Tritium screen 0 : EnHance 1

[Richard]

In article <1994Sep25.144524.8738 at mbcf>, heath at mbcf.stjude.org (Richard) writes:
(that was me)

> In article <35s2km$bsm at mserv1.dl.ac.uk>, <dacoj3 at wptemp.kvl.dk> writes
> (edited) about a putative methyltransferase crosslinked to SAM
and wanted to know 
>> What is the current best method for detecting this after SDS-PAGE: we
>> are talking about approx. 700 cpm. What about after a western blot?>> 
>> david collinge dacoj3 at wptemp.kvl.dk
>> anders christensen andersc at biobase.aau.dk
I replied: 
> I routinely examine tritium labeled proteins by PAGE - after running the gel, I
> soak in fixer, then in En3Hance (available from DuPont NEN), wash in water,
> dry and slap a film on..<snipped> I am awaiting
> Molecular Dynamics to send me a Tritium screen for use with our PhosphImager
> ... this may well turn out to be more sensitive...
Ever the optimist!

Well, I have recieved my tritium phosphor storage screen, and had a gel down
for three days.  The result:  if I close my eyes and stand on my head, I can
just about make out some bands.  The EnHance control gel (same samples, same
loading, run and fixed at the same time) had visible bands within 12 hours. 
Looks like I may have been slightly overoptimistic regarding the screens. 
At this rate, with the number of gels I have to run, I'm going to need *lots*
of screens...

Has anybody out there had a good experience with these screens?  What protocol
did you use for fixing/drying your gels (I fixed in 10% acetic acid, 30% MeOH;
then soaked in 10% glycerol).  How do they compare with your old way of doing
things?

Thanks in advance,
                                                  
Richard Heath, Ph.D.
St Jude Children's Research Hospital
Department of Biochemistry
Memphis, TN 38101
heath at mbcf.stjude.org