A Simpler and Faster Version of Two-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis Using Vertical, Mini SDS-AGE Apparatus

We have modified one of the most useful methods of protein separation; namely, twodimensional gel electrophoresis (2-de). this modified version of 2-de is not only simpler andeasier but also faster than all the currently available methods. in this method, isoelectric focusing iscarried out in the first dimension using a vertical sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gelelectrophoresis (sds-page) apparatus. following focusing, each individual lane is excised fromthis gel and after a 90° rotation, is inserted into a vertical specially fabricated sds-page gel forthe second dimension run, which can be stained with coomassie brilliant blue for protein analysisor immunoblotted for further analysis. this modified version of ief can be run in less than 2 hourscompared to the overnight run required by the o’farrel method. difficult tube gel casting and gelextrusion as well as tube gel distortion are eliminated in our method. this method is simpler, fasterand inexpensive. both dimensions can be done on the same sds-page apparatus and up to 10samples can be run simultaneously using one gel. we have analyzed human sera, animal saliva, eyeand liver tissue samples to verify this method.