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Problem with "smiling effect" on SDS-PAGE gel - (Mar/27/2009 )

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Hi everyone, i ran couple SDS PAGE in these few weeks.. and i am using Tricine SDS PAGE system, because one of my target was 4k.

I am using 16% gel, and the formula is the following

AB 50% 5ml
Gel Buffer 5ml
Glycerol 1.5g
Add water to final volume 15ml
APS 10% 50 microl
TEMED 5microl

Anode buffet = 1M tris, 0.225M HCL, pH 8.9
Cathode buffet = 1M tris, 1M tricine, 1% SDS, pH 8.25
Gel buffer = 3M tris, 1M HCL, 0.3 SDS, pH 8.45
All buffers are freshly made yesterday

I ran at initial 30V, after the protein enter the stacking gel, i increase the voltage to 190V (i use constant V)
i have totally 10 lanes, and the smiling effect was always occurred at around lane 1-2 and lane 9-10, and the lanes in between are ok. I also put the whole system in ice while i preforming the run.

I have two questions..
1) how to get rid of the smiling effect ?
2) Will the glycerol cause the smiling effect?

For question 2, i asked because i did try to use the same buffer, but i didnt add the glycerol, therefore, i am wondering the smiling effect was caused by the glycerol...

Can anyone help me ... thanks a lot .....
Attached File

-Danny Chow-

do not let empty wells beside your sample, load them with the same buffer than your sample

-little mouse-

little mouse on Mar 27 2009, 07:01 PM said:

do not let empty wells beside your sample, load them with the same buffer than your sample


I did load all the wells with my samples....

-Danny Chow-

Danny Chow on Mar 27 2009, 08:00 AM said:

little mouse on Mar 27 2009, 07:01 PM said:

do not let empty wells beside your sample, load them with the same buffer than your sample


I did load all the wells with my samples....



try running at lower voltages, 100 Volts until they reach the separating gel and then bump it up to max. 150 but no further. Tell me if you had any luck

-Aris-

Aris on Mar 27 2009, 03:27 PM said:

Danny Chow on Mar 27 2009, 08:00 AM said:

little mouse on Mar 27 2009, 07:01 PM said:

do not let empty wells beside your sample, load them with the same buffer than your sample


I did load all the wells with my samples....



try running at lower voltages, 100 Volts until they reach the separating gel and then bump it up to max. 150 but no further. Tell me if you had any luck



This might be a very "unscientific" advice.... but I'd just buy pre-cast gels. They always look good, you never get smileys when you run them.
It's not so horribly expensive (about 5pounds/gel) and you can spend your time solving problems which are actually important.

-dedee-

This might be a very "unscientific" advice.... but I'd just buy pre-cast gels. They always look good, you never get smileys when you run them.
It's not so horribly expensive (about 5pounds/gel) and you can spend your time solving problems which are actually important.




I agree, but the problem shouldnt be the gel actually...and after all smilies and sad faces when running a gel are NOT that dramatic, it is just that the lanes will be shifted. I instist on the voltage, if this doesnt work we have to think again

-Aris-

Thank you guys !!!
i would try lowering the voltage and manage the temp. better....

reli reli thanks!!!

-Danny Chow-

I tried 150V and run the whole thing in ICE... but still ... smiling effect...

would it be the temperature? Should i not running the whole thing in ice??
cause most of the ... i mean all of the protocols didnt suggest me to run it at low temperature....

except buying a commercial gel, is there any other ways to solve the problem ?

-Danny Chow-

Danny Chow on Mar 30 2009, 12:35 AM said:

I tried 150V and run the whole thing in ICE... but still ... smiling effect...

would it be the temperature? Should i not running the whole thing in ice??
cause most of the ... i mean all of the protocols didnt suggest me to run it at low temperature....

except buying a commercial gel, is there any other ways to solve the problem ?


the smiling effect is most probably due to heating. Could be that you did not mix the gel properly before pouring. There, there is a resistance difference throughout the gel, heating up some place and not others.
Or it could just be that your gel is uneven in thickness, use new gel plates and try it out.


whenever i see even a hint of smiles on my gels, I turn down the voltage till the dye front straightens out and then resume running at normal voltage

-MaggieRoara-

Hi!

I run high percentage Tricne gels all the time, but I never go up to 150V!! Never ice. I run constant 60V through the stack, 80V through the rest. Takes a few hours but it's worth it.

Hope this helps...

-scoob00-
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