What is the Difference Between Nitrocellulose and Nylon Membrane?

Nitrocellulose and nylon membranes are used in blotting techniques for detecting specific proteins or nucleic acid sequences. They have different properties and advantages, which make them suitable for different applications.

Nitrocellulose Membrane:

• Mainly used for protein detection in Western blotting due to its high protein immobilization potential.
• Bind molecules through hydrophobic interactions.
• Give less background hybridization, especially when using nonradioactive labels.
• Brittle and difficult to handle.
• Hard to reprobe.

Nylon Membrane:

• Often used for Southern and Northern blotting due to their high affinity for DNA and RNA.
• Bind molecules through hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions.
• Provide higher efficiency of protein transfer from SDS gels than nitrocellulose membranes.
• Less brittle and easier to handle.
• Reprobing is easy with nylon membranes.

In summary, nitrocellulose membranes are more suitable for protein detection in Western blotting, while nylon membranes are better for Southern and Northern blotting. Nitrocellulose membranes have high protein immobilization potential and lower background hybridization, but they are brittle and difficult to handle. Nylon membranes, on the other hand, are easier to handle and reprobe, and they provide better protein transfer efficiency.

Comparative Table: Nitrocellulose vs Nylon Membrane

Here is a table comparing the differences between nitrocellulose and nylon membranes:

Nitrocellulose membranes are known for their high protein-binding affinity and compatibility with various detection methods, making them widely used in Western blotting. On the other hand, nylon membranes are often used for Southern and Northern blotting due to their high affinity for certain molecules. Nitrocellulose membranes are naturally hydrophilic, while nylon membranes are hydrophobic. Nitrocellulose membranes come in two pore sizes (0.45 µm and 0.2 µm), whereas nylon membranes have a single pore size of 0.45 µm. Nylon membranes are more durable and less prone to breaking during the blotting procedure.