Abstract

We present the observation of separated protein bands after polyacrylamide (PAA) gel electrophoresis based on the staining-free detection of their ultra violet (UV)-induced fluorescence employing deep UV confocal fluorescence microscopy. Mixtures of the three biological compounds β-Galactosidase (from Escherichia coli), apo-Transferrin (bovine) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) have been separated and a staining free detection limit below 80 pg (7.0x108 molecules) per band has been achieved. This corresponds to ∼270 molecules in the detection volume for confocal microscopy.

Keywords: Native fluorescence, deep-UV, polyacrylamide, gel electrophoresis, staining free