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Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc launch New Imaging System

Bio-Rad
11 Sept 2011

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Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. announces the launch of the ChemiDoc™ MP imaging system, a stain-free enabled instrument, capable of chemiluminescent, multiplex fluorescent, and routine gel imaging. Using the stain-free detection option of the ChemiDoc MP system, researchers can quantify total protein for normalization purposes after transfer to the membrane. This method is designed to produce faster results and overcomes the potential errors associated with normalization using housekeeping proteins.

“I’ve found that using stain-free imaging with the ChemiDoc MP is as good or better than using housekeeping proteins for normalization,” said Aldrin Gomes, assistant professor at the University of California, Davis. “This also saves time and hassle since I don’t need to re-probe the blot for housekeeping proteins.”

Formerly, researchers quantifying western blot experiments normalize data with housekeeping proteins, which ordinarily requires stripping and probing the membrane a second time, or probing with multiple antibodies simultaneously. Stripping and reprobing techniques add extra steps to the protocol, consuming reagents, time, and labor. Alternatively, probing with multiple antibodies simultaneously requires reagent optimization over several experiments.

Assurance at Every Stage of the Western Workflow
The ChemiDoc MP system also integrates with Bio-Rad’s V3 Western Workflow™, a portfolio of Bio-Rad products that shorten the protein separation and blot transfer steps from several hours to 30 minutes. In addition, the V3 Western Workflow offers researchers confidence in their western blot results, providing them a way to visualize their proteins at every stage of the protocol. Using the ChemiDoc MP system, researchers can visualize protein separation on Criterion™ TGX Stain-Free™ precast gels, verify successful transfer with the Trans-Blot®-TurboTM transfer system by imaging the membrane using stain-free detection, and validate the accuracy of western blot results at every step.

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ElectrophoresisElectrophoresis equipment is used to separate mixtures of protein, DNA or RNA, based on their electric charge, size and other physical characteristics, by passing them through a medium such as a polyacrylamide gel, an agarose gel or a capillary tube. Electrophoresis equipment includes horizontal and vertical gel electrophoresis chambers, isoelectric focusing systems, 2D electrophoresis and capillary electrophoresis instruments. Precast gels with a gradient can be used or gels can be hand cast. Samples are run alongside ladders or markers to identify the approximate size of a molecule. Separated proteins and nucleic acids in the gel can be stained or probed with fluorescent markers and then imaged and detected using gel documentation instruments, transilluminators, densitometers and scanners. Find the best electrophoresis equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Western BlottingWestern blotting equipment is used to transfer and identify specific proteins within a sample, reveal protein modifications, as well as give a semi-quantitative estimation of their concentration. Western blotting equipment includes all apparatus necessary to transfer proteins from gel to membrane and subsequent processing steps. Protein transfer can be performed by electroblotting with wet, semi-dry and dry transfer systems onto nitrocellulose and PVDF membranes. Blocking, washing and labeling of membranes follows, involving buffers, blocking reagents, blotting / incubation trays, labeling reagents, immunoblotting assays, antibodies and conjugates. Automated equipment for these steps is available to accelerate your lab workflow. Finally, detection and imaging of proteins can be conducted using gel documentation and imaging systems. Find the best western blotting equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Gel Doc / Image AnalysisGel documentation (gel doc) or gel imaging systems are used for the analysis of proteins, antibodies and nucleic acid immobilized in polyacrylamide or agarose gels, membranes or microarrays. Explore a range of a gel imaging systems, densitometers, scanners, transilluminators or UV lamp + CCD cameras for your image analysis solutions. Colorimetric, fluorescent and/or radioisotopic samples can be visualized and documented for further analysis. See gel doc / Image analysis software for quantitative 1D and 2D analysis of your samples. Find the best gel doc / image analysis products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.

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Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc launch New Imaging System