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AAT Bioquest

Which membrane is better for protein analysis in western blotting?

Posted June 24, 2024


Answer

PVDF membranes, which have a protein binding capacity of 170–200 µg/cm2, are highly preferred for western blotting, particularly for hydrophobic proteins such as membrane proteins. This is due to PVDF's greater hydrophobicity, which helps it retain adsorbed proteins better than other membranes. Additionally, PVDF membranes are less brittle than nitrocellulose, making them suitable for experiments requiring multiple rounds of restripping and reprobing with different antibodies for various targets.  PVDF membranes also exhibit superior binding capabilities for high molecular weight proteins and glycoproteins. However, it is important to note that nitrocellulose membranes have a stronger binding capacity for low molecular weight proteins compared to PVDF membranes. 

Additional resources

Comparison of the sensitivity of Western blotting between PVDF and NC membranes

Western Blotting Assays

iFluor® 488 goat anti-rabbit IgG (H+L)