STAINING METHODS IN GEL-ELECTROPHORESIS, INCLUDING THE USE OF MULTIPLE DETECTION METHODS

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is a reliable and widely used techn ique for the separation, identification and characterization of protei ns and protein mixtures. With the introduction of high resolution two- dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 1975 upward to 2000 individual polypeptides spots are easily separated on a single electro phoretic gel thereby necessitating the availability of highly sensitiv e protein detection methods. Although a plethora of protein-staining a nd -visualization protocols have been described utilizing both radioac tive and non-radioactive reagents, many times the use of mono-dimensio nal detection procedures is insufficient to address the experimental q uestions asked. The present review highlights the utilization of combi ned protein-labeling and -staining methodologies in gel electrophoresi s including selected applications in polyacrylamide gels and solid mem brane matrixes.