Blocking Buffers for Western Blotting and ELISA
Watch this video on blocking Western blot membranes
Purpose and Function of Blocking Steps
The membrane supports used in Western blotting have a high affinity for proteins. Therefore, after the transfer of the proteins from the gel, it is important to block the remaining surface of the membrane to prevent nonspecific binding of the detection antibodies during subsequent steps. A variety of blocking buffers ranging from milk or normal serum to highly purified proteins have been used to block free sites on a membrane. The blocking buffer should improve the sensitivity of the assay by reducing background interference and improving the signal to noise ratio. The ideal blocking buffer will bind to all potential sites of nonspecific interaction, eliminating background altogether without altering or obscuring the epitope for antibody binding.
The proper choice of blocker for a given blot depends on the antigen itself and on the type of detection label used. For example, in applications where alkaline phosphatase conjugates are used, a blocking buffer in TBS should be selected because PBS interferes with alkaline phosphatase. For true optimization of the blocking step for a particular immunoassay, empirical testing is essential. Many factors, including various protein:protein interactions unique to a given set of immunoassay reagents, can influence nonspecific binding. The most important parameter when selecting a blocker is the signal:noise ratio, measured as the signal obtained with a sample containing the target analyte, as compared to that obtained with a sample without the target analyte. Using inadequate amounts of blocker will result in excessive background staining and a reduced signal:noise ratio. Using excessive concentrations of blocker may mask antibody:antigen interactions or inhibit the marker enzyme, again causing a reduction of the signal:noise ratio. When developing any new immunoassay, it is important to test several different blockers for the highest signal:noise ratio in the assay. No single blocking agent is ideal for every occasion since each antibody-antigen pair has unique characteristics.
Blocking Buffer Optimization
The accompanying figure illustrates the value of testing different blocking buffers as part of a Western blotting optimization experiment. In this example experiment, in which all other conditions were equal, different blocking buffers quenched or enhanced the sensitivity and specificity of the Western blot for individual proteins. In other cases, one blocking buffer or another might cause speckling or high background.
Western Blotting Handbook and Troubleshooting Guide
The "Thermo Scientific Pierce Western Blotting Handbook and Troubleshooting Guide" (2014) details each step of the Western blotting process with technical information and products for transfer, blocking, washing, antibodies, substrates, film and stripping buffer, including Pierce Fast Western products. You will want to keep this booklet close at hand because it also includes protocols, references and a troubleshooting guide.
Overview of Available Blocking Buffer Products
|StartingBlock Blocking Buffers||Single purified protein; fast blocking; broad applicability; excellent for stripping and reprobing Western blots; available in PBS and TBS with and without T20|
|SuperBlock Blocking Buffers||Single purified glycoprotein; fast blocking; broad applicability; stabilizes plate-coated antibodies for drying; available in PBS and TBS with and without T20|
|Blocker BSA Blocking Buffers||Purified bovine serum albumin in PBS or TBS|
|Blocker Casein Blocking Buffers||Purified casein in PBS or TBS|
|Blocker BLOTTO Blocking Buffer||Non-fat dry milk proteins in TBS|
|Pierce Clear Milk Blocking Buffer||Milk proteins, clarified and stabilized in proprietary solution|
|Pierce Fast Blocking Buffer||Proprietary proteins formulation in TBS; developed especially for rapid, 5-minute blocking of Western blots as part of the Fast Western Blot system|
|SEA BLOCK Blocking Buffer||Steelhead salmon serum|
|Protein-Free Blocking Buffers||Proprietary non-protein blocking compound; available in PBS and TBS with and without T20|
|† PBS = phosphate buffered saline; TBS = Tris buffered saline; T20 = Tween* 20 Detergent|
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.