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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Staining Proteins in Gels
Published on: July 8, 2008
Silver staining of proteins in 2DE gels
Cécile Lelong1, Mireille Chevallet, Sylvie Luche
1CEA-DSV-iRTSV/LBBSI and UMR CNRS 5092, CEA Grenoble, 17 rue des martyrs, F-38054 Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
Abstract:
Silver staining detects proteins after electrophoretic separation on polyacrylamide gels. Its main positive features are its excellent sensitivity (in the low nanogram range) and the use of very simple and cheap equipment and chemicals. The sequential phases of silver staining are protein fixation, then sensitization, then silver impregnation, and finally image development. Several variants of silver staining are described here, which can be completed in a time range from 2 h to 1 day after the end of the electrophoretic separation. Once completed, the stain is stable for several weeks.
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