High resolution, standard format two-dimensional protein electrophoresis using disposable glass micropipettes and non-dedicated equipment.

Abstract

A method for high resolution, two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of proteins on a standard format that utilizes non-dedicated electrophoretic equipment is described. This method combines key features of various previous protocols into an improved approach which can readily be applied by persons experienced only in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-PAGE. The method yields high-quality two-dimensional protein separations that are reliably reproducible and uniform between different analyses. High protein resolution is attained and preserved primarily by facilitating the execution of the first isoelectric focusing (IEF) dimension and streamlining the initiation of the second (SDS-PAGE) dimension. Important features of this method include the use of piperazine diacrylate cross-linker, disposable glass micropipettes, and conical sample chambers in the IEF dimension. In addition, the equilibration of the first-dimensional gels is accomplished at the same time the gels are loaded onto the second dimension. Loss of protein resolution due to diffusion after the end of the first dimension is reduced by minimizing the time required to load the SDS-PAGE dimension. The method is versatile and adaptable to the analysis of one or many samples. The high degree of resolution, reproducibility and uniformity attained by this method are sufficient to abrogate the need for dedicated equipment in most applications.