Does the Presence of Ice During WB Protein Extraction Influence Experimental Outcomes?
If ice from the storage container is inadvertently introduced into the protein extraction process, it may alter both the concentration and the purity of the protein sample:
Dilution Effect
Upon melting, the ice increases the total liquid volume, thereby diluting the sample and potentially reducing the protein concentration.
Sample Contamination
Although uncommon, ice produced under non-sterile conditions may serve as a source of microbial or other extraneous contaminants.
For most Western Blot (WB) applications, the inadvertent introduction of a small quantity of ice is unlikely to cause substantial interference, particularly when the aim is to confirm the presence of proteins or to estimate their relative abundance. However, for quantitative WB assays or other applications that depend on precise sample concentrations or tightly controlled experimental conditions, greater caution is warranted.
If there is concern that the presence of ice may compromise the experimental integrity, the most reliable approach is to repeat the protein extraction while ensuring that ice is excluded from the procedure.
MtoZ Biolabs, an integrated chromatography and mass spectrometry (MS) services provider.
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