Copper(II)-Alizarin Red S complex as an efficient chemiluminescent probe for the detection of human serum proteins after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

A novel chemiluminescent probe, copper(II)-Alizarin Red S (ARS) complex, for the detection of human serum proteins after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) is described. The detection is based on the binding of the copper(II)-ARS complex to proteins and the catalytic activity of copper(II) in the luminol-hydrogen peroxide chemiluminescence (CL) system. Various proteins are directly detected in polyacrylamide gels, avoiding tedious transferring procedures. In the present study, the possible reaction mechanism and sensitivity evaluation are analyzed. The experimental conditions such as solution concentration, complex ratio, and washing reagents are likewise optimized. The proposed method offers simple, fast, and sensitive detection of serum proteins. As a novel chemiluminescent detection method, it shows significant analytical potential in biochemistry.