It seems to be very difficult to follow a proper pattern of publishing the western blot data. Everybody follows different patterns (ex. in the no. of samples or etc.). Somebody please tell me where I can get the rules for how to represent the western blot data?
There is no such rule, you must show your results the easy way to be viewed. One of the most used is a photograph of blotings
Make sure to have enough samples to probe what you are looking at. I always use 8 samples per blot. Do a right analysis of densitometry and take photographs of them. I agree with Luiz Oliveira, show your results in the easiest and simplest possible way. As long as you are precise with your results, you will be fine.
Simple, we have to show what we really see, without faking them :)
First of all you must provide as much area of your western as possible so to convince people on the specificity of your antibody. Second, it is ideal to use the same blot after stripping to demonstrate the levels of a housekeeping protein. Concerning exposure, you should do multiple exposures, ideally up to the level of saturation of your weakest band in order to quantify how signal intensity correlates with protein level. This will help you to avoid overexposed images as Babak suggests and also help you to semi-quantify any experimental fluctuations of your proteins of interest. Finally and most importantly avoid Photoshoping as much as possible :). Good luck
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