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- Table of Contents
SORL1 / Sortilin-related receptor · Western blot design guide
Design a Western Blot for SORL1
Real validated SORL1 Western blot protocols, expected-band and isoform facts, troubleshooting for weak or shifted signal, and recommended anti-SORL1 WB antibodies. Everything you need to plan the experiment before you commit precious samples.
Evidence assembled September 2026 · For research use; verify linked source records and product datasheet before use
SORL1 Western Blot Experimental Design Guide
Expected bands, validated protocols, controls and antibodies — the at-a-glance facts below, then the full design guide.
Must know before running
| Expected band | ~248.4 kDa | |
| Gel | 4–12% gradient (standard starting point) | |
| Positive control | Cerebellum (IHC candidate; verify WB) +4 more | |
| Negative control | Adipose tissue (IHC candidate; verify WB) |
Important caveats
Reasons your observed band may differ from the expected size.
| PTM | Glycosylated + Phosphorylated | |
| Caveat | Modification-state controls | |
| Gene-set association | MSigDB C7 membership | |
| Isoform | 1 isoform(s) |
Section 1
Real Curated SORL1 Western Blot Protocols
The M01887-2 protocol combines labelled catalog values with standard starting conditions. Published comparisons retain their own sample, reagent and detection scope.
| Sample / lysate | SH-SY5Y cell lysate (catalog M01887-2) |
| Gel % | 4–12% gradient (standard starting point) |
| Load | 20–30 µg total protein per lane; optimize for abundance (standard starting point) |
| Transfer | Wet/tank transfer; optimize duration (standard starting point) |
| Membrane | 0.45 µm PVDF (standard starting point) |
| Blocking | 5% milk or 5% BSA in TBST (standard starting point) |
| Primary antibody | M01887-2; use the WB datasheet starting dilution (standard starting point) |
| Primary incubation | Overnight at 4 °C (standard starting point) |
| Secondary antibody | Species-matched HRP conjugate at validated dilution (standard starting point) |
| Secondary incubation | 1 h at room temperature (standard starting point) |
| Wash | 3 × 5 min in TBST (standard starting point) |
| Detection | ECL; bracket exposures to avoid saturation (standard starting point) |
Section 2
What Is the Expected SORL1 Western Blot Band Size?
SORL1 has a predicted 248.4 kDa precursor; glycosylation and cleavage may affect migration, but no empirical band or demonstrated shift is supplied.
| Band near 248.4 kDa | Consistent with the predicted precursor mass; identity requires confirmation |
| Band above 248.4 kDa | N-linked glycosylation could increase apparent size, but the shift is unverified |
| Band below 248.4 kDa | Signal peptide and propeptide cleavage could yield a smaller mature protein |
| Weak or absent band in soluble lysate | Membrane-localized SORL1 may be poorly represented in this fraction |
💡Expected SORL1 appearanceUniProt predicts a 248.4 kDa precursor; glycosylation and maturation may alter migration, but no empirical band size is supplied, so confirm band identity with appropriate controls.
| Predicted precursor mass | Provides a 248.4 kDa sequence-based reference, not a measured band |
| N-linked glycosylation at Asn99 and Asn158 | Occupancy could increase apparent size; its extent is not supplied |
| Signal peptide at residues 1–28 | Cleavage reduces the mature protein's mass relative to the precursor |
| Propeptide at residues 29–81 | Maturation cleavage further reduces the protein's mass relative to the precursor |
| Situation | Likely cause | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| No band in lysate | Membrane-localized SORL1 may be poorly recovered | Check a membrane-enriched fraction and a positive-control lysate |
| Band higher than expected | N-linked glycosylation could alter migration | Compare untreated and deglycosylated samples; confirm specificity with SORL1 depletion |
| Band lower than expected | Signal peptide or propeptide cleavage may contribute | Confirm specificity with SORL1 depletion and compare antibody epitope coverage |
| Broad smear instead of sharp band | Heterogeneous N-linked glycosylation is possible | Compare untreated and deglycosylated samples |
| Multiple bands | Processing or differing glycosylation could contribute | Use SORL1 depletion and deglycosylation to identify specific bands |
Experiment evidence
Western blot images showing SORL1 band
M01887-2 · SORL1
A01887-1 · SORL1
← swipe / scroll for more images →
Real WB data behind the band-size expectations in this section.
Sample controls for SORL1 Western blot
🧪HPA-IHC candidate guidance (verify in WB): For positive controls for SORL1 in Western blot, you can use cerebellum tissue, which has high HPA expression.
Positive control: Cerebellum (IHC candidate; verify WB)
Negative control: Adipose tissue (IHC candidate; verify WB)
Loading controls: Run GAPDH, β-actin, and a total-protein stain alongside the samples.
⚠️Feasibility: SORL1 is membrane-associated and extracellular, so lysate signal may depend on sample preparation.
HPA tissue expression evidence for SORL1
Comprehensive Human Protein Atlas IHC scoring per tissue. Rows are taken directly from the HPA tissue chart — click any row's HPA link to view the source.
Higher expression tissues · candidate positive controls from IHC
| Tissue | Cell type | Level | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cerebellum | Purkinje cells | High | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Adrenal gland | glandular cells | Medium | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Appendix | glandular cells | Medium | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Breast | glandular cells | Medium | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Bronchus | respiratory epithelial cells | Medium | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
Lower expression tissues · IHC evidence, not confirmed WB-negative controls
| Tissue | Cell type | Level | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adipose tissue | adipocytes | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Bone marrow | hematopoietic cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Liver | cholangiocytes | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Placenta | decidual cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Soft tissue | chondrocytes | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
Section 3
Advanced SORL1 Western Blot Tips
Deeper troubleshooting and optimisation questions for SORL1, answered from its protein features.
How should SORL1 band migration be interpreted?
Band shift · Use the separately labelled calculated mass and catalog-observed evidence above. A sequence annotation does not establish an observed migration shift. Verify target identity with orthogonal controls.
Do annotated SORL1 isoforms explain multiple bands?
Isoforms · The supplied UniProt record lists one isoform and no alternative sequence. It therefore provides no annotated isoform explanation for multiple bands. Assess maturation, glycosylation, antibody recognition, and band specificity before assigning identities.
How can glycosylation affect interpretation of SORL1 bands?
PTM · UniProt lists 27 N-linked sites at residues 99, 158, 368, 430, 616, 674, 818, 871, 1035, 1068, 1164, 1191, 1246, 1367, 1458, 1608, 1706, 1733, 1809, 1854, 1894, 1986, 2010, 2054, 2069, 2076, and 2092. Compare treated and untreated samples if testing glycosylation as a cause of differing mobility; the site list alone does not demonstrate a visible shift.
UniProt lists phosphoserine at residue 114 and phosphoserine at residue 2206 by ROCK2, using the supplied UniProt sequence numbering. Match phosphosite antibody labels to that numbering before interpreting a signal. The annotations do not establish a detectable mobility shift or a stimulus response.
UniProt lists phosphoserine at residue 114 and phosphoserine at residue 2206 by ROCK2, using the supplied UniProt sequence numbering. Match phosphosite antibody labels to that numbering before interpreting a signal. The annotations do not establish a detectable mobility shift or a stimulus response.
Does this guide establish induction of SORL1?
Induction · No general induction response is established by this guide. A pathway or gene-set association is not evidence of induction in a particular specimen. Verify the relevant treatment and control in a target-specific experiment.
What transfer method to use for SORL1 Western blot?
Transfer · SORL1 is a predicted 248.4 kDa single-pass membrane protein. Choose and check transfer conditions that recover proteins at this size; inspect the gel after transfer and confirm that high-mass markers transferred. The supplied features do not specify one transfer method.
How should blocking be optimized?
Blocking · Standard workflow guidance: follow the M01887-2 datasheet where specified. Otherwise compare 5% milk or 5% BSA in TBST; for a phospho-specific assay start with BSA. Optimize background and specific signal with matched controls.
How should SORL1 bands be quantified?
Quantitation · Quantify a consistently identified band within the assay’s linear detection range. SORL1 has annotated maturation steps and 27 N-linked glycosylation sites, so define in advance whether the measurement includes one band or a group of bands. Apply the same rule across samples; the supplied record gives no empirical band position.
Why might SORL1 migrate differently from its predicted 248.4 kDa mass?
Interpretation · The 248.4 kDa prediction does not establish where SORL1 will migrate. UniProt lists a signal peptide at residues 1–28, a propeptide at 29–81, and 27 N-linked glycosylation sites. Consider maturation and glycosylation when evaluating mobility, but these features alone cannot predict a band position or explain a particular shift.
UniProt lists a signal peptide at residues 1–28 and a propeptide at 29–81, with maturation cleavage and subsequent propeptide binding. Check whether the antibody recognizes a region retained after cleavage. These features make processing relevant to band interpretation but do not establish which bands will be visible.
Compare its size and antibody epitope with SORL1’s predicted 248.4 kDa mass, signal peptide at 1–28, propeptide at 29–81, and glycosylation annotations. Check whether the band tracks with SORL1 in a suitable specificity control. These features offer possibilities, but none identifies an unexpected band by itself.
UniProt lists a signal peptide at residues 1–28 and a propeptide at 29–81, with maturation cleavage and subsequent propeptide binding. Check whether the antibody recognizes a region retained after cleavage. These features make processing relevant to band interpretation but do not establish which bands will be visible.
Compare its size and antibody epitope with SORL1’s predicted 248.4 kDa mass, signal peptide at 1–28, propeptide at 29–81, and glycosylation annotations. Check whether the band tracks with SORL1 in a suitable specificity control. These features offer possibilities, but none identifies an unexpected band by itself.
Boster reagents
SORL1 Western Blot Antibodies
Catalog antibodies with Western blot application and product-specific WB images. Evaluate suitability with the reported sample, controls and experimental conditions.
Real WB data
Anti-SorLA Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody
Cat # M01887-2
Real WB data
Anti-SORLA/SORL1 Antibody Picoband®
Cat # A01887-1
Two the supplier anti-SORL1 antibodies list human, mouse, and rat reactivity and include Western blot images. M01887-2 is shown with SH-SY5Y lysate; A01887-1 is shown with rat and mouse brain lysates. These examples do not establish performance across all listed species or tissues.
Which to pick: Choose M01887-2 for the closer match to a SH-SY5Y lysate experiment, or A01887-1 for rat or mouse brain lysates. Both list human, mouse, and rat reactivity; the pictured samples and reported conditions provide the practical distinction.
Source: BosterBio SORL1 gene-info card — filtered to Western-blot-capable antibodies; each card shows that product's actual WB validation figure.
References
- UniProt Consortium. UniProt entry Q92673.
- Human Protein Atlas. SORL1 tissue expression.
- PMC3597024 — target-verified WB comparison
- PMC11145553 — target-verified WB comparison
- PMC8220253 — target-verified WB comparison