role of NaCl in lysis buffer - (Jan/08/2010 )

Hi,
I'm wondering the role of NaCl in lysis buffer for western. Can it be substituted by other salts>?
Many thanks

it is to maintain a certain ionic strength (necessary to preserve some proteins).

you could replace it with kcl but the sds will precipitate after adding sample buffer (kds is insoluble). and potassium salts may have a different effect on some of the proteins.

you could use licl but that is a lot more expensive.

keep in mind that the most abundant physiological salt is nacl.

Thanks for the info, mdfenko