Impact of Triton X-100 on Notch 1 Surface Receptor Immunofluorescence: A Cautionary Study.

Triton X-100 is a cell-permeabilizing agent, widely used in molecular studies to enhance the permeability of cellular membranes. It has detrimental effects on the cell surface receptors thereby not suitable for surface receptor protein studies. Therefore, in the present study the protein expression of Notch surface receptor was analyzed with and without exposure of cell surfactant i.e. Triton X-100. It was observed that cultured cortical cells treated with Triton X-100 gave false protein expression due to the disruption of cellular membrane. On the contrary, cells without surfactant treatment exhibit fluorescence proportional to the true presence of Notch 1 receptors. This method can be followed for the analysis of any surface receptor protein through immunofluorescence to exclude any false expression.