Western Blot Kits & Buffers: What’s Included & Common Uses

Western blotting is a technique used in life sciences and molecular biology labs to detect a specific protein in a variety of biological samples, such as blood or tissue.

The method is widely used in medical laboratories to diagnose diseases. In addition to detecting proteins, this technique is also used to visualize, differentiate, and quantify proteins in complex protein mixtures.

The Western blotting method involves separating proteins through gel electrophoresis methods (such as SDS-PAGE) based on their molecular weight (in kDa or kilo dalton) or size. Then, the separated proteins are blotted on nitrocellulose or PVDF membranes.

The membrane-containing protein is subjected to a primary antibody (often tagged with biotin proteins) specific to the target protein followed by an enzyme-conjugated (such as streptavidin-conjugate) secondary antibody. Then, suitable detection methods are used to study the binding of antibodies to specific proteins using suitable detection reagents; these can include radioactive or chemical tags.

Some detection techniques used in the Western blotting workflow are immunodetection, mass spectrometry, and N-terminal sequencing. In immunodetection, a primary antibody and AP- or horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated secondary antibody is used for colorimetric or chemiluminescent detection. As an alternative, fluorescently labeled primary or secondary antibodies can also be used to visualize the reaction products directly.

Figure: A Western blot protocol overview.

In this article, we explain the types of buffers used in the process, Western blot kits available in the market to perform Western blotting, and factors to consider when choosing the best kit for your workflow.

What Do Western Blot Kits Include?

Previously, scientists needed to prepare their own buffer and reagents to carry out the blotting assay. However, with the advancement of technologies and fast pacing research and development in the industries, Western blot assay kits are now widely created and produced by manufacturers with the aim of shortening and simplifying the Western blotting process.

Some examples of Western blot kits available in the market for research use include a sensitive chemiluminescent kit, a Western blot detection kit, S-Nitrosylation Western Blot Kit and HENS Buffer, and Fast Western Blot Kit with ECL Substrate.

The components of the kit include:

• Reagents
• Enzyme substrates
• Antibody dilutions
• Reaction buffers

What are Western Blot Kits and Buffers Used For?

By using Western blot kits and buffers, we can perform Western blotting in a fraction of the time it takes to prepare the workflow from scratch, starting with buffer preparation and reagent preparation all the way through detection and data analysis.

Western Blot Kits

Western blot kits are whole packages of all the reagents, buffers, and antibodies you need to perform the Western blotting assay in their labs. Therefore, based on your goal and requirement you can incorporate them into your procedures.

You can either purchase a kit containing everything you need for end-to-end blotting assay or one that is only stage-specific. For example, there are some Western blotting detection kits available in the market to aid in the detection stage of the method. You can purchase them based on the detection method you want to use in your workflow.

Often these kits are sufficient to run 5-10 mini-gels (to find the exact number go through the datasheet provided by the distributor or check on their website using the catalog number of the product). These kits not only reduce the time involved in performing the method but also reduce the possible errors that might occur during reagent preparation.

Western Blot Buffers

Western Blot involves the use of a range of buffers, which include:

• Loading buffer: Used to track the progression of the bands in the gel. It consists of SDS, 2-mercaptoethanol, bromophenol blue, glycerol, and tris-HCL.
• Running buffer: Aids in the elution of proteins from gels.  It’s made of tris base, glycine, and SDS having a pH of 8.3.
• Transfer Buffer: Used during the transfer of proteins on the membrane. The preparation is based on the method you want to employ, such as wet, semi-dry, or dry transfer. The chemicals used in the preparation include tris base, glycine, methanol, and SDS.
• Blocking Buffer: Reduces background interference by improving the signal-to-noise ratio. It’s prepared by using reagents like 3–5% milk or BSA (bovine serum albumin) in a TBST buffer.
• Wash buffer: Usually tris buffered saline, TBS, or phosphate-buffered, saline, PBS, with 0.1% Tween 20.

How to Choose the Right Western Blot Kit

With the range of buffers and kits available in the market, it’s essential to ensure you get the right one for your lab. To help you out with the confusion, here are some factors that you should consider before putting your money into these Western blot kits.

Understand Your Goal

Before buying a kit, it’s crucial to understand what you want to achieve with the workflow —  what’s your goal?

To answer this question, ask yourself:

• What’s the level of sensitivity you want to achieve?
• Do you need the kit for end-to-end workflow or any specific stage?
• What type of proteins are you working with?
• Which detection method do you want to use?

These answers will help you to invest in the right Western blotting kit.

Understand the Contents

Read carefully what the kit contains. Some kits have everything for protein detection ranging from buffers, antibodies (Goat Anti-Rabbit IgG or Goat anti-Mouse IgG Antibody/HRP-conjugate), protein ladders, chemiluminescent substrate (ECL), etc. while some contain only half of the reagents.

Specifically, notice:

• Does the primary antibody is specific to your protein?
• What conjugates do the antibodies contain?
• Which detection method the kit is supplying (including substrates and enzymes or antibody tags)?
• What content does it have and what doesn’t it? For example, some suppliers provide all kinds of buffers and reagents in their kit, however, some don’t.

Check Reviews

This is obvious but definitely check for reviews before purchasing from any supplier. You can do this online or talk to your colleagues to learn which companies’ or suppliers’ Western blot kits have been working for them.

Do take some suggestions from the old players in the field. Not only does it give you some confidence in making your choice but it also reduces the risk of buying a kit that produces false data or does not work up to your expectation.

Whatever kit you buy, ensure it contains a high-quality and accurate concentration of reagents to help you save some extra time and money and obtain reliable data.

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Procure Your R&D Lab Needs with Excedr

Western blot kits and buffers are optimized reagents offered by suppliers to cut short the time involved in performing Western blot assays — 4 hours of assay can come down to just 55 minutes. Additionally, they also help in reducing hands-on time and yield satisfactory, accurate, and measurable results.

With the range of Western blot and ELISA kits available in the market, you need to understand your goal, the detection methods you want to employ, and the content they contain, to invest in the right kit for your lab. Additionally, do ensure they are high-quality reagents from trusted suppliers.

This should be combined with high-throughput equipment for a smooth assay experience and to obtain accurate and reliable results. However, it often goes over the budget for small and individual labs. Even for big labs that do not perform these assays routinely, buying such expensive equipment for a short-needed-time can be a waste of money.

You can avoid this by using Excedr’s leasing program.

The program allows all sizes of labs (small or industrial size) to acquire their desired equipment on lease. There are no upfront costs involved or any additional repair and maintenance costs. We cover everything under the umbrella of your leasing program.

Further, there’s no limit on the number of equipment you can lease; get one or outfit your whole lab, the choice is yours!

The category of equipment you can lease from Excedr includes life science and biotech equipment, analytical equipment, clinical equipment, and other biological sciences equipment.

With Excedr’s leasing solution, you can not save money but also gain the liberty to invest in your lab as per your preferences. By doing this, you can dedicate more time to your research, obtain vital accreditations, and achieve your objectives faster.