Rapid visualization system for gel electrophoresis

摘要

A method using light ("photodevelopment") to develop a metallic silver image of biopolymers, particularly nucleic acids and proteins separated on polyacrylamide gels, whereby it is possible to visualize protein and nucleic acid patterns within 10 minutes after electrophoretic separation. This "photodevelopment" method requires only two solutions: a solution to "fix" the proteins and a solution containing silver ions, which produces an image when exposed to light. This type of protein stain has achieved a sensitivity of about 0.5 ng of protein. DNA separated on polyacrylamide may also be visualized with this stain.