NuPAGE™ Transfer Buffer (20X), 1L - FAQs

View additional product information for NuPAGE™ Transfer Buffer (20X) - FAQs (NP00061, NP0006)

11 product FAQs found

Can I prepare my protein sample with the reducing agent and store it for future use?

DTT is not stable, so it must be added and the reduction performed just prior to loading your samples.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Gel 1D Electrophoresis Support Center.

My LDS or SDS sample buffer precipitates when stored at 4 degrees C. Can I warm it up? Can I store it at room temperature?

Precipitation of the LDS or SDS at 4 degrees C is normal. Bring the buffer to room temperature and mix until the LDS/SDS goes into solution. If you do not want to wait for it to dissolve, you can store the sample buffer at room temperature.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Gel 1D Electrophoresis Support Center.

How are Bolt gels different than NuPAGE gels?

While they are both Bis-Tris based gels, the chemistries are very different since Bolt gels are optimized for western blotting. Another key difference is the wedge well design of the Bolt gels, which allows larger sample volumes to be loaded.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Gel 1D Electrophoresis Support Center.

What is the advantage of NuPAGE Gels over regular Tris-Glycine gels?

The neutral operating pH of the NuPAGE Gels and buffers provides following advantages over the Laemmli system:
-Longer shelf life of 8-12 months due to improved gel stability
-Improved protein stability during electrophoresis at neutral pH resulting in sharper band resolution and accurate results (Moos et al, 1998)
-Complete reduction of disulfides under mild heating conditions (70 degrees C for 10 min) and absence of cleavage of asp-pro bonds using the NuPAGE LDS Sample buffer (pH > 7.0 at 70 degrees C)
-Reduced state of the proteins maintained during electrophoresis and blotting of the proteins by the NuPAGE Antioxidant
Please refer to the following paper: Moos M Jr, Nguyen NY, Liu TY (1988) Reproducible High Yield Sequencing of Proteins Electrophoretically Separated and Transferred to an Inert Support. J Biol Chem 263:6005-6008.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Gel 1D Electrophoresis Support Center.

Can I use the NuPAGE transfer buffer with Tris-Glycine Gels?

Yes. The NuPAGE transfer buffer works with Tris-Glycine gels. Proteins are subjected to a more neutral pH, and the absence of glycine in the NuPAGE transfer buffer makes protein sequencing of proteins extracted from the gels much easier. While protein transfer is generally more efficient when using the NuPAGE transfer buffer, remember that the other benefits of the NuPAGE system (band sharpness, better resolution, sample stability) only apply if the proteins have been separated under these conditions prior to transfer (i.e., on a NuPAGE gel).

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Assays and Analysis Support Center.

What conditions should I use to transfer my gel when using the NuPAGE Transfer buffer?

We recommend the following transfer conditions: 30 V constant for 1 hr with the expected current of 220 mA/gel (start of run) to 180 mA/gel (end of run). For an overnight transfer, we recommend using 1-15 V constant. Please refer to the Nupage Large Protein Analysis System manual for more information (https://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/LSG/manuals/largeproteinanalysis_man.pdf).

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Electrophoresis and Western Blotting Support Center.

The pH of my transfer buffer deviates from the recommended value by 0.2 units. Can I still use the buffer?

We recommend discarding the buffer and remaking it after rechecking the reagents and the water purity. We do not recommend adjusting the pH with acid or base, as this will increase the conductivity of the buffer and result in higher current during the transfer.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Electrophoresis and Western Blotting Support Center.

Do I need to add the chlorobutanol when making the 20X NuPAGE Transfer Buffer?

Chlorobutanol is used as a preservative in the NuPAGE transfer buffer and is not necessary for efficient transfer of proteins. You may prepare the buffer without chlorobutanol but keep in mind that the buffer will not be stable for long periods. We recommend using it within 2 weeks.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Electrophoresis and Western Blotting Support Center.

How much methanol do you recommend adding to the NuPAGE transfer buffer for transfer of NuPAGE Bis-Tris gels and NuPAGE Tris-Acetate gels?

We recommend adding 10% methanol to the NuPAGE transfer buffer for transfer of one gel and 20% methanol for the transfer of 2 gels.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Gel 1D Electrophoresis Support Center.

Do you recommend adding the NuPAGE Antioxidant to the NuPAGE transfer buffer when I transfer proteins from NuPAGE Bis-Tris or NuPAGE Tris-Acetate gels?

Yes, we recommend adding the NuPAGE Antioxidant to the NuPAGE transfer buffer for enhanced blotting results with reduced proteins in order to maintain the reduced state of the proteins throughout the run.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Electrophoresis and Western Blotting Support Center.

Is the NuPAGE Transfer buffer compatible with N-terminal sequencing of proteins via Edman degradation?

Yes, the NuPAGE Transfer Buffer protects against modification of the amino acid side chains and is compatible with N-terminal protein sequencing using Edman degradation.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Electrophoresis and Western Blotting Support Center.