Keep reading if you’re having problems using ponceau! Ponceau S is a fast, reversible protein stain often used to confirm that protein samples have successfully transferred from the gel to the membrane before a researcher moves ahead with the time-consuming process of immunoblotting.
Staining the membrane after transfer makes it possible to quickly and easily identify any problems such as incomplete or uneven transfers, or artifacts due to the presence of air bubbles, before probing the blot with antibodies. You can use protein stains to visualize all of the protein bands on a gel or membrane. Staining the blot with some total protein stain can provide a standard for total protein normalization of quantitative Western blots.1
Even though Ponceau staining is reversible, it is not compatible with fluorescent Western blot detection. After thorough destaining, Ponceau stain can leave an autofluorescent residue on the membrane that increases background fluorescence.
Learn more about AzureRed Fluorescent Total Protein Stain
The figure below shows a multicolor fluorescent Western blot. The right half of the blot was stained using Ponceau and then destained before immunoblotting.
Both halves of the blot were then blocked with Azure Fluorescent Blot Blocking Buffer and probed for four proteins using four different fluorescent probes as labeled in the figure. The blot was imaged using the Azure Imager RGB module which assesses Cy2, Cy3, and Cy5-compatible channels. Despite thorough destaining, a very high fluorescent 
background is seen on the half of the blot that was stained with Ponceau.
The figure to the right shows the same blot imaged using the Azure cSeries NIR module, which assesses 700nm and 800nm channels. The fluorescent background is reduced in the NIR-imaged blot, but is still substantial compared to the unstained half of the blot.
If you’re set on using Ponceau, choose Azure Ponceau to detect total protein transferred to membranes. This stain is reversible and can be used to check the efficiency of protein transfer before immunodetection. Each 500 ml contains enough stain for 50 standard blots that are around 9×7 cm.
Additional blog posts on total protein:
Shop Ponceau Stain Alternatives, like Azure Ponceau Stain
AzureRed Fluorescent Total Protein Stain
Azure Ponceau Stain
TotalStain Q (NC)
TotalStain Q (PVDF)
SOURCES
- Thacker JS, et al. Total protein or high-abundance protein: Which offers the best loading control for Western blotting? Biochem. 2016; 496:76-78. PMID: 26706797.
- Moritz CP. Tubulin or not tubulin: heading toward total protein staining as loading control in Western blots. 2017;17:1600189. PMID: 28941183.
