Bio-Rad Criterion Cell User Manual

Criterion

™

Cell

Instruction

Manual

Catalog Number

165-6001

For Technical Service Call Your Local Bio-Rad Office or in the U.S. Call 1-800-4BIORAD (1-800-424-6723)

Table of Contents

Page

Section 1 General Information....................................................................................1

1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................1

1.2 Specifications .............................................................................................................1

1.3 Safety..........................................................................................................................2

Section 2 Set Up and Basic Operation........................................................................2

2.1 Sample Loading..........................................................................................................4

2.2 Power Conditions.......................................................................................................5

2.3 Gel Removal...............................................................................................................5

Section 3 Maintenance .................................................................................................6

Section 4 Troubleshooting............................................................................................6

Section 5 Product Information and Accessories........................................................8

Section 6 W arranty Information...............................................................................10

Section 1
General Information

1.1 Introduction

The Criterion cell is a dedicated electrophoresis cell for running Criterion precast gels. The
Criterion cell includes a tank with lower electrodes, a lid including power cables and upper
electrode, and sample loading guides. The cell can run one or two gels.

Fig. 1. Criterion Cell components.

1.2 Specifications

Tank Polycarbonate
Upper electrode Polycarbonate
Lower electrode Polycarbonate
Lid Polycarbonate
Sample loading guides Polycarbonate
Overall size 22.3 x 14.4 x 19.5 cm (LxWxH)
Precast gel compatibility Criterion Gels
Voltage limit 600 VDC and 15 watts
Weight 0.98 kg

Note: Criterion cell components are not compatible with acetone or ethanol. Use of organic
solvents voids all warranties.

1

Buffer overflow

Lower
electrode
carriers

Built-in cassette
opening wedge

Color-coded
banana plugs

Color-coded
power cables

Upper electrode carriers

2

1.3 Safety

Power to the Criterion cell is supplied by an external DC voltage power supply (not included).
The output of this power supply must be isolated from external ground to insure that the DC
voltage output floats with respect to ground. All Bio-Rad power supplies meet this
important safety requirement. Regardless of the power supply used, the maximum specified
operating parameters for the Criterion Cell are as follows:

600 VDC maximum voltage limit

15 watts maximum power limit

50 °C maximum ambient temperature limit

The current to the cell enters the unit through the lid assembly that provides a safety
interlock to the user. The current to the cell and the lid's upper electrodes is broken when the
lid is removed. Always turn off the power supply before removing the lid. Do not attempt to use

the cell without the safety lid.
Important: This Bio-Rad product is designed and certified to meet *EN61010-1 safety

standards. Certified products are safe to use when operated in accordance with the instruction
manual. This instrument should not be modified or altered in any way. Alteration of this
instrument will

• Void the warranty

• Void the EN61010-1 certification, and

• Create a potential safety hazard

Bio-Rad is not responsible for any injury or damage caused by use of this instrument for
purposes other than those for which it is intended or by modifications of the instrument not
performed by Bio-Rad or an authorized agent.

*EN61010-1 is an internationally accepted electrical safety standard for laboratory instruments.

Section 2
Set Up and Basic Operation

Criterion precast gel Cassette Preparation (see Criterion precast gel instruction manual for
details)

1. Remove the Criterion gel cassette from the storage container.

2. Gently remove the comb and rinse the wells thoroughly with distilled water or running

buffer.

3. Remove the tape from the bottom of the cassette.

4. Repeat for second Criterion gel.

5. Insert each Criterion gel into one of the slots in the Criterion tank. Ensure that the upper

buffer chamber of the gel is facing toward the center of the cell.

Fig. 2. Criterion Gel slides into slot in the Criterion Cell tank.

6. Fill the upper buffer chamber in each Criterion gel with 60 ml buffer.

Fig. 3. Fitting upper buffer chamber of the Criterion Gel.

3

2.1 Sample Loading

1. Load the samples into the wells with a Hamilton syringe or a pipette using gel loading tips.

2. Use Bio-Rad’s patented sample loading guides to locate the sample wells. Insert the

Hamilton syringe or pipette tip into the slots of the guide and fill the corresponding wells.

Fig. 4. Outlined sample wells and sample loading guides take the guesswork out of samples
loading.

Note: Load samples slowly to allow them to settle evenly on the bottom of the well. Be
careful not to puncture the bottom of the well with the syringe needle or pipette tip.

3. Fill the tank to the line molded into the sides of the tank or the lower edge of the gels

upper buffer chamber (approximately 800 ml). It is important to fill the tank to the

proper level to prevent overheating during running. If the tank is over-filled, buffer

will/may overflow onto the bench.

Fig. 5. Filling the Criterion Cell tank with buffer.

4

2.2 Power Conditions

1. Place the lid on the tank. Make sure to align the color-coded banana plugs and jacks

according to color. A stop on the lid prevents incorrect orientation.

2. Insert the electrical leads into a suitable power supply with the proper polarity.

Apply power to the Criterion cell and begin electrophoresis; 200 volts constant is
recommended for SDS-PAGE and most native gel applications. Run time is approximately
50–55 minutes at 200 volts for SDS-PAGE. Please see Criterion Gel instruction manual for
more detailed running conditions of these and other Criterion gel types.

2.3 Gel Removal

1. After electrophoresis is complete, turn off the power supply and disconnect the electrical

leads.

2. Remove the lid and carefully lift out the Criterion gel cassette. Pour off and discard the

running buffer.

3. Repeat for second Criterion gel cassette if two gels were run.
4a. Use the cassette-opening tool built into the lid to break the weld-joint on the Criterion

gel cassette(s). Place the Criterion gel cassette's upper buffer chamber over the built-in

opening wedge of the lid. Push the cassette straight down until the upper edge of the

upper buffer chamber contacts the top of the lid and the weld-joint at the top of the

cassette is broken. Pull the two cassette halves apart.

Fig. 6. Opening the Criterion Gel cassette after electrophoresis.

5

4b. An alternative method is to run the comb down the sides of the cassette to break the weld-

joint and to pull the halves apart.

Fig. 7. Alternative method for opening Criterion Gel cassette after electrophoresis.

5. It is best to remove the gel by floating it off the plate. Invert the gel and plate under fixative

or transfer solution and agitate gently until the gel separates from the plate.

6. Rinse the Criterion tank and lid with distilled, deionized water after use.

Section 3
Maintenance

CCrriitteerriioonn ttaannkk aanndd lliidd

Rinse thoroughly with distilled water after every
use.

Section 4
Troubleshooting Guide

Problem Cause Solution

1. "Smile effect" - band pattern a. Center of the gel running a. Buffer not mixed well or buffer
curves upward at both sides hotter than either end. in upper chamber too
of the gel. concentrated. Remake buffer,

insuring thorough mixing,
especially when diluting 5x or
10x stock.

b. Power conditions excessive. b. Decrease power setting from

200 V to 150 V or fill lower
chamber to the fill line on the
tank.

6

Problem Cause Solution

2. Vertical streaking of protein. a. Sample overload. a. Dilute sample, selectively

remove predominant protein
in the sample, or reduce
voltage by about 25% to
minimize streaking.

b. Sample precipitation. b. Centrifuge sample before

addition of SDS sample
buffers, or decrease % T of
resolving gel.*

c. The ratio of SDS to protein

should be enough to coat
each protein molecule with
SDS, generally 1.4:1. It may
require more SDS for some
membrane protein samples.

3. Lateral band spreading. a. Diffusion out of the wells a. Minimize the time between

prior to turning on the sample application and
current power start up.

b. Ionic strength of sample b. Use some buffer in sample as

lower than that of gel. in gel or stacking gel.

4. Skewed or distorted bands. a. Salts in sample. a. Remove salts by dialysis,

desalting column, etc.

5. Lanes constricted at bottom a. Ionic strength of sample a. Desalt sample and neighboring
of gel. higher than that of samples.

surrounding gel.

6. Run taking unusually long a. Running buffer too a. Check buffer protocol, dilute
time. concentrated. if necessary.

b. Excessive salt in sample. b. Desalt sample.

7. Run too fast, poor resolution. a. Running or reservoir a. Check buffer protocol,

buffer too dilute. concentrate if necessary.

b. Voltage too high. b. Decrease voltage by

25-50%.

8. Doublets observed where a. A portion of the protein a. Prepare fresh sample buffer
a single protein species may have been solutions if over 30 days old;
is expected (SDS-PAGE) reoxidized during the run or increase 2-mercaptoethanol

may not have been fully concentration in the sample
reduced prior to run. buffer.

9. Observe fewer bands than a. Protein(s) migrating at the a. Increase % T of resolving
expected and one heavy dye front. gel.*
band at dye front.

b. Protein degradation. b. Use protease inhibitors,

e.g.

PMSF, etc.

10. Diffuse Bands, poor resolution, a. Overheating a. Fill Criterion Cell tank to proper
irregular band pattern, inexplicable level.
artifacts.

7

Section 5
Product Information and Accessories

Catalog
Number Description

Criterion Cell

165-6001 Criterion Cell, includes tank, lid with power cables, three Sample

Loading Guides (12+2, 18, and 26 well), and instructions
165-6002 Criterion Replacement Tank with electrodes
165-6003 Criterion Replacement Lid with electrodes
165-6004 Criterion Replacement Upper Electrode Carrier, 2, includes pre-

strung platinum wire
165-6005 Criterion Replacement Lower Electrode Carrier, 2, includes pre-

strung platinum wire
165-2948 Replacement Power Cables
165-6006 Criterion Sample Loading Guide, 12+2 well, 1
165-6007 Criterion Sample Loading Guide, 18 well, 1
165-6008 Criterion Sample Loading Guide, 26 well, 1

Criterion Gels

*

Criterion
Tris-HCl 12+2 18 well 26 well Prep+2 well IPG
Gels comb comb comb Comb Comb

Theoretical 45 µl 30 µl 15 µl 800 µl 11 cm
well volumes ReadyStrip

IPG Strip

5% Tris­HCl 345-0001 345-0002 345-0003 345-0004 —

7.5% Tris­HCl 345-0005 345-0006 345-0007 345-0008 —

10% Tris­HCl 345-0009 345-0010 345-0011 345-0012 345-0013

12% Tris­HCl 345-0014 345-0015 345-0016 345-0017 345-0018

15% Tris­HCl 345-0019 345-0020 345-0021 345-0022 —

18% Tris­HCl 345-0023 345-0024 345-0025 345-0026 —

4–15% Tris­HCl 345-0027 345-0028 345-0029 345-0030 345-0031

4–20% Tris­HCl 345-0032 345-0033 345-0034 345-0035 345-0036

8–16% Tris­HCl 345-0037 345-0038 345-0039 345-0040 345-0041

10–20%
Tris-HCl 345-0042 345-0043 345-0044 345-0045 345-0046

8

Criterion 12+2 18 well 26 well Prep+2 well IPG
TBE Gels comb comb comb comb comb

45 µl 30 µl 15 µl 800 µl
5% TBE 345-0047 345-0048 345-0049 345-0050 —
10% TBE 345-0051 345-0052 345-0053 345-0054 —
15% TBE 345-0055 345-0056 345-0057 345-0058 —
4–20% TBE 345-0059 345-0060 345-0061 345-0062 —

Catalog
Number Description

Premixed Running Buffers

*

161-0732 10x Tris/Glycine/SDS, 1L
161-0755 10x Tris/Glycine/SDS, 6 x 1L
161-0734 10x Tris/Glycine, 1L
161-0757 10x Tris/Glycine, 6 x 1L
161-0733 10x Tris/Boric Acid/EDTA, 1L
161-0756 10x Tris/Boric Acid/EDTA, 6 x 1L

Premixed Sample Buffer

*

161-0737 Laemmli Sample Buffer, 30 ml
161-0738 Native Sample Buffer, 30 ml
161-0767 TBE Sample Buffer, 30 ml

*

Please see www.bio-rad.com for the most up-to-date product offerings.

9

Section 6
Warranty Information

The Criterion cell is warranted for 1 year against defects in materials and workmanship.
If any defects should occur during this warranty period, Bio-Rad Laboratories will replace the
defective parts without charge. However the following defects are specifically excluded.

1. Defects caused by improper operation.

2. Repairs or modifications done by anyone other than Bio-Rad Laboratories or their autho-

rized agent.

3. Damaged caused by accidental misuse.

4. Damage caused by disaster.

5. Common replacement parts including platinum wire, and power cables.

6. Damage caused by the use of organic solvents.

For inquiry or request for repair service, contact your local Bio-Rad office.

Warranty Inf ormation

Model
Catalog Number
Date of Delivery
Serial Number
Invoice Number
Purchase Order No

10

Bio-Rad

4006183 Rev A

Laboratories

Life Science
Group

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