Western blotting using PVDF membranes and its downstream applications

Abstract

Western blotting using polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes is one of the most popular techniques for detection and characterization of proteins. If this technique is combined with immunodetection, the behavior of a particular protein can be clarified. On the other hand, if it is combined with Edman sequencing, the primary structure of the protein can be determined. A protein sample is transferred from an SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) gel onto a PVDF membrane by electroblotting. The membrane carrying the protein is either used for immunodetection oprotein sequencing. SDS-PAGE followed by Western blotting combined with immunodetection using antibodies can easily detect protein behavior in crude protein mixtures. Furthermore, two-dimensional PAGE followed by Western blotting and Edman sequencing allows effective sequence determination of crude protein mixtures that may not be easily purified by conventional column chromatography.