Bio-Rad Mini-PROTEAN 3 Multi-Casting Chamber User Manual

Mini-PR OTEAN® 3

Multi-Casting Chamber

Instruction Manual

Catalog Number

165-4110

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

Section 2 Loading the Chamber..................................................................................1

Section 3 Casting Gels..................................................................................................2

3.1 Casting Non-Gradient Gels from the Top .................................................................2

3.2 Casting Linear and Convex Gradient Gels from the Bottom....................................3

Section 4 Chamber Disassembly and Storage of Gels..............................................3

Section 5 Using the Gels...............................................................................................4

Section 6 Ordering Information..................................................................................4

Section 7 Reagents for Electrophor esis......................................................................5

Appendix A Estimated Volume of Acrylamide for 12 Mini-PROTEAN 3 Gels.........6

Appendix B Guidelines for Gel Casting..........................................................................7

Section 1
General Information

1.1 Introduction

The Mini-PROTEAN 3 multi-casting chamber is used to cast as many as twelve

0.5–1.5 mm thick gels simultaneously. The gels can be used in both the Mini-PROTEAN 3
cell and the Mini-PROTEAN 3 Dodeca™Cell. After preparation, the gels can be stored up to
2 weeks at 4 ºC for future use.

1.2 Specifications

Materials of construction

Clamps Glass filled polycarbonate
Casting chamber, sealing plate Molded polycarbonate
Gasket Silicone tubing
Overall size 10 cm x 10 cm x 16 cm
Weight 500 g
Compatible glass plates Mini-PROTEAN 3 glass plates

Note: Mini-PROTEAN 3 multi-casting chamber components are not compatible with
chlorinated hydrocarbons (e.g. chloroform), aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g. toluene, benzene) or
acetone. Use of such solvents voids all warranties. To insure best performance of the
multi-casting chamber, become fully acquainted with these instructions before use. All
components should be cleaned with a suitable laboratory detergent (Bio-Rad’s Cleaning
Concentrate, catalog number 161-0772), rinsed thoroughly with distilled water, and dried
before use.

Section 2
Loading the Chamber

1. Loosen the clamp screws, remove the sealing plate, and place the open casting chamber
body face up on the benchtop. The thumbscrews should face the ceiling.

2. Start by placing a separation sheet into the chamber so that it seats at the bottom. (Be
sure to remove the protective film from the separation sheet prior to use.)

3. Place a Spacer Plate (spacer side up) on top of the separation sheet.

4. Place a Short Plate on top of the Spacer Plate. Make certain that each addition is seated
at the bottom of the chamber.

5. Place a separation sheet on top of the Short Plate to complete one gel sandwich.

6. Repeat steps 3–5 until you have prepared the desired number of gel sandwiches.

7. Take up the remaining space in the chamber with acrylic blocks so that the sandwiches
will be held firmly in position when the sealing plate is in place. When the chamber is
almost filled, Short Plates and, finally, the separation sheets can be used to fill the
chamber flush to the top. If more than one glass plate is used to take up the space, insert
a separation sheet between the plates to simplify separation after polymerization.

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