Imaging and Analysis of 2-D Electrophoresis Gels

After 2-D gels are stained, the protein patterns are digitized and analyzed. Following analysis, spots of interest are then excised from gels for further analysis. Bio-Rad provides a wide assortment of imaging systems to meet various 2-D gel imaging requirements. Sophisticated image analysis software simplifies the analysis of 2-D data and makes the process more efficient by automating spot detection and analysis. This section provides an overview of gel image acquisition instruments and analysis software.

Related Topics: Protein Sample Preparation for 2-D Electrophoresis, First Dimension Separation (Isoelectric Focusing), Second Dimension Separation, Visualization (Staining), Protein Spot Excision and Protein Identification, and Troubleshooting 2-D Electrophoresis Gels with 2-D Doctor™.

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Image Acquisition Instruments

Analysis of high-quality 2-D gels is a basic requirement for investigating changes in protein expression. Before 2-D gels can be analyzed with an image evaluation system, they must be digitized. The most commonly used devices are camera-based systems, densitometers, phosphor imagers, and fluorescence scanners. Bio-Rad has imaging equipment suitable for different kinds of detection methods.

Imaging Systems

 
  GS-900™
LED illumination
ChemiDoc™ MP Gel Doc™ EZ
Type of Imager Densitometer CCD camera-based CCD camera-based
Light source options Epl- and transillumination of white light Transillumination of UV and white light with near infrared, far red, red, green, and blue LEDs Transillumination of UV and white light
Optimized applications      
Colorimetric stains
UV stains
Fluorescent stains and labels
Fluorescent multiplexing
Chemilluminescence
Stain-Free

 

 
Image Analysis Software

Computer-assisted image analysis is an indispensable tool for the evaluation of complex 2-D gels. Image analysis software obtains quantitative and qualitative information about the proteins in a sample and stores the information in files, which may also contain additional annotations. PDQuest™ 2-D analysis software is a tool for analysis of digitized gel images that integrates with Bio-Rad's image acquisition instruments.

Spot comparison with PDQuest software. PDQuest software can be used to compare two or more gel images, revealing changes in protein expression in response to different treatments, growth conditions or disease states.

 

 

The wizard driven software uses the following work flow:

Imaging Workflow

PDQuest can also be used to control the ExQuest™ spot cutter for automated spot excision.

After separation by 1-D gel electrophoresis, you can utilize a number of methods for protein imaging and analysis involving staining techniques or stain-free technology in combination with specialized imaging devices and accompanying software.

Videos

PDQuest Software Tutorial
PDQuest new experiment workflow.
 
PDQuest Software Tutorial
Cropping images for analysis.
 
PDQuest Software Tutorial
Creating analysis sets.
 

Documents

Number Description Options
2651
2-D Electrophoresis Workflow How-To Guide, Rev F
2566
Normalizing Between 2-D Gels With PDQuest Software
2629
PDQuest Software Citations, Rev C
3095
2-D Electrophoresis: Tools for Rapid, High-Resolution Protein Separations Brochure, Rev B
3096
Sample Preparation: Tools for Protein Sample Extraction, Cleanup, Fractionation, and Depletion Brochure, Rev B
3097
Imaging and Analysis: Tools for Acquisition and Analysis of Protein Expression Data Brochure, Rev B
3098
Expression Proteomics Overview Brochure, Rev B