Protein Electrophoresis and Western Blotting

Getting accurate and high-quality results depends on having the supplies and equipment you need to do your job efficiently and effectively. That’s why Avantor® carries your preferred products from brands you trust.

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Azure Biosystems - From Transfer to Imaging and Analysis

What's the most efficient way to do total protein normalization of NIIR blots? With the Sapphire™ Biomolecular imager from Azure Biosystems.

Cytiva™. Science forward.

Cytiva provides the tools that help advance and accelerate the development and manufacture of therapeutics.

What is Western Blot?

Western blot, or western blotting, is a process that detects specific proteins in a complex mixture of proteins extracted from cells or tissues.

Western blot originated in the late 1970s and is now a routine protein analysis technique used extensively by biochemists, molecular biologists, and cell biologists. The method results in both qualitative and semi-qualitative data and is helpful in a wide range of applications, including:

  • Lyme disease
  • BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy)

The three main steps in the workflow are separation by size, transfer to stable support, and visualization using appropriate primary and secondary antibodies.

Step one: Separation by size

Scientists and technicians use protein gel electrophoresis to separate protein mixtures according to the molecular weight of each component protein.

Step two: Transfer to stable support

After the proteins have been separated, they are transferred to a stable support membrane using a blotting apparatus.

Step three: Visualization with primary and secondary antibodies

In step three, antibodies specific to the protein of interest bind and are detected after the film is developed or digital images are processed.

How to Choose Your Western Blot Equipment

Reliable results may depend on using the proper western blotting protocol specific to your western blot equipment. Blotting kits simplify the purchasing process and include all necessary components to transfer protein, DNA, or RNA samples onto membranes for staining.

Avantor® can deliver individual components from various equipment, products, and supplies to help create a solution that supports your workflow.

What Is Protein Electrophoresis?

Protein electrophoresis is a laboratory technique in which charged protein molecules are separated according to physical factors by an electrical current that forces them to move through a gel. Protein gel electrophoresis is used in many proteomic analyses, including western blot, and helps identify various diseases. Protein electrophoresis is used to diagnose a type of cancer called myeloma, or multiple myeloma. It can also be used to diagnose other conditions, including:

  • Waldenström macroglobulinemia
  • Primary amyloidosis
  • Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
  • Diabetes
  • Anemia
  • Thyroid problems
  • Liver diseases
  • Certain autoimmune diseases
  • Nutrient absorption inability or poor nutrition

Selecting the Right Protein Gel for Your Research Application

Select the gel that’s best for your protein electrophoresis experiment by matching gel features to your needs. Consider your requirements for the following options:

  • Sample type
  • Gel format
  • Compatible gel tank
  • Gel chemistry
  • Sample volume
  • Separation type
  • Well format
  • Separation range
  • Number of wells

Protein Extraction & Sample Prep

Quality data depends on high-quality sample preparation. Find everything you need to prepare high-integrity protein samples and successfully extract them.

Protein Electrophoresis

Achieve optimal separation of your protein with the gel electrophoresis products and systems that best meet your requirements.

Transfer

Find the products you need to efficiently transfer your protein to a stable membrane and expedite protein analysis.

Probing & Imaging

Discover a wide range of primary and secondary antibodies to source the reagents your research requires quickly.

Featured Products

SpectraMax® iD5 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader

Five-mode microplate reader with automatic filter identification and western blot capability

Pall Centrifugal Filters

Pall’s centrifugal filter devices can accelerate sample processing, maximize sample recovery, add versatility and prevent solution bypass.

ClonePix™ 2 Mammalian Colony Picker

Providers of innovative bioanalytical solutions for protein and cell biology in life science research, pharmaceutical and biotherapeutics development.

Azure Sapphire

Whatever your imaging application the Sapphire Biomolecular Imager and the powerful Sapphire Capture software will deliver high quality quantifiable data.

Azure 600 - ultimate Western blotting System

Two NIR fluorescence channels. Laser diodes at 685nm and 785nm for better sensitivity than LEDs or white light sources. Three RGB fluorescence channels

AzureSpot Analysis Software

Interpret your data easily and accurately in either manual or automatic modes. It can automatically detect lanes and bands.

Western Blot Solutions to Help You Achieve Your Goals

Learn more about how Avantor® can deliver the innovative products you need to help your lab set science in motion to create a better world.

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