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#Western blot

4 public questions tagged with this topic.

Blotting Techniques

In Western blot, HRP with DAB gives what color?

Diaminobenzidine, abbreviated DAB, is classical chromogenic substrate for horseradish peroxidase used in immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. In presence of hydrogen peroxide, HRP catalyzes oxidative polymerization of DAB into insoluble phenazine polymer that deposits as reddish-brown precipitate precisely at site of antibody-antigen complex on membrane or tissue section. Precipitate is stable, insoluble in organic solvents, and archival, facilitating permanent record. Tetramethylbenzidine yields transient blue product turning yellow after acid stop, while BCIP/NBT with alkaline phosphatase yields purple-black deposit, distinguishing substrate-color relationships fundamental to assay interpretation.

Ref: NCERT Biology Class XII Principles on Klenow fill-in labeling, Lehninger Chapter 9 DNA cloning techniques, and Molecular Cloning by Sambrook Chapter 10 documenting end-labeling of cohesive termini.

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Blotting Techniques

Which enzyme-substrate pair produces light emission in Western blotting?

Light-emitting detection in blotting can be achieved through bioluminescence rather than colorimetric precipitation. Firefly luciferase catalyzes ATP-dependent oxidation of D-luciferin in presence of magnesium and oxygen, producing oxyluciferin, AMP, pyrophosphate, carbon dioxide, and photon emission around 560 nm. When luciferase fusion or luciferase-conjugated antibody is immobilized at antigen site, photon release is captured by cooled CCD cameras or luminometers without external excitation, minimizing autofluorescence. HRP with TMB produces blue color, alkaline phosphatase with BCIP/NBT produces purple precipitate, and beta-galactosidase with X-gal produces blue indole, none of which emit bioluminescent light.

Ref: NCERT Biology Class XII Principles on Klenow fill-in labeling, Lehninger Chapter 9 DNA cloning techniques, and Molecular Cloning by Sambrook Chapter 10 documenting end-labeling of cohesive termini.

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