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Evaluation of Novel Precast SDS-PAGE Gels for Separation of Sorghum Proteins

¹USDA-ARS, Grain Marketing and Production Research Center, Manhattan, KS 66502. Names are necessary to report factually on available data; however, the USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of the product, and the use of the name by the USDA implies no approval of the product to the exclusion of others that may also be suitable. Phone: (785) 776-9441. E-mail: scott@gmprc.ksu.edu.

Precast polyacrylamide gels using novel buffer chemistry for enhanced resolution and shelf life stability of the gels were evaluated for separating sorghum proteins. Two gels with different acrylamide concentrations, 12 and 4–12%, were tested with two different buffer systems. Gels were evaluated for separation resolution, as well as protein solubility problems such as streaking. High-resolution separations were obtained for all the major classes of kernel proteins using these gels. Run times were typically 45–60 min, producing relatively rapid separations. Resolution was significantly affected by the buffer system used. The use of precast gradient gels eliminates the need for casting gradient gels for routine analysis of sorghum proteins and avoids handling the toxic acrylamide monomer. This system will be useful for routine separations of sorghum proteins as well as for research programs using SDS-PAGE to screen sorghum lines for digestibility or for other protein-related quality factors.