cracked gels?

[ProZyme]

Dima Klenchin wrote:
> 
> In article <Pine.SGI.3.91.960324112509.15012B-100000 at umbc7.umbc.edu>,
>    albano renee <albano at umbc.edu> wrote:
> ->On 14 Mar 1996, Helen Korsmo wrote:
> ->
> ->> Does anyone have a tried and true method for drying high percentage SDS gels
> (>15%) without
> ->> cracks?  I'm using minigels, 1.5mm thick.
> ->>
> ->>
> ->>
> ->We have had success by soaking destained 10-20% gradient gels in 30%
> ->methanol, 3% glycerol for 30min before drying.  Supposedly it is the
> ->acetic acid that causes the cracking.  I think this information was
> ->from Maniatis.
> 
> We use the same mixture as "gel preservative" and it works well. One thing:
> for 1.5 mm gel 30 min is not enough (will not equilibrate completely with
> glycerol).

We use 30% ethanol and 1% glycerol for 20% gels (I think we got the 
suggestion from Promega).  We also find that 30 min. isn't always 
enough.  I soak in water first, then in the ethanol/glycerol.

Bruce Amsden
bamsden at prozyme.com