Running SDS PAGE for the first time!
- This topic has 9 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 10 months ago by
JackBean.
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February 1, 2010 at 7:52 pm #12697
dhkwak
ParticipantHey everyone. I’m new to this board and joined in hopes of learning various lab techniques.
I am running SDS PAGE shortly and had a few quick questions:
Is a running buffer and loading buffer the same thing? If so, are they used as cathode and anode buffers? I have read that cathode and anode buffers are two separate solutions, however some sources suggest that they can be the same solution.
Also, I am planning on visualizing using Coomassie. Will 50 ug of sample be sufficient for visualization? My protein of interest (BSA) is about 67 kDa in weight and I plan to use a 10T% gel solution.
Thanks!! Sorry for the very elementary questions. I hope to achieve satisfactory results on the first trial.
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February 1, 2010 at 9:00 pm #97184
JackBean
ParticipantHi, welcome 🙂
there are several protocols. I have used one with only one running buffer, but last time I have tried other, where were different cathode and anode buffer 😉 Actually cathode buffer can be used in subsequent run as anode buffer (or vice versa?).
I think, that 50 ug will be plenty of protein. On wiki they write, that 50 ng is enough for Coomassie. Also, you can use several dilutions (depending on how much samples and wells you have;)
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February 1, 2010 at 9:26 pm #97185
dhkwak
ParticipantThanks JackBean,
I read somewhere that when the running solution contains Tris-Tricine, separate electrode buffers need to be implemented; conversely, when Tris-Glycine is used, the buffer solutions may be the same in each electrode reservoir. I am not sure of the logic for why this is, however.
I hope this PAGE turns out well. Please let me know if I’m mistaken on anything. Thanks again!
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February 2, 2010 at 1:04 am #97191
MrMistery
Participant50 ng should be plenty if you have purified protein, though it also depends – coumassie in my experience can "go bad", especially since most labs reuse that stuff for a million years. But if that’s not the case, you should be fine
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February 3, 2010 at 4:23 pm #97232
dhkwak
ParticipantHey Guys,
I really appreciate the help. I’m debating as to whether load approximately 50ng or 50ug. I am thinking about measuring concentration of my protein after running it on the gel, however I need to be sure that my protein separates cleanly (although I highly suspect it will not). My analyte is actually a single protein, however it is being cross-linked to a polymer, and cross-linking may occur multiple times per protein. Anyway, I will be using 50ng to start, and if protein separation is adequate, I will be using 50ug to analyze via Bradford assay.
I have been trying to find more information and protocols (online) for the extraction of protein from the PAGE gel but could not. Can anyone suggest any literature that may be useful here?
Thanks again!
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February 3, 2010 at 7:49 pm #97236
JackBean
ParticipantDefinitely do not use 50 ug! That would be much plenty. Just try some dilutions e.g. from 200 to 0.5 ng and you will see, what concentration is fine 😉
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February 23, 2010 at 8:24 am #97844
dhkwak
ParticipantHey guys,
I’ve run several gels by now and am starting to feel more and more confident with my technique. However, I am still having difficulty effectively separating proteins of fairly similar MW. In short, I have a protein (BSA) and that same protein cross-linked with a polymer (about 3kDa). The MW of BSA is about 67kDa; cross-linking may occur multiple times per protein but will usually max out at about 10 times (about 30kDa addition, producing a protein w/ a cross-linked agent with MW 67+30 or 97 kDa), generating a range from 67 to 97 kDa.
I am planning on running a gel soon at 10%. Does anyone have experience with running gels of this range?
Thanks!
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February 23, 2010 at 9:23 am #97847
JackBean
ParticipantI’m usually running 10 – 12%, but mostly 10%. It’s fine, you just have to take care of the gel not to break it 😉
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March 8, 2010 at 5:03 pm #98162
dhkwak
ParticipantI am wondering if there is a rule of thumb for the amount of SDS to use per protein. I have often read that a 4:1 (SDS:protein) ratio is sufficient but am unsure if this refers to concentration, weight, or otherwise.
Any help would be great, thanks!
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March 8, 2010 at 5:44 pm #98165
JackBean
ParticipantSDS should bind in ratio 1.4 g per 1 g of protein.
Anyway, unless you don’t know the molecular weight of the protein (what if you have mixture?), you can’t calculate the concentration and even have only 4 molecules of SDS per protein, that would be quite insufficient
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