Hi,
I was interested about the specific mechanism by which tween-20 works as a block and wash of western blot membranes, but unfortunately I couldn't find much on it except for one bulletin. This suggested the large size of tween-20 would make it useful for a block but also that it's size is due to it's large hydrophillic head so that doesn't quite make sense. As for it's ability to wash the membrane of antibodies, tween-20 has a low CMC and so may incorporate loosely bound antibodies into mixed micelles, while leaving bigger more strongly bound proteins on the membrane.
I dont know though... any ideas?
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General chat about tween-20 as a WB block and wash
Started by Joe101, Jan 18 2013 04:01 AM
western blot tween 20 wash block antibody
1 reply to this topic
#2
bob1
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Thelymitra pulchella
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Posted 18 January 2013 - 02:29 PM
It doesn't function as a block at all - this is entirely down to the protein (e.g. milk powder) that you put in the block. The Tween acts largely as a surfactant to ensure that the whole surface of the membrane is coated and stays coated. It also acts as a stringency agent, stopping (mainly) non-specific binding by causing the antibodies to be in a partially denatured state.
