A comparison of fluorographic methods for the detection of 35S-labeled proteins in polyacrylamide gels

Eight different methods of fluorographic enhancement of sensitivity to 35S decay after gel electrophoresis were compared. Using Kodak X-Omat AR X-ray film, we found that some fluors were about equivalent to 2,5-diphenyloxazole/dimethyl sulfoxide embedding, whereas several other fluors were not quite as effective, but still were significantly more sensitive than control autoradiography. The most sensitive procedures can yield a detectable darkening of film with less than 1 dpm/mm2 of 35S after a 1-week exposure.