# Freezing worms for western blots

**URL:** <https://community.alliancegenome.org/t/freezing-worms-for-western-blots/4115>\
**Category:** Methods & Reagents\
**Created:** [November 11, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.alliancegenome.org/t/freezing-worms-for-western-blots/4115 "2011-11-11T20:10:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mehulmvora](https://community.alliancegenome.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@mehulmvora](https://community.alliancegenome.org/u/mehulmvora)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.alliancegenome.org/t/freezing-worms-for-western-blots/4115/1 "2011-11-11T20:10:29Z")

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I would like to freeze my worms for western blots at a later time. Wondering what my options are?

1. Should I be freezing them in the Laemmli buffer (before or after boiling?)
2. Should I freeze them in RIPA (a lysis buffer) and then add the Laemmli Sample buffer after the thaw?

Any help appreciated!

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**Author:** ![Janet\_Duerr](https://community.alliancegenome.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/5fc32e/32.png) [@Janet\_Duerr](https://community.alliancegenome.org/u/Janet_Duerr)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://community.alliancegenome.org/t/freezing-worms-for-western-blots/4115/2 "2011-11-13T20:46:03Z")

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I have had the best success with processing the worms all the way (i.e., through boiling in Laemmli buffer) and then immediately freezing. This insures that any proteases are degraded before freezing. With this method, I have successfully found even non-abundant proteins with a Western protocol after months at -30C.

Janet