title: Staining proteins in gels.
abstract: This unit describes protocols for detecting protein in a gel by either Coomassie blue staining or silver staining. The former is easier and more rapid; however, silver staining methods are considerably more sensitive and thus can be used to detect smaller amounts of protein. Alternate rapid staining procedures are provided for each method and a support protocol describes how to photograph stained gels. Fluorescent staining is a popular alternative to traditional staining procedures, mainly because it is more sensitive than Coomassie staining, and often as sensitive as silver staining. Staining of proteins in SDS-polyacrylamide gels is described, and an alternate protocol details variations in the procedure for proteins in nondenaturing gels. A final support protocol describes the photography of fluorescently stained proteins.
authors.affiliation: Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, Tampa, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sasse
authors.forename: Sean R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Gallagher
mesh_terms: D004396:Coloring Agents; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / Q000379:methods*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D019000:Phosphotyrosine / Q000032:analysis; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016622:Silver Staining / Q000379:methods; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011506:Proteins; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; C515601:Sypro Ruby; D019000:Phosphotyrosine; C048139:Coomassie blue