What gels can I use to separate native proteins?
The NativePAGE Invitrogen Bis-Tris Gel System is a pre-cast polyacrylamide mini gel system that provides a sensitive and high-resolution method for analyzing native membrane protein complexes, native soluble proteins, molecular mass estimations, and assessing purity of native proteins. It is based on the blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis technique (BN PAGE) developed by Schagger and von Jagow.
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Electrophoresis and Western Blotting Support Center.
What does it mean when bands appear to be getting narrower (or "funneling") as they progress down a protein gel?
There may be too much beta-mercaptoethanol (BME), sample buffer salts, or dithiothreitol (DTT) in your samples. If the proteins are over-reduced, they can be negatively charged and actually repel each other across the lanes causing the bands to get narrower as they progress down the gel.
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Electrophoresis and Western Blotting Support Center.
Are NativePAGE gels and buffers compatible with Mini Gel tank?
Yes, NativePAGE gels are compatible with our Mini Gel tank, however there is a small variation from the original protocol.
The following protocol are for using NativePage gels with the Mini Gel Tank depending on if you are also performing a western transfer or not:
If you are NOT performing a western transfer:
1. Prepare 250 mL of each buffer (Anode and Dark Blue Cathode) per gel
2. After inserting a loaded NativePAGE gel into the Mini Gel Tank and pulling the clamp forward, fill the front cathode buffer chamber to the Fill Line with Dark Blue Cathode Buffer (~200 mL per gel)
3. Add 220 mL of Anode Buffer to the back anode buffer chamber for that gel. Start the gel run
If you are performing a western transfer:
1. Prepare 250 mL of Dark Blue Cathode Buffer, 250 mL of Light Blue Cathode Buffer, and 500 mL of Anode Buffer per gel
2. After inserting a loaded NativePAGE gel into the Mini Gel Tank and pulling the clamp forward, fill the front cathode buffer chamber to the Fill Line with Dark Blue Cathode Buffer (~200 mL per gel
3. Add 220 mL of Anode Buffer to the back anode buffer chamber for that gel
4. Start the gel run; pause the run after the dark blue dye has run ~1/3 of the way through gel
a. Pour out the buffers from the Mini Gel Tank
b. Refill the back anode buffer chamber with 220 mL of Anode Buffer per gel
c. Fill the front cathode buffer chamber to the Fill Line with Light Blue Cathode Buffer (~200 mL per gel)
5. Resume the gel run
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Biology Support Centers .
I would like to run a NativePAGE gel. Which of your protein standards should I use?
We recommend using the NativeMark Unstained Protein Standard, Cat. No. LC0725 for native gel electrophoresis with Tris-Glycine, NuPAGE Tris-Acetate or NativePAGE gels.
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Assays and Analysis Support Center.
My NativePAGE gel stops running halfway through the electrophoresis process. Can you please help me?
During NativePAGE runs, it is common for the current to drop below 1 mA. Most power supplies register this as a “No Load” error and automatically shut off, resulting in the stopping of the gel run. This can be bypassed in some power supplies by disabling or turning off the “Load Check” feature.
Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Electrophoresis and Western Blotting Support Center.
