Caspase-9 Antibody (Human Specific) #9502

Western Blotting Protocol

For western blots, incubate membrane with diluted primary antibody in 5% w/v nonfat dry milk, 1X TBS, 0.1% Tween^® 20 at 4°C with gentle shaking, overnight.

NOTE: Please refer to primary antibody datasheet or product webpage for recommended antibody dilution.

A. Solutions and Reagents

NOTE: Prepare solutions with reverse osmosis deionized (RODI) or equivalent grade water.

1. 20X Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS): (#9808) To prepare 1 L 1X PBS: add 50 ml 20X PBS to 950 ml dH₂O, mix.
2. 10X Tris Buffered Saline (TBS): (#12498) To prepare 1 L 1X TBS: add 100 ml 10X to 900 ml dH₂O, mix.
3. 1X SDS Sample Buffer: Blue Loading Pack (#7722) or Red Loading Pack (#7723) Prepare fresh 3X reducing loading buffer by adding 1/10 volume 30X DTT to 1 volume of 3X SDS loading buffer. Dilute to 1X with dH₂O.
4. 10X Tris-Glycine SDS Running Buffer: (#4050) To prepare 1 L 1X running buffer: add 100 ml 10X running buffer to 900 ml dH₂O, mix.
5. 10X Tris-Glycine Transfer Buffer: (#12539) To prepare 1 L 1X Transfer Buffer: add 100 ml 10X Transfer Buffer to 200 ml methanol + 700 ml dH₂O, mix.
6. 10X Tris Buffered Saline with Tween^® 20 (TBST): (#9997) To prepare 1 L 1X TBST: add 100 ml 10X TBST to 900 ml dH₂O, mix.
7. Nonfat Dry Milk: (#9999).
8. Blocking Buffer: 1X TBST with 5% w/v nonfat dry milk; for 150 ml, add 7.5 g nonfat dry milk to 150 ml 1X TBST and mix well.
9. Wash Buffer: (#9997) 1X TBST.
10. Primary Antibody Dilution Buffer: 1X TBST with 5% nonfat dry milk; for 20 ml, add 1.0 g nonfat dry milk to 20 ml 1X TBST and mix well.
11. Biotinylated Protein Ladder Detection Pack: (#7727).
12. Prestained Protein Marker, Broad Range (11-190 kDa): (#13953).
13. Blotting Membrane and Paper: (#12369) This protocol has been optimized for nitrocellulose membranes. Pore size 0.2 µm is generally recommended.
14. Secondary Antibody Conjugated to HRP: Anti-rabbit IgG, HRP-linked Antibody (#7074).
15. Detection Reagent: SignalFire™ ECL Reagent (#6883).

B. Protein Blotting

A general protocol for sample preparation.

1. Treat cells by adding fresh media containing regulator for desired time.
2. Aspirate media from cultures; wash cells with 1X PBS; aspirate.
3. Lyse cells by adding 1X SDS sample buffer (100 µl per well of 6-well plate or 500 µl for a 10 cm diameter plate). Immediately scrape the cells off the plate and transfer the extract to a microcentrifuge tube. Keep on ice.
4. Sonicate for 10–15 sec to complete cell lysis and shear DNA (to reduce sample viscosity).
5. Heat a 20 µl sample to 95–100°C for 5 min; cool on ice.
6. Microcentrifuge for 5 min.

7. Load 20 µl onto SDS-PAGE gel (10 cm x 10 cm).

   NOTE: Loading of prestained molecular weight markers (#13953, 10 µl/lane) to verify electrotransfer and biotinylated protein ladder (#7727, 10 µl/lane) to determine molecular weights are recommended.

8. Electrotransfer to nitrocellulose membrane (#12369).

C. Membrane Blocking and Antibody Incubations

NOTE: Volumes are for 10 cm x 10 cm (100 cm²) of membrane; for different sized membranes, adjust volumes accordingly.

I. Membrane Blocking

1. (Optional) After transfer, wash nitrocellulose membrane with 25 ml TBS for 5 min at room temperature.
2. Incubate membrane in 25 ml of blocking buffer for 1 hr at room temperature.
3. Wash three times for 5 min each with 15 ml of TBST.

II. Primary Antibody Incubation

1. Incubate membrane and primary antibody (at the appropriate dilution and diluent as recommended in the product datasheet) in 10 ml primary antibody dilution buffer with gentle agitation overnight at 4°C.
2. Wash three times for 5 min each with 15 ml of TBST.
3. Incubate membrane with Anti-rabbit IgG, HRP-linked Antibody (#7074 at 1:2000) and Anti-biotin, HRP-linked Antibody (#7075 at 1:1000–1:3000) to detect biotinylated protein markers in 10 ml of blocking buffer with gentle agitation for 1 hr at room temperature.
4. Wash three times for 5 min each with 15 ml of TBST.
5. Proceed with detection (Section D).

D. Detection of Proteins

Directions for Use:

1. Wash membrane-bound HRP (antibody conjugate) three times for 5 minutes in TBST.
2. Prepare 1X SignalFire™ ECL Reagent (#6883)by diluting one part 2X Reagent A and one part 2X Reagent B (e.g. for 10 ml, add 5 ml Reagent A and 5 ml Reagent B). Mix well.
3. Incubate substrate with membrane for 1 minute, remove excess solution (membrane remains wet), wrap in plastic and expose to X-ray film.

* Avoid repeated exposure to skin.

Western Blot Reprobing Protocol

Reprobing of an existing membrane is a convenient means to immunoblot for multiple proteins independently when only a limited amount of sample is available. It should be noted that for the best possible results a fresh blot is always recommended. Reprobing can be a valuable method but with each reprobing of a blot there is potential for increased background signal. Additionally, it is recommended that you verify the removal of the first antibody complex prior to reprobing so that signal attributed to binding of the new antibody is not leftover signal from the first immunoblotting experiment. This can be done by re-exposing the blot to ECL reagents and making sure there is no signal prior to adding the next primary antibody.

A. Solutions and Reagents

NOTE: Prepare solutions with reverse osmosis deionized (RODI) or equivalently purified water.

1. Wash Buffer: Tris Buffered Saline with Tween^® 20 (TBST-10X) (#9997)
2. Stripping Buffer: To prepare 100 ml, mix 6.25 ml of 1M Tris-HCl pH 6.8, 10 ml of 20% SDS and 700 μl β-mercaptoethanol. Bring to 100 ml with deionized H₂0. Make buffer fresh just prior to use.

B. Protocol

1. After film exposure, wash membrane four times for 5 min each in TBST. Best results are obtained if the membrane is not allowed to dry.
2. Incubate membrane for 30 min at 50°C in stripping buffer (with slight agitation).
3. Wash membrane six times for 5 min each in TBST.
4. (Optional) To assure that the original signal is removed, wash membrane twice for 5 min each with 10 ml of TBST. Incubate membrane with LumiGLO^® with gentle agitation for 1 min at room temperature. Drain membrane of excess developing solution. Do not let dry. Wrap in plastic wrap and expose to x-ray film.
5. Wash membrane again four times for 5 min each in TBST.
6. The membrane is now ready to reuse. Start detection at the "Membrane Blocking and Antibody Incubations" step in the Western Immunoblotting Protocol.

Flow Cytometry, Methanol Permeabilization Protocol for Rabbit Antibodies

A. Solutions and Reagents

All reagents required for this protocol may be efficiently purchased together in our Intracellular Flow Cytometry Kit (Methanol) #13593, or individually using the catalog numbers listed below.

NOTE: Prepare solutions with reverse osmosis deionized (RODI) or equivalent grade water.

1. 1X Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS): To prepare 1 L 1X PBS: add 100 ml 10X PBS (#12528) to 900 ml water mix.
2. 4% Formaldehyde, Methanol-Free (#47746)
3. 100% Methanol (#13604): Chill before use
4. Antibody Dilution Buffer: Purchase ready-to-use Flow Cytometry Antibody Dilution Buffer (#13616), or prepare a 0.5% BSA PBS buffer by dissolving 0.5 g Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) (#9998) in 100 ml 1X PBS. Store at 4°C.
5. Recommended Anti-Rabbit secondary antibodies::
   • Anti-Rabbit IgG (H+L), F(ab')2 Fragment (Alexa Fluor^® 488 Conjugate) #4412
   • Anti-Rabbit IgG (H+L), F(ab')2 Fragment (Alexa Fluor^® 594 Conjugate) #8889
   • Anti-Rabbit IgG (H+L), F(ab')2 Fragment (Alexa Fluor^® 647 Conjugate) #4414
   • Anti-Rabbit IgG (H+L), F(ab')2 Fragment (PE Conjugate) #79408

NOTE: When including fluorescent cellular dyes in your experiment (including viability dyes, DNA dyes, etc.), please refer to the dye product page for the recommended protocol. Visit www.cellsignal.com/flowdyes for a listing of cellular dyes validated for use in flow cytometry.

B. Fixation

NOTE: Adherent cells or tissue should be dissociated and in single-cell suspension prior to fixation.

NOTE: Optimal centrifugation conditions will vary depending upon cell type and reagent volume. Generally, 150-300g for 1-5 minutes will be sufficient to pellet the cells.

NOTE: If using whole blood, lyse red blood cells and wash by centrifugation prior to fixation.

NOTE: Antibodies targeting CD markers or other extracellular proteins may be added prior to fixation if the epitope is disrupted by formaldehyde and/or methanol. The antibodies will remain bound to the target of interest during the fixation and permeabilization process. However, note that some fluorophores (including PE and APC) are damaged by methanol and thus should not be added prior to permeabilization. Conduct a small-scale experiment if you are unsure.

1. Pellet cells by centrifugation and remove supernatant.
2. Resuspend cells in approximately 100 µl 4% formaldehyde per 1 million cells. Mix well to dissociate pellet and prevent cross-linking of individual cells.
3. Fix for 15 min at room temperature (20-25°C).
4. Wash by centrifugation with excess 1X PBS. Discard supernatant in appropriate waste container. Resuspend cells in 0.5-1 ml 1X PBS. Proceed to Permeabilization step.
   1. Alternatively, cells may be stored overnight at 4°C in 1X PBS.

C. Permeabilization

1. Permeabilize cells by adding ice-cold 100% methanol slowly to pre-chilled cells, while gently vortexing, to a final concentration of 90% methanol.
2. Permeabilize for a minimum of 10 min on ice.
3. Proceed with immunostaining (Section D) or store cells at -20°C in 90% methanol.

D. Immunostaining

NOTE: Count cells using a hemocytometer or alternative method.

1. Aliquot desired number of cells into tubes or wells. (Generally, 5x10⁵ to 1x10⁶ cells per assay.)
2. Wash cells by centrifugation in excess 1X PBS to remove methanol. Discard supernatant in appropriate waste container. Repeat if necessary.
3. Resuspend cells in 100 µl of diluted primary antibody, prepared in Antibody Dilution Buffer at a recommended dilution or as determined via titration.
4. Incubate for 1 hr at room temperature.
5. Wash by centrifugation in Antibody Dilution Buffer or 1X PBS. Discard supernatant. Repeat.
6. Resuspend cells in 100 µl of diluted fluorochrome-conjugated secondary antibody (prepared in Antibody Dilution Buffer at the recommended dilution).
7. Incubate for 30 min at room temperature. Protect from light.
8. Wash by centrifugation in Antibody Dilution Buffer or 1X PBS. Discard supernatant. Repeat.
9. Resuspend cells in 200-500 µl of 1X PBS and analyze on flow cytometer.