High-performing electrophoresis gels with extended shelf lives

Abstract

Polyacrylamide gels that offer high resolution as electrophoretic media for protein separations and an improved resistance to hydrolysis upon storage are made by including either taurine, asparagine, or both as an ampholyte, in combination with either tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane or bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino-tris(hydroxymethyl)methane as a buffer, plus other conventional components.

1 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A polyacrylamide gel comprising
 a buffer selected from the group consisting of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane and bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino-tris(hydroxymethyl)methane,   asparagine, and   a conjugate ampholyte selected from the group consisting of glycine and tricine,   in a gel matrix consisting of crosslinked polyacrylamide.   
     
     
         38 . The polyacrylamide gel of  claim 37 , wherein the concentration of asparagine is from about 100 mM to about 300 mM. 
     
     
         39 . The polyacrylamide gel of  claim 38 , wherein the concentration of asparagine is from about 150 mM to about 250 mM. 
     
     
         40 . The polyacrylamide gel of  claim 37 , wherein the concentration ratio of asparagine to the conjugate ampholyte is less than 0.3. 
     
     
         41 . The polyacrylamide gel of  claim 37 , wherein the concentration ratio of asparagine to the conjugate ampholyte is greater than 1.0. 
     
     
         42 . The polyacrylamide gel of  claim 41 , wherein the concentration ratio of asparagine to the conjugate ampholyte is from about 1.25 to about 2.0. 
     
     
         43 . The polyacrylamide gel of  claim 37 , wherein the conjugate ampholyte is glycine. 
     
     
         44 . The polyacrylamide gel of  claim 37 , wherein the conjugate ampholyte is tricine. 
     
     
         45 . The polyacrylamide gel of  claim 37 , wherein the concentration of the buffer is from about 50 mM to about 200 mM. 
     
     
         46 . The polyacrylamide gel of  claim 37 , further comprising a strong acid selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid. 
     
     
         47 . The polyacrylamide gel of  claim 37 , further comprising a weak acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, maleic acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, and boric acid. 
     
     
         48 . The polyacrylamide gel of  claim 47 , wherein the weak acid is citric acid or maleic acid. 
     
     
         49 . The polyacrylamide gel of  claim 47 , wherein the concentration of the weak acid is within the range of about 0.01 mol/L (10 mM) to about 0.50 mol/L (500 mM). 
     
     
         50 . The polyacrylamide gel of  claim 49 , wherein the concentration of the weak acid is within the range of about 0.01 mol/L (10 mM) to about 0.05 mol/L (50 mM). 
     
     
         51 . The polyacrylamide gel of  claim 37 , further comprising a neutral salt selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, sodium phosphate, potassium chloride, and potassium phosphate. 
     
     
         52 . The polyacrylamide gel of  claim 51 , wherein the concentration of the salt is within the range of about 0.01 mol/L (10 mM) to about 0.50 mol/L (500 mM). 
     
     
         53 . The polyacrylamide gel of  claim 52 , wherein the concentration of the salt is within the range of about 0.01 mol/L (10 mM) to about 0.05 mol/L (50 mM). 
     
     
         54 . The polyacrylamide gel of  claim 37 , further comprising taurine. 
     
     
         55 . The polyacrylamide gel of  claim 37  having a pH of from about 6.4 to about 9.0. 
     
     
         56 . The polyacrylamide gel of  claim 55  having a pH of from about 6.4 to about 7.0.