The use of bacteriophage T4 as a set of molecular weight and isoelectric point markers for two-dimensional electrophoresis

The use of radioactive bacteriophage proteins as X-Y markers for silver stained two-dimensional electrophoresis gels and quantification of the patterns

We have demonstrated the feasibility of using bacteriophage ghost proteins, tritiated by metabolic labeling, as a set of standard markers for two-dimensional gels in which the proteins are to be detected by silver staining. The results indicate that a 2.5 microgram load of phage proteins yields a reproducible silver pattern of 48 spots. The spots can also be readily identified by radioautography and radiofluorography, establishing their value as a standard constellation of markers. Quantification of these patterns by computerized densitometry indicates a general agreement between detection by silver staining and detection by radiofluorography.

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of proteins

The high-resolution capacity of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) makes it an excellent tool for the analysis and characterisation of complex protein mixtures. The evolution of two-dimensional electrophoresis is briefly described. The various steps involved in 2-D PAGE, the identification and characterization of proteins separated by 2-D PAGE and the quantitative and qualitative analysis of 2-D patterns are discussed in detail and some new approaches are described. In the final section a brief outline of some of the biomedical applications of 2-D PAGE to screening of body fluids, genetic diseases, inborn errors of metabolism, cancer and neoplastic transformation are discussed.

Computer applications in analysis, mapping and cataloging of proteins separated by two dimensional electrophoresis

Two dimensional electrophoretic separation of complex mixtures of proteins can only be exploited to its fullest potential using sophisticated computerized spot detection, quantification, pattern recognition, pattern normalization, data reduction and data storage. We present a discussion of some of the technical problems and of the options available which will ultimately lead toward full computerization of the data.