Bio-Rad Gel Doc™ EZ System - Manual (Page 49)

Creating and Running Custom Protocols
35
Acquire Image
S TEP 1. A CTIVATE G EL
A CTIVATION O PTIONS
Visualizing the proteins requires activation of the gel. Exposure of the Stain
Free gel proteins to ultraviolet light causes a Stain Free gel component to
react with the gel proteins.
There are two activation time options, one that runs for 2.5 minutes and one
that runs for 5 minutes. This choice is based upon your sample and the
purpose of your experiment:
• Use 2.5 minute activation when samples are abundant, for rapid
documentation, and a fully optimized signal-to-noise ratio is not
necessary
• Use 5.0 minute activation for detection of proteins that are in low
concentration, and for the best quantification of the maximum
number of bands. Since the reaction is nearing completion after
this much activation time, this method offers an optimal signal-to-
noise ratio
NOTE: If the gel has already been activated for 2.5 minutes,
activating for another 2.5 minutes may improve it; but activating
an image for more than 5 minutes will not.