Improved procedure for the drying and storage of polyacrylamide slab gels

An improved procedure for the drying and storage of polyacrylamide (PAA) slab gels of various sizes and acrylamide contents is presented. A PAA slab gel is preferentially fixed in methanol-acetic acid-glycerol-water (1.0:1.0:0.1:2.0) and then dried under low pressure in an adapted photoprint dryer between Cellophane and polyethylene foils at 75-80 degrees C for 50-90 min. Strong, transparent and flexible sheets are obtained that can be stored for extended periods. The potential of the procedure is exemplified following electrophoresis of both lipopolysaccharides and protein isolated from Coxiella burnetii bacterium.