Western blot
Western blot
Western blot (pronounced /ˈwɛstərn ˈblɒt/), also known as protein immunoblot, is a widely used analytical technique in molecular biology, immunogenetics and other molecular biology disciplines to detect specific proteins in a sample of tissue homogenate or extract.
Etymology
The name Western blot is derived from the name of its older sibling, the Southern blot, a technique for DNA detection. The name was given by W. Neal Burnette, and is a play on the surname of the Southern blot's inventor, Edwin Southern. The "Western" part refers to the Western world, as this technique was developed in Western countries.
Procedure
The Western blot procedure begins with separation of proteins in the sample using SDS-PAGE. The proteins are then transferred to a membrane (typically nitrocellulose or PVDF), where they are stained with antibodies specific to the target protein. The blot is then visualized using a detection method such as chemiluminescence.
Related Terms
- SDS-PAGE: A technique used in the Western blot procedure to separate proteins based on their electrophoretic mobility.
- Antibody: A protein used in the Western blot procedure to detect the target protein.
- Chemiluminescence: A detection method used in the Western blot procedure.
- Southern blot: A technique for DNA detection, which inspired the name of the Western blot.
- Northern blot: A technique for RNA detection, named in a similar fashion to the Western blot.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Western blot
- Wikipedia's article - Western blot
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