You activate stain-free gels by exposing them to UV light.
To visualize proteins using Stain-Free technology, the gel containing your separated proteins needs to undergo an activation step. This activation involves shining UV light onto the gel.
Here's a simple breakdown:
- Gel Composition: Stain-Free gels utilize a standard polyacrylamide gel matrix, but they also contain a proprietary trihalo compound.
- The Activation Process: When the gel is subjected to a short ultraviolet (UV) photoactivation, this UV light causes the trihalo compound within the gel to react.
- Protein Visualization: This reaction facilitates the binding of the trihalo compound to tryptophan residues present in the proteins separated by electrophoresis. The binding generates a fluorescent product, allowing the proteins to fluoresce directly within the gel.
This UV light activation process makes proteins visible quickly (often within minutes) without requiring traditional staining methods like Coomassie blue, saving significant time in the protein analysis workflow. You can then visualize the total protein profile using an appropriate imaging system.
