ECL Substrates

Enhanced Chemiluminescence (ECL) is a luminol-based substrate for horseradish peroxidase (HRP), a common label conjugated to antibodies. ECL is most commonly used in Western blot applications for visualizing the proteins of interest as marked by HRP. Luminescence is produced from the HRP-mediated reaction with the substrate and is proportional to the amount of HRP-labeled antibodies. The intensity of the signal is thus an indirect method of measuring the amount of target protein. Antigens down to pictogram amounts can be detected via photographic film or through imaging instruments. Note that ECL substrate reagents must avoid prolonged exposure to light.