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Published on: February 12, 2012
Long-term, buffer-less, wet gel storage in non-sealed polyethylene bags
Biji T Kurien1, R Hal Scofield
1Department of Veterans Affairs, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA. biji-kurien@omrf.org
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|May 16, 2012
Summary
Stained and destained gels can be stored wet for months at room temperature in polyethylene bags, preventing shrinking and protein diffusion. This novel wet gel storage method simplifies protein analysis and improves experimental outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Proteomics
Background:
- Traditional methods for preserving electrophoresed gels involve fixation, staining, destaining, and drying.
- Commercial gel dryers or cellophane sheets with acrylic frames are typically used for gel drying, which can be time-consuming and may lead to equipment contamination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel, simple, and effective method for storing stained and destained polyacrylamide gels in a hydrated state.
- To evaluate the stability of gels stored using this method over several months at room temperature.
Main Methods:
- Stained and destained polyacrylamide gels (7.5-15%, denaturing or native, 0.4-1.5 mm thickness) were stored wet in flexible polyethylene bags without any storage buffer.
- Gels were stored at room temperature for several months, and assessed for shrinking, protein diffusion, and protein staining intensity.
Main Results:
- Gels stored in polyethylene bags remained hydrated, exhibiting no significant shrinking or protein diffusion for several months at room temperature.
- The polyethylene sheets created an airtight seal, maintaining a microsaturated environment that prevented gel cracking.
- Stained protein intensity potentially increased during storage, possibly due to slight gel shrinkage.
Conclusions:
- Wet storage of stained and destained gels in polyethylene bags is a viable alternative to traditional drying methods.
- This method is particularly useful for protein spot excision in proteomics workflows (e.g., 2D electrophoresis) and for wet gel autoradiography.
- The technique avoids dryer contamination, saves drying time, and prevents gels from sticking to X-ray film, also showing potential for electrophoretic transfer applications.
