= Western blot
{wiki}
= Immunoblot
{synonym}
A <Western blot> detects selected <proteins> after their separation and transfer to a membrane, using <antibodies>. In the <yeast cross-species complementation experiment>, detection helps distinguish failed <protein> production from failure of an expressed <protein> to restore growth.
The useful idea is to preserve where <proteins> migrated in <gel electrophoresis>, then ask which positions retain an <antibody>. <Western blot separation>, <Western blot transfer> and <Western blot antibody detection> answer different questions. A band is evidence of retained label at a position; <Western blot band interpretation> requires <Western blot controls> before assigning identity or comparing abundance.
\Image[/western-blot-transfer-antibody-workflow.png]
{title=<Western blot separation>, <Western blot transfer> and <Western blot antibody detection>}
{description=Original schematic of an <SDS-PAGE>-based workflow, showing transfer towards the <anode> and an indirect <antibody> readout. The drawn bands and binding shapes are explanatory symbols, not measured data or a reconstruction of the original apparatus. The acidic <urea>-gel experiment discussed under <Western blot transfer> used the opposite polarity.}
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