Jackson Immuno Research Inc.
specializing in secondary antibodies and conjugates
Aug 22 22

Western blotting guide: Part 7, Membrane Washing

M Lewis

Washing removes unbound or aggregated proteins present on the blot as well as unbound reagents that may interfere with the detection of the target molecule(s) and helps to reduce background signal. Assay sensitivity can be increased by improving the signal-to-noise ratio which can enable more accurate analysis of the protein of interest. Part 7 of our Western blotting guide details best practices for optimal washing steps for the best Western blots.

It is necessary to wash the membrane after blocking and between incubations with the antibodies. Washing removes unbound or aggregated proteins present on the blot as well as unbound reagents that may interfere with the detection of the target molecule(s). Washing helps to reduce background signal, improving assay sensitivity by increasing the signal-to-noise ratio and enabling qualitative and quantitative analysis of the protein of interest.The correct washing reagents should be used at the correct concentrations to ensure removal of deleterious agents from the membrane.


Wash Step Procedure

  1. Washing is usually performed at room temperature.
  2. The blot is washed by placing the membrane in a volume of wash buffer that fully submerges the membrane. For example, an average 10 cm² blot would need >40 ml of washing buffer, we typically use 100 ml.
  3. The membrane is incubated in a wash buffer for 5-10 minutes and constantly agitated by using a rocker or platform shaker or suitable blot processor.
  4. The washing process is then repeated between each reagent incubation.

Choosing an Appropriate Wash Buffer

Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS)

PBS solutions can vary in their formulation, but approximate physiological conditions by combining sodium phosphate and sodium chloride to buffer the solution to a pH of 7.5. If the target protein is phosphorylated, or an Alkaline Phosphatase (AP) conjugate is to be used, PBS should be avoided as the phosphate can interact with phosphorylated proteins or quench the AP activity affecting result reliability.

Tris Buffered Saline (TBS)

TBS is sometimes used as a washing buffer as an alternative to PBS. It is typically made by combining Tris Base with Tris HCL and sodium chloride to create a solution with a physiological pH of approximately 7.2.

Detergents

Detergents such as Triton X-100, SDS, or Tween-20™ are added to prevent aggregation of unbound proteins. Sticky complexes can form and bind to the membrane, causing background Tween-20™ is typically used at 0.05% to 0.1% v/v of the solution.
Concentrations higher than 0.1% can strip the target protein(s) from the membrane and the antibodies bound to them, reducing the signal and accuracy of the blot.

Caution: Microbial Growth can create a background signal

Wash buffers should be made freshly before use.


Caution: Blocking reagents in wash buffers

Blocking reagents are sometimes added to wash buffers. We recommend using only solutions of the buffer, without the addition of blocking proteins like powdered milk or BSA.

Found Part 7 of our Western blotting guide useful? View part 8 here


References

  1. Blancher C. et al. (2001). SDS-PAGE and Western Blotting Techniques. Methods in Molecular Medicine. DOI: 10.1385/1-59259-136-1:145.
  2. Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories Inc. (2017). Western Blotting Troubleshooting Guide! https://www.jacksonimmuno.com/secondary-antibody-resource/technical-tips/western-blot-trouble-shooting/
  3. GE Healthcare. (2011). Western Blotting Principles and Methods. https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/content/dam/sigma-aldrich/docs/Sigma-Aldrich/General_Information/1/ge-western-blotting.pdf
  4. Bass J.J. et al. (2017). An Overview of Technical Considerations for Western Blotting Applications to Physiological Research. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. DOI: 10.1111/sms.12702
  5. Lewis M. (2018). An Introduction to Secondary Antibodies. Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories Inc. https://www.jacksonimmuno.com/secondary-antibody-resource/technical-tips/whataresecondaryantibodies/
  6. Lewis M. (2016). Direct and Indirect Western Blotting. Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories Inc. https://www.jacksonimmuno.com/secondary-antibody-resource/immuno-techniques/directandindirectwesternblotting/
  7. Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories Inc. (2020). Choosing the Right Affinity-Purified Secondary Antibody for your Application. https://www.jacksonimmuno.com/technical/products/antibody-selection
  8. Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories Inc. (2020). Multiple Labelling for Simultaneous Detection of Several Targets. https://www.jacksonimmuno.com/technical/products/protocols/multiple-labeling
  9. Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories Inc. (2020). Fluorophore Selection. https://www.jacksonimmuno.com/technical/products/conjugate-selection/fluorophore-selection

Comments are closed.

  • Recent Posts

    • Autofluorescence

      Download PDF Autofluorescence can present challenges for techniques such as immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunocytochemistry (ICC), and flow cytometry, where it may reduce assay sensitivity by increasing background or may even mask …Read More »
    • Meet the team: Marketing

      Download PDF Jackson ImmunoResearch’s marketing team is a global team, with members in the U.S. and the UK. We are the link between the company and the customers. Our diverse …Read More »
    • Tree planting with QA and R&D

      Download PDF Here at Jackson ImmunoResearch, we are committed to sustainable practices. Outside of our green laboratory initiatives, our team’s latest activities include a tree planting day at Peacedale Preserve …Read More »
    • Fluorogenic DNA-PAINT: Modifying DNA-PAINT For Faster Super-Resolution Imaging

      Download PDF DNA-based Point Accumulation for Imaging in Nanoscale Topography (DNA-PAINT) is an increasingly popular super-resolution microscopy (SRM) technique owing to its relative simplicity. However, DNA-PAINT is hampered by slow …Read More »
    • Your trusted partner for consistent and continuous antibody supply

      Download PDF For more than 43 years, Jackson ImmunoResearch has been a trusted partner to both academic researchers and commercial life science organizations. Our high-quality, cost-effective secondary antibodies, manufactured in …Read More »