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From: NUM208JN@NRCCAD.NRC.CA (John Nash)
Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.methds-reagnts
Subject: RE: Seeking alternatives to silanizing gel plates
Message-ID: <910411093254.76b@NRCCAD.NRC.CA>
Date: 11 Apr 91 13:32:54 GMT
Sender: kristoff@genbank.bio.net
Lines: 30

>To: methods-and-reagents@ocelot.rutgers.edu
>From: kliman@ocelot.rutgers.edu
>Subject: Seeking alternatives to silanizing gel plates
>Date: 10 Apr 91 22:03:25 GMT


>     We have found that repeated silanization of glass plates used for DNA
>sequencing gels eventually leads to problems in pouring the gel, i.e., the gel
>mix does not flow evenly and forms persistent bubbles.  While we can correct
>this by overnight soaking in 10-20% NaOH, we would rather not leave large
>volumes of NaOH out overnight on a regular basis.  And, of course, we would
>prefer to decrease our exposure to silane..

We use Aquasil from Pierce Chemicals. It is a water-soluble,
silicon-based "glass coater" for hospital equipment.  I dilute 10 ml
in 2.5 litres of water and do all the glassware I can find.  You
"rinse" the glass in it, wash in water, then either bake for 1 hour or
let it sit at RT for a day, then wash.  This stuff actually makes
sequencing gels easier to pour.  It lasts for about 5 to 10 gels.

When you fix the first gel run after washing the plates, the plate in
the fixer loses some of its coating.  This is handy for subsequent
sequencing gels, as the gel tends to come off onto that plate each
time.  This prevents half the gel sticking to one plate and half the
gel sticking to the other.

Hope this helps.

cheers,
John.   (Bitnet: NUM208JN@NRCCAD.NRC.CA)