Can I strip and re-probe the GEArray membrane?
Even under the best conditions, we observe a 60 percent loss of signal after stripping and re-probing our GEArrays despite the fact that we UV-crosslink the DNA elements onto the nylon membrane. We also find that individuals vary widely in their ability to obtain successful results from stripped and re-probed GEArray membranes. Therefore, we do not recommend stripping and re-probing the GEArray membranes to obtain publishable results and only recommend using the GEArrays once. However, the membranes can be stripped for troubleshooting purposes or to obtain preliminary results to be later verified with a new experiment using a fresh array membrane. Strip the membranes using a procedure similar to stripping blots used for Northern or Southern hybridization: Boil for 5 to 10 minutes in 0.5 % SDS, cool for 10 minutes, and rinse twice with 2X SSC. Store the damp membrane at -20 C in its original plastic tube overnight if needed.
