The use of polyvinylidenedifluoride membranes as a general blotting matrix.

A fast chemical staining of protein by Coomassie blue on a stable nonshrinking membrane of polyvinylidenedifluoride is described. The procedure is especially useful for detection of nonlabeled marker proteins in comparison to specifically detected proteins. The membrane is highly suitable for other chemical stains like silver, gold, or india ink for immunostaining, lectin binding, and binding of radioactive ligands like 45Ca. Blocking of the background against nonspecific binding to proteins was studied using different reagents. A multiple slit plate is described for volume-saving simultaneous application of multiple reactants on one protein-loaded membrane.