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Protein Electrophoresis Gels & Buffers

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A Protein Electrophoresis gel and buffer kit labeled ‘mPAGE 10X BT’ from Millipore, displayed alongside its packaging box with a ‘DO NOT FREEZE’ warning. The gel is green, housed in a clear container with multiple wells for sample loading, emphasizing the kit’s readiness for use in electrophoresis experiments.
mPAGE® TurboMix Bis Tris Gel Casting Kit

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and SDS-PAGE are common techniques used for protein separation. Protein gels can be hand-casted or purchased as pre-cast gels for convenience. The percentage of acrylamide in the gel affects resolution of protein bands, with higher percentages of acrylamide useful for resolving low molecular weight proteins and lower percentages of acrylamide useful in resolving higher molecular weight protein bands. Gradient pre-cast gels cover a wider range of molecular weight sizes. Hand-casting gel reagents, pre-cast gels, and running buffer powders are available for your lab needs. 

Section Overview

mPAGE® Bis-Tris Precast Gels

mPAGE® Bis-Tris precast gels provide excellent protein resolution at a budget-friendly price. Offering high resolution of protein bands, mPAGE® gels require shorter run times and are compatible with large sample volumes, making mPAGE® precast gels a valuable tool for protein research.

Features:

  • Publication-ready resolution at a fraction of the cost
  • Compatible with popular electrophoresis tanks
  • Up to 80 μL sample per well
  • Efficient wet and semi-dry Western blot transfer
  • Up to 15-minute shorter run time
  • Neutral pH prevents protein modification
  • Durable to prevent tearing during post-electrophoresis processing
  • Excellent compatibility with the popular gel running equipment and tanks including Thermo/Invitrogen, Bio-Rad®, and others

mPAGE® TurboMix Bis-Tris Gel Casting Solutions

Cast your own polyacrylamide gels using mPAGE® TurboMix Bis-Tris kits and solutions. mPAGE® TurboMix Bis-Tris Gel Casting Kits eliminate the variability and time-consuming nature of hand-casting gels by supplying pre-mixed buffer and acrylamide solutions.

Features:

  • Premixed and ready-to-pour acrylamide buffer solutions reduce hands-on prep time
  • Quick Cast protocol allows simultaneous polymerization of resolving and stacking gels
  • Neutral pH running conditions result in reduced protein modification and sharper bands compared to standard Tris-glycine gels
  • Easily dilute to any required percentage acrylamide gel between 8% and 15%, to separate proteins 6 kDa – 400 kDa in size
  • Electrophoresis in as little as 20 minutes
  • Longer cast gel shelf life (3-4 weeks, with proper storage)

Running Buffers for Bis-Tris Gels

Two buffers that can be used as running buffers for SDS-PAGE gels: MES and MOPS. MES has a lower pKa than MOPS, which enables faster run times. MES buffer gives better separation of proteins at lower molecular weights, while MOPS buffer provides better separation at higher molecular weights. MES and MOPS SDS buffer powders are available for fast and easy preparation of running buffer for protein gel electrophoresis.

Other Reagents for Pouring Gels by Hand

PAGE and SDS-PAGE gels can be hand-casted using acrylamide/bisacrylamide with TEMED and ammonium persulfate to polymerize the gel. The reagents are prepared, mixed together, then poured between two glass plates to polymerize. Acrylamide and bisacrylamide are neurotoxins in solution, so care should be taken to avoid direct contact. High purity TEMED, ammonium persulfate, and bisacrylamide and acrylamide in powder or solution form are available for hand casting gels.

Related Resources

Related Videos

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mPAGE<sup>®</sup> Comparison Bio Rad and SureLock<sup>®</sup>
mPAGE® Comparison Bio Rad and SureLock®
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mPAGE<sup>®</sup> TurboMix Bis-Tris Gel Casting Kit
mPAGE® TurboMix Bis-Tris Gel Casting Kit
mPAGE® TurboMix Bis-Tris Gel Casting Kit
Related Product Categories
Protein Gel Electrophoresis and Transfer Equipment
Electrophoresis tanks, blotting systems, and power supplies for protein gel electrophoresis and wet and semi-dry transfer.
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Western Blotting
An overview of the principles and applications of Western blotting for protein detection. Includes links to detailed protocols, videos, and other resources for protein extraction, gel electrophoresis, transfer to PVDF or nitrocellulose membranes, and chemiluminescent, colorimetric, and fluorescent detection methods.
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