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Precast Protein Gels |
This page provides an overview of Invitrogen precast protein gels to support selection of products for SDS-PAGE, Native PAGE, and western blotting workflows.
Discover Invitrogen precast protein gels for reliable, high-resolution protein separation
Invitrogen precast protein gels help deliver fast, consistent, high-resolution separation across a broad molecular weight range. With four optimized chemistries and innovative formats like WedgeWell gels, they simplify SDS-PAGE and native PAGE, helping ensure reproducible results for western blotting, proteomics, and other downstream workflows.
How to separate proteins using an Invitrogen precast SDS-PAGE gel
Find precast protein gels for your workflow
Selecting the right precast protein gel depends on your separation method (SDS-PAGE vs Native PAGE), target protein size, and downstream application such as western blotting. The table below summarizes common gel chemistries and formats to help guide your protein gel selection depending on your separation method, target protein size, and experimental workflow.
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| Gel type | Bis-Tris Gels | Tris-Glycine Gels | Tris-Acetate Gels | Tricine Gels |
| Use for | High resolution for broad-range molecular weight separation; low abundance proteins Neutral pH environment that helps prevent protein degradation Faster run times | Broad range molecular weight; traditional Laemmli-style | Optimized for large molecular weight proteins | Improved resolution for low-molecular weight proteins |
| Gel formats | Mini, midi, mini WedgeWell, midi WedgeWell | Mini, midi, mini WedgeWell, midi WedgeWell | Mini, midi, mini WedgeWell, midi WedgeWell | Mini |
| Minimum run time | 13–35 min | 30–45 min | 45–60 min | 60–70 min |
| Shelf life* | Up to 16 months at room temperature | Up to 12 months | Up to 12 months | Up to 16 weeks |
| MW range | 1.5–300 kDa | 8–250 kDa | 30–500 kDa | 2.5–250 kDa |
| Available gels | Precast: NuPAGE Bis-Tris gels, Bolt Bis-Tris Plus gels | Precast: Novex Tris-Glycine | Precast: NuPAGE Tris-Acetate | Precast: Novex Tricine |
*Shelf life varies by storage temperature; refer to product packaging for expiration.
WedgeWell format wells
WedgeWell format wells are an Invitrogen gel design engineered to address one of the most common challenges in SDS-PAGE workflows: inconsistent and limited sample loading.
By enabling higher loading volumes and more controlled placement, WedgeWell gels support consistent and uniform sample loading, and improved detection of low-abundance proteins, helping reduce reruns and increase confidence in downstream analysis such as western blotting.
For workflows where sample volume, loading consistency, and detection sensitivity matter, WedgeWell format gels offer a distinct advantage over traditional straight-well designs.
For labs routinely re-running gels due to loading errors or weak signal, WedgeWell gels can significantly reduce repeat experiments.
Comparison of mini WedgeWell well and traditional mini gel well shape.
Unlike traditional straight-well designs, WedgeWell gels feature a tapered well geometry that allows up to 100 µL of sample per well to be loaded, which is particularly beneficial for dilute samples and low-abundance proteins. The wider well opening helps guide standard pipette tips into position, reducing the risk of well damage, sample spillover, and uneven loading, thereby improving loading accuracy.
Key benefits of WedgeWell format gels:
- Results you can trust—rigorously tested to help ensure reliable, reproducible performance, lot after lot
- Easy sample loading—larger well openings make loading a breeze even with standard pipette tips, and reduce sample spill-over and cross-well contamination
- Increased sample loading capacity—easy detection of dilute samples and low abundance proteins
- Reduced cost—lower cost per sample and reduced running buffer required per sample (7.3 mL of running buffer saved per sample, 140 mL saved for 20 samples)*
- Faster run times—up to 10 min faster than traditional gels
*Based on comparison between our most popular mini and midi well format options (12 and 20 well, respectively)
Learn about WedgeWell protein gels
This video explains how the WedgeWell tapered well design enables higher sample loading and more accurate sample placement, helping improve detection of low-abundance proteins and reduce reruns in SDS-PAGE workflows.
Watch the video to see how WedgeWell format gels differ from traditional straight-well designs.
Specialized precast gels support non-standard separation modes when molecular weight alone is not sufficient for protein characterization.
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| Gel type | Native PAGE Gels | Isoelectric Focusing Gels | Zymogram Gels | E-PAGE Precast Gels |
| Best for | Native protein separation, neutral pH for high sensitivity applications | pI-based separation | Protein activity detection | High-throughput protein analysis |
| MW range | 15–10,000 kDa | pI 3.5–8.5 | 10–220 kDa | 10–200 kDa |
| Available gels | NativePAGE 3–12%, NativePAGE 4–16% | Novex pH 3–10 IEF, Novex pH 3–7 IEF | Novex 10% Zymogram Plus (Gelatin) | E-PAGE 8%, E-PAGE 6% |
| | | | |
| Gel type | Bis-Tris Gels | Tris-Glycine Gels | Tris-Acetate Gels | Tricine Gels |
| Use for | High resolution for broad-range molecular weight separation; low abundance proteins Neutral pH environment that helps prevent protein degradation Faster run times | Broad range molecular weight; traditional Laemmli-style | Optimized for large molecular weight proteins | Improved resolution for low-molecular weight proteins |
| Gel formats | Mini, midi, mini WedgeWell, midi WedgeWell | Mini, midi, mini WedgeWell, midi WedgeWell | Mini, midi, mini WedgeWell, midi WedgeWell | Mini |
| Minimum run time | 13–35 min | 30–45 min | 45–60 min | 60–70 min |
| Shelf life* | Up to 16 months at room temperature | Up to 12 months | Up to 12 months | Up to 16 weeks |
| MW range | 1.5–300 kDa | 8–250 kDa | 30–500 kDa | 2.5–250 kDa |
| Available gels | Precast: NuPAGE Bis-Tris gels, Bolt Bis-Tris Plus gels | Precast: Novex Tris-Glycine | Precast: NuPAGE Tris-Acetate | Precast: Novex Tricine |
*Shelf life varies by storage temperature; refer to product packaging for expiration.
WedgeWell format wells
WedgeWell format wells are an Invitrogen gel design engineered to address one of the most common challenges in SDS-PAGE workflows: inconsistent and limited sample loading.
By enabling higher loading volumes and more controlled placement, WedgeWell gels support consistent and uniform sample loading, and improved detection of low-abundance proteins, helping reduce reruns and increase confidence in downstream analysis such as western blotting.
For workflows where sample volume, loading consistency, and detection sensitivity matter, WedgeWell format gels offer a distinct advantage over traditional straight-well designs.
For labs routinely re-running gels due to loading errors or weak signal, WedgeWell gels can significantly reduce repeat experiments.
Comparison of mini WedgeWell well and traditional mini gel well shape.
Unlike traditional straight-well designs, WedgeWell gels feature a tapered well geometry that allows up to 100 µL of sample per well to be loaded, which is particularly beneficial for dilute samples and low-abundance proteins. The wider well opening helps guide standard pipette tips into position, reducing the risk of well damage, sample spillover, and uneven loading, thereby improving loading accuracy.
Key benefits of WedgeWell format gels:
- Results you can trust—rigorously tested to help ensure reliable, reproducible performance, lot after lot
- Easy sample loading—larger well openings make loading a breeze even with standard pipette tips, and reduce sample spill-over and cross-well contamination
- Increased sample loading capacity—easy detection of dilute samples and low abundance proteins
- Reduced cost—lower cost per sample and reduced running buffer required per sample (7.3 mL of running buffer saved per sample, 140 mL saved for 20 samples)*
- Faster run times—up to 10 min faster than traditional gels
*Based on comparison between our most popular mini and midi well format options (12 and 20 well, respectively)
Learn about WedgeWell protein gels
This video explains how the WedgeWell tapered well design enables higher sample loading and more accurate sample placement, helping improve detection of low-abundance proteins and reduce reruns in SDS-PAGE workflows.
Watch the video to see how WedgeWell format gels differ from traditional straight-well designs.
Specialized precast gels support non-standard separation modes when molecular weight alone is not sufficient for protein characterization.
| | | | |
| Gel type | Native PAGE Gels | Isoelectric Focusing Gels | Zymogram Gels | E-PAGE Precast Gels |
| Best for | Native protein separation, neutral pH for high sensitivity applications | pI-based separation | Protein activity detection | High-throughput protein analysis |
| MW range | 15–10,000 kDa | pI 3.5–8.5 | 10–220 kDa | 10–200 kDa |
| Available gels | NativePAGE 3–12%, NativePAGE 4–16% | Novex pH 3–10 IEF, Novex pH 3–7 IEF | Novex 10% Zymogram Plus (Gelatin) | E-PAGE 8%, E-PAGE 6% |
Why choose Invitrogen precast protein gels?
Not all precast protein gels offer the same level of flexibility, performance, or ease of use. When selecting a precast protein gel, differences in chemistry options, sample loading capacity, storage requirements, and quality control acceptance criteria can significantly affect product quality and workflow efficiency. The table below compares Invitrogen precast protein gels with other suppliers across these key specifications.
Invitrogen* | Bio-Rad* | GenScript* | Millipore-Sigma* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini gel options | Bis-Tris Bis-Tris Plus Tris-Glycine Tris-Acetate Tricine | Tris-Glycine Tricine | Bis-Tris | Bis-Tris |
| Midi gel options | Bis-Tris Tris-Glycine Tris-Acetate | Bis-Tris Tris-Glycine Tris-Acetate Tris-HCl | Bis-Tris** | No |
| Specialized gels | Tris-Tricine IEF Native Page Zymogram E-PAGE 2D electrophoresis | Tris-Tricine | No | No |
| Sample loading volume | Up to 100 µL | Up to 50 µL | Up to 80 µL | Up to 80 µL |
| Recommended storage temperature | 4–25°C | 2–8°C | 2–8°C | 2–8°C |
| QC acceptance criteria | Straightness of band migration Curvature of bands Migration accuracy of multiple protein markers Visual appearance | Visual/structural quality of gel | Visual band quality | Visual band quality |
*Product offerings accurate as of January 2026
**Available in China only
Choose your precast protein gel with ease
Run Invitrogen mini gels in your existing Bio-Rad tank
Invitrogen mini gels, including our Tetra Electrophoresis Cores, are compatible with the Bio-Rad Mini-PROTEAN Tetra Cell tank, allowing you to run up to four gels simultaneously without changing your electrophoresis setup.
Switch from other suppliers' gels with confidence
Find the Invitrogen mini or midi gel to replace your current precast gel from another supplier—matched by chemistry, format, and application.
Protein gel performance guarantee
Purchase our Invitrogen precast gels with confidence, knowing that we back up the quality of our protein gels with the Invitrogen protein gels performance guarantee.
How-to videos for protein gels
How can I choose the right precast protein gel for my experiment?
Key experimental factors such as protein modifications, pH, and molecular weight directly influence precast protein gel selection and electrophoretic performance. In this video, Alok Tomar explains how to evaluate these factors when selecting a gel to improve resolution and reproducibility.
You’ll learn how to:
- Account for protein modifications that affect migration during electrophoresis
- Understand the role of pH in sample integrity and band resolution
- Match gel chemistry to your protein's molecular weight range
Why sample preparation and gel selection matter for SDS-PAGE
Proper sample preparation and gel chemistry selection directly impact SDS-PAGE performance, protein migration, and band sharpness. In this video, Alok Tomar highlights practical considerations that can help optimize separation quality and reduce troubleshooting.
You’ll learn how to:
- Apply effective sample preparation techniques
- Distinguish between common SDS-PAGE gel chemistries
- Understand how gel chemistry influences overall gel performance
Precast protein gel formats (mini and midi)
Precast protein gels are available in formats designed to support different sample volumes, separation needs, and laboratory workflows. Choosing the appropriate gel format can help streamline electrophoresis setup, improve resolution, and reduce reruns.
Mini and midi gel formats
Mini and midi precast protein gels are widely used formats for routine protein electrophoresis and are suitable for most SDS-PAGE, Native PAGE, and western blotting workflows. Mini gels are ideal for routine analysis, while midi gels are often selected when higher resolution or increased sample throughput is required.
- Mini gels are typically used when working with smaller sample volumes or a limited number of samples, making them a practical choice for routine, day-to-day protein analysis.
- Midi gels support a higher number of samples per run, helping improve comparability across samples and reduce run-to-run variability compared to running multiple mini gels.
These formats integrate easily into established laboratory workflows and are compatible with commonly used buffers, molecular weight markers, and downstream analysis techniques.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Why choose precast protein gels?
Precast protein gels simplify electrophoresis workflows by eliminating gel casting steps and reducing variability associated with hand-cast gels. Because they are supplied ready for use, precast gels help improve reproducibility and save valuable lab time.
What are precast protein gels used for?
Precast protein gels are used in protein electrophoresis workflows such as SDS-PAGE, Native PAGE, and isoelectric focusing (IEF) to separate proteins based on molecular weight, charge, or native structure. They are commonly used for applications including protein expression analysis, western blotting, and protein characterization.
What is the difference between precast and hand-cast protein gels?
Precast protein gels are manufactured under controlled conditions and supplied ready for use, helping provide consistent gel composition and reproducible protein migration. Hand-cast gels may be used when custom acrylamide percentages or specialized configurations are required but typically involve more preparation time and greater variability.
Which precast protein gel should I use for western blotting?
For most western blotting applications, Bis-Tris precast gels are commonly selected due to their high resolution, consistent protein separation, and compatibility with standardized buffers and transfer systems. Tris-Glycine gels may also be used for general-purpose SDS-PAGE and western blotting workflows.
Which gel chemistry should I choose for my protein size?
Gel chemistry selection depends on the molecular weight of the target protein:
- Bis-Tris gels support broad-range separation with near-neutral pH to help preserve protein integrity
- Tris-Glycine gels support broad-range protein separation
- Tris-Acetate gels are recommended for high-molecular-weight proteins and complexes
- Tricine gels help provide improved resolution for small proteins and peptides
What is the difference between SDS-PAGE and Native PAGE?
SDS-PAGE separates denatured proteins by molecular weight, while Native PAGE separates proteins based on their native size, charge, and conformation, but also preserves protein structure.
Which gel do I use for high molecular weight proteins?
Tris-Acetate gels are recommended for separating high molecular weight proteins (>200 kDa) and protein complexes.
When should I choose Bis-Tris vs Tris-Glycine?
Bis-Tris gels are typically selected for reduced protein degradation, faster run times, longer room-temperature shelf life, and the ability to optimize separations using MES or MOPS running buffers. Tris-Glycine gels are widely used for broad-range, general-purpose SDS-PAGE separations.
Troubleshooting common gel issues
Many common electrophoresis issues can be resolved by selecting the appropriate gel chemistry and running conditions. The examples below highlight frequent observations and general considerations.
Possible causes: Excess heat, depleted running buffer, uneven gel running
General considerations: Reduce running voltage, use fresh running buffer, and confirm proper cassette alignment
Possible causes: Suboptimal running conditions or sample-related factors
General considerations: Verify electrophoresis conditions and verify gel chemistry and buffers are appropriate for the application
Possible causes: Sample overload, damaged wells, incorrect running buffer
General considerations: Adjust sample loading volume, inspect wells prior to loading, and confirm buffer conditions
Possible causes: Low protein concentration or degraded samples
General considerations: Confirm sample integrity and adjust loading amounts as needed
Learn more about troubleshooting tips and tricks
Related products
Electrophoresis Buffers and Reagents
Buffers and reagents optimized for consistent performance with Invitrogen precast protein gels.
Electrophoresis Buffers and Reagents
Protein ladders designed for accurate molecular weight estimation and reliable gel-to-gel comparison.
Gel Electrophoresis Chambers Systems
Gel running systems compatible with Invitrogen precast protein gels for reliable SDS-PAGE workflows.
Resources
Download: Protein Gel Electrophoresis Handbook
This page was updated on February 20, 2026.
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Find the right protein gel for your experiments
| Pour your own gels with a handcast system | Value gels for screening and qualitative protein separation | Gels based on traditional Laemmli formula with 60uL sample volume capacity | Highest resolution, longest shelf-life and western optimized gels | Highest resolution and long shelf-life | |
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| View all | Order now | Order now | Order now | Order now | |
 View all handcast systems |  Novex™ Value Tris-Glycine gels |  Novex™ WedgeWell™ Tris-Glycine gels |  Bolt™ Gels |  NuPAGE™ Gels | |
| Citations in the last 10 years | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A (new product) | >20,000 |
| Protein resolution & integrity, lot consistency & band quality | Not applicable | Good | High | High | High |
| Average run time | 90 min | 46 min (225V) | 60 min | 35 min | 35 min |
| Well format | Standard | Standard | New high-capacity wedge design | New high-capacity wedge design | Standard |
| Gel dimensions | Mini: 8x8 cm, 1 or 1.5 mm thick | Mini: 8x8 cm, 1 mm thick | Mini: 8x8 cm, 1 or 1.5 mm thick | Mini: 8x8.3 cm, 1 mm thick | Mini: 8x8 cm, 1 or 1.5 mm thick Midi: 8 x 13 cm, 1 mm thick |
| Shelf life | N/A | Up to 12 months | Up to 12 months | >16 months | 8 months (Tris-Acetate) 16 months (Bis-Tris) |
| Pack sizes | N/A | 20 pack | 2 & 10 packs | 10 packs | 2 & 10 packs |
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.