Lh. Lek et al., COMPARISON OF THE SENSITIVITY OF DIFFERENT INDIA INKS STAINING OF ELECTRO-BLOTTED PROTEINS ON FILTER MEMBRANES, Journal of biochemical and biophysical methods, 30(1), 1995, pp. 9-20
The sensitivity of different brands of India ink for staining proteins
blotted onto filter membranes is described. Proteins that are electro
-blotted onto filter membranes show better retention than those dot-bl
otted alone. Higgins engrossing waterproof black ink No. 893 can detec
t protein at a concentration as low as 5 ng which is much more sensiti
ve than Coomassie blue. The nitrocellulose membrane from S&S is ideal
for blotting proteins and gives low levels of background staining. The
sensitivity of protein staining is however, affected by the types of
India ink, ink concentrations, staining times and membrane lots. India
ink is also found to be useful for staining circulating immune comple
xes separated by SDS-PAGE and electro-blotted onto filter membranes.