Loading Control Antibodies for Western Blotting: GAPDH, β-Actin and β-Tubulin
What are loading control antibodies?
Loading control antibodies are used in Western blot workflows to help researchers assess whether protein loading and transfer are consistent across samples. By targeting proteins commonly used as internal references, they provide a useful check when comparing protein expression across lanes or experimental conditions.
GAPDH, β-Actin and β-Tubulin are among the most widely used loading controls in Western blotting. Apollo Scientific offers a focused range of monoclonal antibodies targeting these proteins, available in unconjugated and HRP-conjugated formats to support different Western blot detection workflows.
Why are GAPDH, β-Actin and β-Tubulin used as loading controls?
Western blot results rely on consistent sample loading, transfer and detection. Loading controls help researchers confirm that differences in signal are more likely to reflect changes in the target protein rather than variation in the amount of sample loaded or transferred.
GAPDH, β-Actin, and β-Tubulin are commonly used because they are well-established reference proteins in many Western blot applications. The right choice depends on the sample type, experimental conditions, the target protein, and the expected molecular weight range.
GAPDH antibodies
GAPDH stands for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. It has a reported molecular weight of approximately 36 kDa and is commonly used as a loading control in Western blot workflows.
Apollo Scientific’s GAPDH antibody range includes monoclonal antibodies suitable for Western blot detection. Supplier-reported subcellular locations include the cytoplasm, the nucleus, and the membrane. The recommended Western blot dilution is 1:3000–1:5000, depending on the antibody format and experimental conditions.
An example clone in the range is 6C4F6.
Browse GAPDH antibodies: https://store.apolloscientific.co.uk/search?search=GAPDH.
β-Actin antibodies
β-Actin, also known as actin, cytoplasmic 1, is another widely used Western blot loading control. It has a reported molecular weight of approximately 42 kDa and is supplier-reported as cytoplasmic.
Apollo Scientific offers β-Actin monoclonal antibodies with recommended Western blot dilutions of 1:3000–1:5000. Available examples include the mouse monoclonal clone 10B6H8 and the rabbit monoclonal clone 10C9B3.
Browse β-Actin antibodies: https://store.apolloscientific.co.uk/search?search=%CE%B2-Actin
β-Tubulin antibodies
β-Tubulin, or tubulin beta chain, is commonly used as a loading control in Western blotting, particularly where a protein around the 50–55 kDa range is suitable for the experiment.
Apollo Scientific’s β-Tubulin antibody range includes monoclonal antibodies from both mouse and rabbit. Supplier-reported subcellular location is the cytoplasm. Recommended Western blot dilutions vary by antibody type: mouse monoclonal antibodies are recommended at 1:1000–1:2000, while rabbit monoclonal antibodies are recommended at 1:5000–1:10000.
Example clones include mouse monoclonal clone SB13 and rabbit monoclonal clone SB223.
Browse β-Tubulin antibodies: [Insert confirmed product/category link]
Choosing the right loading control antibody
When selecting a loading control antibody, consider the target protein size, sample type, detection system and whether an unconjugated or HRP-conjugated antibody is most suitable for your workflow.
A good loading control should provide a clear and consistent signal under the conditions used in the experiment. Researchers should also check the recommended dilution, host species, clone details and conjugation format before ordering.
Need help choosing the right antibody?
If you need support choosing GAPDH, β-Actin, β-Tubulin or another antibody for your Western blot workflow, our team is here to help. Call +44 (0)161 406 0505 or email sales@apolloscientific.co.uk for expert guidance tailored to your application.
