Hello everyone,

I am having problems with re-probing membranes for Western blot analysis. Almost every time I want to re-probe with either the same or a new primary antibody, I don't get any signals even though the 1st probings are always succesful with nice signals.

Here is what I normally do:

- Run SDS-PAGE (typically NuPage 4-12% Bis/Tris in MES buffer) and transfer proteins to EtOH-activated 0.45 µm PVDF membranes

- Ponceau-stain and check that proteins were transferred succesfully

- Cut membrane into different sizes and block for 1 hr in 5% milk in PBS-T

- Incubate with primary antibody ON at 4°C (5% milk in PBS-T)

- Wash 3x in PBS-T (5-10 min each time)

- Incubate with secondary antibody 1 hr at RT (typically 1:10,000 dilution)

- Wash 3x in PBS-T

- Add ECL reagent and wait 2 min

- Develop using ImageQuant LAS 4000 (Increment, high resolution, 10s intervals)

- Wash off ECL reagent with PBS-T

- Add fresh PBS-T and store in fridge 4°C until re-probing

Then, the next day or a few days later, when I want to re-probe and analyse for the levels of another protein of interest, I don't get any signals at all. Not even from normal housekeeping genes such as vinculin, actin or GAPDH. It seems like the membrane is completely "dead".

What could I possibly do wrong??

I hope that someone can tell me what my problem is :)

Thank you so much in advance!

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