Method for resolution and western blotting of very large proteins using agarose electrophoresis

Abstract

Proteins larger than 200 kDa are difficult to separate electrophoretically using polyacrylamide gels, and their transfer during western blotting is typically incomplete. A vertical SDS agarose gel system was developed that has vastly improved resolving power for very large proteins. Complete transfer of proteins as large as titin (Mr 3,000-3,700 kDa) onto blots can be achieved. The addition of a sulfhydryl reducing agent in the upper reservoir buffer and transfer buffer markedly improves the blotting of large proteins.