Submissions
Our submission process is going online. The first step is to set up an account for your lab.
Once your account is activated, you will receive a username and password to login.
To get started, click here.
For most applications, our preferred method of sample preparation is by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE).
Gels can be submitted unstained. Alternatively, gels can be stained by the investigator with a mass spectrometry-friendly dye such as SYPRO Ruby or Coomassie blue. Silver staining is not recommended.
Gel slices can be excised and stored in tubes or plates with a small amount of ultra-pure water.
Please consult with the Core if you would like to submit a protein in solution.
Along with your sample(s), you will need to complete a Submission Form.
If submitting 96-well plates, well assignments can be archived using this Grid.
It is also helpful to include information on the biological source (e.g. E.coli), protein sequence of recombinant proteins, and digital gel pictures where applicable.
TIPS TO AVOID KERATIN CONTAMINATION WHEN PERFORMING SDS-PAGE
- Keratin contamination is nearly impossible to completely avoid, and becomes more prominent when the proteins-of-interest are at low levels.
- Always use NON-LATEX gloves and wear lab coats.
- Use the highest grade reagents possible (i.e. proteomics or mass spec grade). DTT, ß-mercaptoethanol and buffers are common sources of keratin.
- Wash all glass plates thoroughly with 70% ethanol prior to casting an SDS-PAGE gel.
- After completing electrophoresis, disassemble in a laminar flow hood.
- Avoid storing gel in SARAN WRAP or similar material and instead use new, cleaned plastic or glass gel trays.
- De-stain the gel in a clean container that has been rinsed thoroughly with 70% ethanol or methanol/acetonitrile.
- When excising gel slices, use fresh razor blades and nitrile gloves in a laminar flow hood.