Isoelectric focussing of proteins on cellulose acetate gel membranes

A method is described for analytical isoelectric focussing of proteins on cellulose acetate gel strips pretreated with boron trifluoride in methanol. It is satisfactory for separations requiring narrow pH gradients as well as for those requiring wide gradients. As well as conventional protein staining methods, the use of immunological reagents is described to identify directly specific proteins in a complex separation. The method is extremely quick and easy to perform and requires only low voltage electrophoresis equipment.