Western blotting is a tried and true way to detect and evaluate protein expression and is widely used by researchers. While it has been around for decades, Western blots are still presented as data in both scientific talks and in published manuscripts. Getting a Western blot ready for publication (Figure 1) is the goal for many scientists, but as some can attest, the process is not always easy. The 3 tips in this post will help you best prepare your images for publication.
There are a number of steps in the Western blot process and many of these contribute to getting Western Blot images that are publication-worthy. For instance, if you do not have adequate blocking, you can end up with lots of background noise. While you may essentially see the answer you have been looking for, if the image of the Western blot is not ideal, it can bring into question the validity of the result all together.
AZURE EXPERT TIP #1: Thoroughly Plan Your Experiment
Like we discussed previously in this article, planning is key to producing optimal Western blot images. Steps like validating antibodies ensuring all materials are not out of date help with the overall success of your experiment.
A big part of planning that affects publication is the order of your samples. Make sure you are loading the samples in a way that would be ideal for publication. If you have extra lanes, consider adding in some additional samples to simply test if there’s a protein you will be probing for, but these samples have nothing to do with the experiment at hand. This can be a wise use of your resources, but if done incorrectly, can jeopardize the chance of your Western blot being used in a publication.
AZURE EXPERT TIP #2: Get a Variety of Exposures
A key part of getting publication-worthy Western blot images is the exposure and how the image is acquired. As a graduate student, I heard countless times about how I did not get the correct exposure of the Western blot. It took me a good while to figure out that it is really important to get a variety of exposures from faint to over-exposed. Having a number of exposures not only allows you to fully assess the data, but it also gives you a number of options for use in a publication.
If you’re still using film, the way the image looks in the darkroom may not be conveyed once you scan it; you want make sure there are options to choose from that best represent your data. Want faster results? Get out of the darkoom! Elevate your images by using a digital imager, like the new Azure Sapphire FL. The Sapphire FL is a laser-scanning instrument that delivers uncompromising performance for visible and NIR fluorescence imaging, chemiluminescence, and phosphor imaging. The Sapphire has been published in numerous journals, such as MDPI, Nature, PLOS, and more. Azure offers multiple different systems for your imaging needs, from Western blotting to small animal imaging. Check out our full line of systems here.
Using an high-quality imager, like the Sapphire FL will inherently capture a number of exposures and images for you to choose from, and will ultimately free up a lot of your time.
AZURE EXPERT TIP #3: Label and Organize
This may seem obvious, but not all scientists are naturally organized and orderly, so it warrants being said. Being organized and having all things labeled is really important. Even if you do not think the experiment is usable for a publication or a talk, you never know if it will be needed later.
With this in mind, always make sure to take the time to label each lane (right on the film if you did not use an imager), add the date, and make it very clear which experiment the exposures go with. You will likely perform many Western blot experiments. It can take years to get the data needed for a paper. Instead of trying to figure out which Western blot images go with which experiment you did 2 years ago, save yourself the time and headache by making sure everything is organized and labeled well the first time.
With these 3 tips, you will set yourself up to get publication-worthy Western blot images every time. Incorporating these tips into your Western blot routine will prepare you for success when it comes to time to publish your data. What are your favorite tips? Share them with us using the form on this page.
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