A red-dot-blot protein assay technique in the low nanogram range.

A simple, sensitive, rapid (3 min), and highly reproducible solid-phase assay for the detection of proteins in the low nanogram range (4 ng) is described. The assay is based on differential Ponceau S staining of the protein spots on nitrocellulose and quantification of the protein-dye complexes on lubricated membranes using a densitometer. The dye solution used for protein staining contained 0.1% Ponceau S in 15% phosphoric acid and 10% ethanol. Proteins were directly spotted onto pre-Ponceau S-stained nitrocellulose membranes, cross-linked with glutaraldehyde, rinsed in NaOH, restained with Ponceau S, and finished by rinsing in acid water at pH 3. Dry membranes were lubricated with mineral oil to achieve brightness of the colored spots before scanning with a densitometer at 560 nm. The assay shows tolerance to extreme acidic and basic buffer conditions and no significant protein-to-protein variations were observed. The effects of detergent contaminants and various other reagents such as polyethylene glycol, mercaptoethanol, and urea were also tested in the assay. The nonionic detergent, digitonin, and the anionic detergent, sodium dodecyl sulfate, up to 1%, and Triton X-100 up to 0.25% do not interfere with the assay. Efficacy of the assay was tested for five different proteins and the sensitivity was compared with the most widely used method of Bradford's.