Automated system for two-dimensional electrophoresis

Abstract

The present invention provides an integrated, fully automated, high-throughput system for two-dimensional electrophoresis comprised of gel-making machines, gel processing machines, gel compositions and geometries, gel handling systems, sample preparation systems, software and methods. The system is capable of continuous operation at high-throughput to allow construction of large quantitative data sets.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for preparing an electrophoresis gel, wherein said system comprises a computer and a software, and said computer and software control a plurality of electromechanical means for preparing said gel and for removing said gel from a mold.  
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said system further loads a sample onto said gel, wherein said sample comprises a plurality of components.  
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said system further effects an electrophoretic separation of said components within said electrophoresis gel.  
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said system further detects said components after electrophoresis and staining of said gel.  
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein said system performs a two-dimensional protocol by preparing a first gel and a second gel, loading said sample onto said first gel, effecting a first separation of said components in said first gel, transferring said first gel to said second gel, effecting a second separation of said components in said second gel, and detecting said components.  
     
     
         6 . A method for preparing an electrophoresis gel, said method comprises steps of: 
 a) casting said gel in a mold; and    b) removing said gel from said mold by a plurality of electromechanical means, wherein each of said electromechanical means is controlled by a computer and a software.    
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said computer and said software further control loading of a sample onto said gel, wherein said sample comprises a plurality of components.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said computer and said software further control an electrophoretic separation of said components within said gel.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said computer and said software further control detection of said components within said gel.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said computer and said software control: 1) preparation of a first gel and a second gel, 2) loading of said sample onto said first gel, 3) a first separation of said components in said first gel, 4) transferring of said first gel to said second gel, 5) a second separation of said components in said second gel, and 6) detection of said components within said gel.  
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said system further comprises means for excising portions of said gel after staining of said gel.  
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11  wherein said means is a computer-controlled movable punch device.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein said movable punch device comprises a tube-like cutter and a central piston within said cutter, said cutter and said piston being moved coaxially by a computer-controlled means to cut, retrieve and expel a plug of said gel.  
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 11  wherein said means is moved on the basis of coordinates supplied by an image processor.  
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein said system further comprises means for excising portions of said gel after staining of said gel.  
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15  wherein said means is a computer-controlled movable punch device.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein said movable punch device comprises a tube-like cutter and a central piston within said cutter, said cutter and said piston being moved coaxially by a computer-controlled means to cut, retrieve and expel a plug of said gel.  
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 15  wherein said means is moved on the basis of coordinates supplied by an image processor.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein said gel is removed from said mold prior to electrophoretic separation of a sample on said gel.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein a second gel comprising a sample is incorporated into said electrophoresis gel after casting of said electrophoresis gel.  
     
     
         21 . The method of claim  20  wherein said sample was separated on said second gel by isoelectric focusing prior to incorporation of said second gel into said electrophoresis gel.