How to Read and Interpret Prestained Protein Ladders Correctly?
Regardless of whether you are conducting SDS-PAGE for the very first time or are an ongoing user within your laboratory, understanding how to correctly read your protein ladders is crucial in proper protein sizing. These dye-marked molecular weight markers serve as a method through which you can estimate your target proteins' molecular weight, as much as an eye marker as your gel is running. Let’s break it down without the fluff. What Are Prestained Protein Ladders? Prestained protein ladders are molecular weight markers that contain an added dye. This means you can actually see the bands moving up the gel during electrophoresis! This is very handy when you speed up electrophoresis, to see how far everything has moved, and to confirm that your electrophoresis is functioning as expected. Unlike unstained ladders that require post-run staining, prestained ones are visible right off the bat—no extra steps needed. These ladders include some proteins of known molecular weights, and the...