Electrophoresis equipment includes cells and power supplies. This section gives a selection of cells and power supplies available from Bio-Rad and provides guidelines for their usage
Related Topics: Protein Electrophoresis Methods, Protein Electrophoresis Reagent Selection and Preparation and Performing Protein Electrophoresis.
Page Contents
Electrophoresis Cells
Components of a vertical electrophoresis cell.
Vertical electrophoresis cells are manufactured in different size formats to accommodate different gels sizes. Cell selection is dependent on the requirements for speed, resolution, and throughput (both number of samples and number of gels) as well as the volume of sample available (see Table below).
Vertical Electrophoresis System Selection Guide
| Mini-PROTEAN System | Criterion System | PROTEAN II System | PROTEAN Plus System | |
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| Advantages: | ||||
| Run 1–4 precast or handcast gels in the Mini-PROTEAN Tetra cell up to 12 gels in the Mini-PROTEAN Dodeca cell in mini format Wing clamp assembly allows faster setup and leak-free operation
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Fast setup with drop-in gel and cell design (precast or handcast) Run 1–2 Criterion Precast or handcast gels Integrated upper buffer chamber allows leak-free operation |
Large format gel system offers greater resolution over smaller formats and can be used with handcast or precast gels Can accommodate up to 4 gels and is available in xi or XL format for running a variety of gel sizes Multi-cell is available for running up to 6 gels |
Offers maximum resolution in a single gel and the longest range of separation (with the ability to run up to 12 gels) Specifically for the second dimension of 2-d electrophoresis |
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| Compatible Gel Formats | ||||
| Precast | Mini-PROTEAN Precast Gels Ready Gel Precast Gels |
Criterion Precast Gels | ||
| Handcast | Mini-PROTEAN Empty Cassettes and Casting Plates | Criterion Empty Cassettes | PROTEAN II Casting Plates | PROTEAN Plus casting equipment |
| Electrophoresis Cells | ||||
| Mini-PROTEAN Tetra Cell Mini-PROTEAN 3 Dodeca Cell |
Criterion Cell |
PROTEAN II xi/XL Cell PROTEAN II xi/XL Multi-Cells |
PROTEAN Plus Dodeca | |
| Precast Gel Dimensions | ||||
| (W x L x thickness) |
Mini-PROTEAN Precast Gels: 8.6 x 6.7 x 0.1 cm Ready Gel Precast Gels: 8.3 x 6.4 x 0.1 cm |
Criterion Precast Gels: 13.3 x 8.7 x 0.1 cm |
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| Cassette Dimensions (for Handcasting Gels) | ||||
| 10.0 x 8.0 cm | 15.0 x 10.6 cm | 20.0 x 18.3 cm | 18.5 x 20.5 cm 20.0 x 20.5 cm 20.0 x 20.5 cm |
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| Compatible Transfer Systems | ||||
| Wet/tank transfer |
Mini Trans-Blot Cell Criterion Blotter Trans-Blot Cell |
Criterion Blotter Trans-Blot Cell Trans-Blot Plus Cell |
Trans-Blot Cell Trans-Blot Plus Cell |
Trans-Blot Plus Cell |
| Semi-dry transfer |
Trans-Blot SD Cell Trans-Blot Turbo Transfer System |
Trans-Blot SD Cell Trans-Blot Turbo Transfer System |
Trans-Blot SD Cell | |
Vertical Electrophoresis System Selection Guide
- Mini-format systems — accommodate small gels (up to 8.6 x 6.7 cm). The short separation distance maximizes the electrical field strength (V/cm) to yield rapid separations with moderate resolution. Use these systems for rapid analysis, method development, or when sample volumes are limited. The Mini-PROTEAN System includes the Mini-PROTEAN Tetra cell (with a capacity of up to four gels) and the high-throughput Mini-PROTEAN 3 Dodeca cell (for running up to 12 gels)
- Midi-format systems — accommodate 13.3 x 8.7 cm gels and offer rapid runs with higher sample capacity and enhanced separation over mini-format gels. The Criterion System includes the Criterion Cell (for 1–2 gels) and high-throughput Criterion Dodeca cell (for 1–12 gels); both cells are compatible with Criterion precast gels
- Large-format systems — accommodate large gels (up to 20.0 x 18.3 cm for the PROTEAN II system, designed for one-dimensional PAGE) and so offer maximum resolution. The PROTEAN II system provides a choice of glass plates, spacer, and sandwich clamps to cast two gel lengths/ 10 or 20 cm. The PROTEAN Plus Dodeca Cell allows maximum throughput with the capability to run up to 12 2-D gels at a time
Power Supplies for PAGE Applications
Power supplies are available to meet the power requirements of numerous applications (see below). The choice of power supply for PAGE applications usually depends on the size and number of gels being run. The following Table compares the Bio-Rad PowerPac™ power supplies recommended for vertical electrophoresis applications.
- For mini-format vertical PAGE applications, the PowerPac Basic and PowerPac HC power supply are both suitable
- For large-format vertical PAGE applications, the PowerPac HV and PowerPac Universal power supply are both suitable
- For applications that require high currents, such as PAGE with the high-throughput Dodeca cells, the PowerPac HC power supply is the appropriate model
PowerPac power supplies selection guide
| Technique and Recommended Apparatus | Typical Conditions* (Initial) | Typical Conditions* (Final) | Run Time | PowerPac™ Power Supply | |||||
| V | mA | V | mA | ||||||
| Laemmli (SDS), O'Farrell Second Dimension (SDS) | |||||||||
| PROTEAN® II xi cell | 100 | 35(C) | 350 | 35(C) | 5 hr | HV or Universal | |||
| PROTEAN II XL cell | 100 | 35(C) | 350 | 35(C) | 5 hr | HV or Universal | |||
| Criterion™ cell | 200(C) | 200 | 200(C) | 80 | 55 min | Basic or HC | |||
| Mini-PROTEAN® Tetra cell | 200(C) | 240 | 200(C) | 120 | 35–45 min | Basic or HC | |||
| High-Throughput Electrophoresis | |||||||||
| PROTEAN Plus | 200(C) | 1,000 | 200(C) | 350 | 6 hr | HC or Universal | |||
| Dodeca™ cell | 200(C) | 1,000 | 200(C) | 350 | 6 hr | HC or Universal | |||
| 150(C) | 1,200 | 150(C) | 300 | 18–20 hr | HC or Universal | ||||
| PROTEAN II xi/XL multi-cell | 150 | 480(C) | 500 | 480(C) | 5 hr | Universal | |||
| Criterion™ Dodeca™ cell | 200(C) | 1,000–1,400 | 200(C) | 400–500 | 55 min | HC or Universal | |||
| Mini-PROTEAN® 3 Dodeca™ cell | 200(C) | 600 | 200(C) | 360 | 45 min | HC or Universal | |||
| Western Blotting | |||||||||
| Mini Trans-Blot® cell | 100(C) | 250 | 100(C) | 450 | 1 hr | HC | |||
| Criterion™ blotter | |||||||||
| Wire electrodes | 100(C) | 250 | 100(C) | 450 | 1 hr | HC | |||
| Plate electrodes | 100(C) | 650 | 100(C) | 1,600 | 30 min | HC | |||
| Trans-Blot® cell | |||||||||
| Wire electrodes | 60(C) | 210–250 | 60(C) | 210—250 | 5 hr | HC | |||
| Plate electrodes | 100–150(C) | 1,000–1,600 | 100–150(C) | 1,000–1,600 | 1–5 hr | HC | |||
| High-intensity transfer | 50–100(C) | 1,600 | 50–100(C) | 1,600 | 30 min | HC | |||
| Trans-Blot® Plus cell | 100(C) | 3,000 | 100(C) | 3,000 | 30 min–1 hr | HC | |||
| Trans-Blot® SD cell | |||||||||
| Protein | 15(C) | 500 | 15(C) | 200 | 15–30 min | HC | |||
| DNA/RNA | 15 | 650(C) | 25 | 650(C) | 10–30 min | HC | |||
*(C) = constant. Typical conditions are listed as guidelines only and can vary based on sample, buffers, etc.
PowerPac power supplies.
Videos
Mini-PROTEAN® Tetra Cell: Features, Parts, and Assembly
This tutorial highlights the main features and components of the Mini-PROTEAN Tetra cell and shows you how to assemble the unit and its handcasting accessories. Information about the compatibility of its components with the Mini-PROTEAN 3 and Mini Trans-Blot® cells is also provided.
This tutorial highlights the main features and components of the Mini-PROTEAN Tetra cell and shows you how to assemble the unit and its handcasting accessories. Information about the compatibility of its components with the Mini-PROTEAN 3 and Mini Trans-Blot® cells is also provided.
Bio-Rad's PowerPac™ Family of Power Supplies
This tutorial describes the features of Bio-Rad's PowerPac family of power supplies and compares their specifications. It also offers information about parameter selection, common error messages, and available PowerPac accessories. Important safety information is also provided.
This tutorial describes the features of Bio-Rad's PowerPac family of power supplies and compares their specifications. It also offers information about parameter selection, common error messages, and available PowerPac accessories. Important safety information is also provided.
Documents
Number Description Options
6040
Electrophoresis Guide, Interactive PDF, Rev C
2710
Criterion Precast Gel System Brochure, Rev C
1760
PROTEAN® II xi and XL Cells PIS, Rev F
2881
PowerPac Basic 300 V Power Supply Flier, Rev B
2882
PowerPac HC High-Current Power Supply Flier, Rev A
2885
PowerPac Universal Power Supply Brochure, Rev B
3189
PowerPac™ HV Power Supply Brochure