The OmniPAGE Mini Vertical system from Cleaver Scientific combines ease of use with functionality, providing consistent performance and an easy-to-use set up for laboratory use. In this ‘How to’ video Dr. Mike Bate explains how to cast and run a polyacrylamide gel using the OmniPAGE Mini Vertical with clear demonstrations and easy-to-follow instructions.
The OmniPAGE Mini Vertical system sets the standard for simple and versatile vertical mini gel electrophoresis and is generally used for protein electrophoresis. Depending upon the model purchased, the system can run up to 4 handcast or 2 commercial precast gels with leak-free casting facilitated with the PAGE insert’s sliding clamp.
Dr. Bate’s How to cast and run a mini vertical gel video
Cleaver Scientific have also produced a transcribed version of the above ‘How to’ video for ease of use. It is advisable to watch the video initially to understand the correct procedures.
How to cast and run a polyacrylamide gel using the OmniPAGE Mini Vertical System from Cleaver Scientific
This is what you will need
- Gel casting and running upstand
- Casting base with mat
- 2 x plain glass plates with 1mm bonded spacers
- 2 x notched glass plates
- 2 x 1mm 12 sample combs
Prepare the glass plate sandwich
Ensure that all components are clean, dry and free of any chips or cracks before making a glass plate sandwich.
Put a plain glass plate with bonded spacers together with a notched glass plate (creating a glass plate sandwich) and with the clamping bar pulled out and the upstand on a flat surface insert the glass plate sandwich into the upstand so that the glass plates lie flat on the lab bench surface and the tops of the glass plates are level with the tops of the white sides of the upstand.
NOTE: The notched glass plates must always face innermost.
Then close the sliding clamps fully and repeat for the other side. Insert the dummy plate if only casting and running one gel.
Pull out the cam pins from the casting base and rotate them so that they point downwards into the bench surface.
Transfer upstand to the casting base
Transfer the upstand containing glass plates to the casting base, ensuring that the glass plates sit evenly on the ultra soft silicone mat.
Insert cam pins
It may be necessary to apply gentle pressure to the top of the upstand to enable the cams to locate within the upstand. Secure the upstand to the casting mat by turning the cam handles 90º in opposite directions. After 90º the cams will feel tight.
The gel solution is now poured between the glass plates and the combs inserted.
Typical constituents of a denaturing gel include:
- Acrylamide
- Tris-glycine
- SDS
- Distilled water
- APS
- TEMED
The formulation may vary according to acrylamide percentage and the size range of the proteins being resolved but the constituents remain the same.
30 minutes later…
Remove the combs from the polymerised gels.
Transfer upstand to tank
Transfer the upstand to the tank and fill the inner chamber with just enough buffer to cover the notch of the inner glass plate and to fill the comb wells. Fill the outer tank as well, covering the bottom of each gel cassette.
Turn the combs upside down and reposition above the wells. Use the inverted combs as a template to position the pipette above each well during loading. Load the protein samples mixed with Laemmli Buffer.
After loading replace the lid and insert the power cables into the corresponding colour coded ports in the power supply.
NOTE: Typical power supply settings – 100-200 volts, Current maximum 45 mins – 1 hour
For more information, advice and guidance on the usage of Cleaver Scientific products please get in touch.
