Selective Staining of Platelet Glycoproteins Using Two-Dimensional O’Farrell Gel Electrophoresis and Avidin-Biotin-Conjugated Lectins

A time-saving and sensitive high resolution method for the analysis and identification of platelet glycoproteins using nonradioactive compounds has been developed. Platelet proteins (50 micrograms) of normal subjects were separated by isoelectric focusing and SDS-PAGE. Proteins were either stained with silver or electroblotted onto nitrocellulose. Nitrocellulose blots were treated with the following biotinylated lectins: Abrus precatorius lectin, concanavalin A, Lens culinaris lectin, or wheat germ agglutinin. Staining was achieved by avidin-biotin-coupled peroxidase using 4-chloro-1-naphthol as the substrate. A rapid overview of platelet glycoproteins may be obtained by applying all the lectins to a single blot.