Can protein samples in gels be stored long-term? How to transport them? What is the impact on mass spectrometry identification?
Protein samples in the gel can be stored for a long time under appropriate conditions, but the following points should be noted:
1. Storage Conditions:
Store the gel sheets at 4°C or lower to slow down protein degradation. Seal the gel sheets with plastic wrap and add a sufficient amount of moist paper towels around the gel to prevent drying. Additionally, consider immersing the gel sheets in a buffer containing 50% glycerol to further prevent drying.
2. Transportation:
During transportation, the gel sheets need to remain moist and refrigerated. Place the gel sheets in a sealed plastic bag or container, adding some moist paper towels to maintain humidity. Use ice packs or dry ice to keep the temperature low and avoid excessive vibrations during transport.
3. Impact on Mass Spectrometry Identification:
Long-term storage and transportation may affect the quality of protein samples. Proteins may partially degrade, especially under inappropriate storage conditions. Additionally, proteins may be subjected to oxidative or other chemical modifications. These factors may lead to deviations in mass spectrometry identification results. Nonetheless, these impacts can usually be minimized with proper storage and transportation conditions.
It should be noted that while protein samples in the gel can be stored for a long time to some extent, the best practice is to perform mass spectrometry identification as soon as possible after protein preparation to achieve the best results.
BiotechPack, A Biopharmaceutical Characterization and Multi-Omics Mass Spectrometry (MS) Services Provider
Related Services:
Protein spot, gel strip, and IP sample protein identification
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