Gels

By National Diagnostics | September 19, 2011 | Comments Off on Silver Staining Protein Gels

Utilizing the same chemistry as black and white photography, silver staining is another highly sensitive method for the visualization of protein bands on electrophoresis gels. Silver ions are reduced to insoluble silver metal granules in…

Staining Protein Gels with Coomassie Blue

By National Diagnostics | September 16, 2011 | Comments Off on Staining Protein Gels with Coomassie Blue

The Coomassie dyes (R-250 and G-250) bind to proteins through ionic interactions between dye sulfonic acid groups and positive protein amine groups as well as through Van der Waals attractions. Coomassie R-250, the more commonly…

Protein Fixation on Gels

By National Diagnostics | September 16, 2011 | Comments Off on Protein Fixation on Gels

Fixing (or fixation) is the process whereby proteins are denatured and precipitated in large insoluble aggregates within the gel matrix. Fixation accomplishes several goals. Primarily, fixation prevents the diffusion of proteins, thus keeping the protein…

Autoradiographic Enhancement with Autofluor

By National Diagnostics | September 16, 2011 | Comments Off on Autoradiographic Enhancement with Autofluor

Autoradiographic Enhancement with Autofluor: The Procedure National Diagnostics’ Autofluor is an extremely sensitive, water based fluorographic enhancer for autoradiography on gels, TLC plates or paper chromatograms. GELS After staining, fix the gel with 5% glacial…