Optimization of a TEEDA-based initiation system for SDS-PAGE

Polyacrylamide gel preparation for SDS-PAGE is conventionally initiated by the ammonium persulfate (APS)-TEMED system. Although effective, the relatively high volatility of TEMED may increase operator exposure during routine laboratory use. In this study, N,N,N',N-tetraethylethylenediamine (TEEDA) was systematically evaluated as an alternative accelerator for SDS-PAGE gel preparation. TEEDA alone produced polymerization and protein separation performance comparable to those of the conventional TEMED-APS system, although higher concentrations (8.3 mM in 10% separating gels and 17.4 mM in 5% stacking gels) were required than those of TEMED (4.0 mM and 6.7 mM, respectively). When TEEDA concentrations comparable to those of TEMED were used, supplementation with 0.1% SBS in separating gels and 0.01% SBS in stacking gels restored polymerization and protein separation performance to levels comparable with those of the conventional TEMED-APS system. These findings provide an optimized TEEDA-based formulation for routine SDS-PAGE.