• Easy analysis and characterization of biomolecules
• Conservation of expensive test solutions
• Possibility of multiple investigations with one blot
• Concentration of a sample with consequent higher detection sensitivity
• Convenient storage of results
• Outstanding band resolution due to uniform, carefully controlled pore structure

Today blotting techniques are indispensable tools in molecular biology and biochemical research. The principle is as follows: The first step is the electrophoretic separation of proteins, ribonucleic acids (RNA) or deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA). In a second step the biomolecules are transferred from the separation gel (e.g. polyacrylamide, agarose) to a solid support (nitrocellulose, nylon, or PVDF membrane). The biomolecules thus immobilized on the membrane are easily accessible for very different detection methods. DNA, which is transferred from the gel to the membrane (Southern blotting), can be characterized by hybridization with labelled nucleic acid fragments. Thus e.g. a defined DNA sequence can be detected in a restriction enzyme digest of eucaryotic total DNA or in cloned DNA. However, other molecular biological techniques, such as screening of genomic and c-DNA libraries, also require the immobilization of nucleic acids on membrane filters. The same method can also be used for the specific detection of ribonucleic acids, e.g. messenger RNA (Northern blotting). Thus, among others, the expression of certain genes can be determined. Proteins, which are transferred to membranes (Western blotting), can be identified with labelled specific ligands (antibodies, lectins). With this method an identification of defined proteins, e.g. in serum or cell extracts, is possible.

Summary of porablot membrane applicability