title: Stain-Free total protein staining is a superior loading control to β-actin for Western blots.
abstract: Semi-quantification of proteins using Western blots typically involves normalization against housekeeping genes such as β-actin. More recently, Ponceau S and Coomassie blue staining have both been shown to be suitable alternatives to housekeeping genes as loading controls. Stain-Free total protein staining offers the advantage of no staining or destaining steps. Evaluation of the use of Stain-Free staining as an alternative to β-actin or the protein stain Ponceau S showed that Stain-Free staining was superior to β-actin and as good as or better than Ponceau S staining as a loading control for Western blots.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Gilda
authors.forename: Aldrin V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Gomes
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology; D051381:Rats; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins
keywords: Nitrocellulose; Ponceau S; Stain Free; Western blotting; β-Actin