Protein Gels

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Find the right products for you using the free Western Blot Selector Tool

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Find the right Bio-Rad protein gel for your application.

Choose SDS-PAGE and Native PAGE Gels
Select the best protein gel formulation and size for SDS-PAGE and native PAGE applications.

Choose Specialized Gel Chemistries
Choose from Tris-tricine, Tris-acetate, isoelectric focusing (IEF), and zymogram gels.

Convert to TGX Precast Gels
Find a TGX or TGX Stain-Free™ Gel equivalent to the gel you're using now.

SDS-PAGE and Native PAGE Gels

Product Handcast Gels Precast Gels
Key Benefits
  • Fast run times
  • Fast, efficient western blotting transfers
  • Visualize proteins without staining in 5 minutes with stain-free option
  • High resolution
  • Stain-free option
  • Best for 2DE
  • High resolution
  • For low MW proteins
  • Best for 2DE
Average Run
Times
15–20 min 15 min 20 min 60 min 60 min
Gel Percentages View migration chart to determine the best gel percentage View migration chart View migration chart
Gel Size (W x L) Handcast mini or midi
(up to 13.3 x 8.7 cm)
Mini (8.6 x 6.8 cm) Midi (13.3 x 8.7 cm)
Wells (Volume) See Mini-PROTEAN
Tetra Handcast Systems

or
Criterion Empty
Cassettes

for comb availability
8+1 (30 µl)
10 (30 µl)
10 (50 µl)
12 (20 µl)
15 (15 µl)
IPG (7 cm strip)
12+2 (45 µl)
18 (30 µl)
26 (15 µl)
Prep+2 (700 µl)
IPG+1 (11 cm strip)
12+2 (45 µl)
18 (30 µl)
26 (15 µl)
Prep+2 (700 µl)
IPG+1 (11 cm strip)
12+2 (45 µl)
18 (30 µl)
26 (15 µl)
Prep+2 (700 µl)
IPG+1 (11 cm strip)
Shelf Life 4 weeks (poured) 1 year* 1 year* 3 months* 1 year*
Native PAGE? Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Electrophoresis
Chambers
Required
Equipment and
Supplies
Stain-free enabled imager required for stain-free gels MOPS or MES
buffer required

* From date of manufacture.

Specialized Gel Chemistries

Product Gel Size (W x L) Wells (Volume) Gel Percentages Shelf Life* Electrophoresis Chambers
Tris-Tricine Gels – for separating peptides and small proteins
Mini-PROTEAN Tris-
Tricine Precast Gels
Mini (8.6 x 6.8 cm) 10 (30 µl)
10 (50 µl)
12 (20 µl)
15 (15 µl)
View migration
chart
14 weeks

Midi (13.3 x 8.7 cm) 12+2 (45 µl)
18 (30 µl)
26 (15 µl)
Prep+2 (700 µl)
12 weeks
XT Tris-Acetate gels – ideal for separating high-MW proteins

Midi (13.3 x 8.7 cm) 12+2 (45 µl)
18 (30 µl)
26 (15 µl)
PG+1 (11 cm strip)
View migration
chart
8 months
Zymogram gels – for protease separation and activity tests


(Discontinued)
Mini (8.6 x 6.8 cm) 10 (30 µl)
10 (50 µl)
View migration
chart
10–12 weeks


(Discontinued)
Midi (13.3 x 8.7 cm) 12+2 (45 µl)
18 (30 µl)
26 (15 µl)
8 weeks
Isoelectric focusing (IEF) gels – for separating proteins based on net charge

Mini (8.6 x 6.8 cm) 10 (50 µl) View migration
chart
26 weeks

Midi (13.3 x 8.7 cm) 12+2 (45 µl)
18 (30 µl)
26 (15 µl)
26 weeks
TBE/TBE-urea gels – for high-resolution nucleic acid separation
Mini-PROTEAN TBE Mini-Gels Mini (8.6 x 6.8 cm) 10 (30 µl)
10 (50 µl)
12 (20 µl)
15 (15 µl)
View migration
chart
8–14 weeks

Mini (8.6 x 6.8 cm) 10 (30 µl)
10 (50 µl)
12 (20 µl)
15 (15 µl)
8–14 weeks

Midi (13.3 x 8.7 cm) 26 (15 µl) 12–14 weeks

Convert to TGX Precast Gels

Ready Gel Precast Gels have been discontinued. Replacement gels include TGX and TGX Stain-Free Precast Gels, providing faster run times, longer shelf life, and stain-free imaging capability.

To find recommended replacements for Ready Gel products, search the Discontinued Products page for a discontinued item or catalog number, or download one of the selection guides below.

* From date of manufacture