Preservation of Starch-gel Electrophoresis Strips

Abstract

WHEN a conventional starch strip washed in glycerol solution is placed on a glass or ‘Perspex’ plate and dried, one of two difficulties almost always arises: either the strip adheres firmly to the rigid base, comes under increasing tension as it dries and finally tears or, alternatively, it becomes detached along its edges which curl up and the strips become distorted. The method we published for overcoming these difficulties is to strengthen the gel by impregnation with gelatin. Dr. Baur's method of starch-gel electrophoresis affords an alternative solution to this problem. He prepares his starch gel as a relatively large thin sheet on a cellulose backing and several hæmoglobin or serum specimens are run side by side on this sheet. The cellulose backing supports the gel and prevents tearing during manipulation and drying, and having several strips united in one sheet reduces the difficulty that arises from the curling edges.