Improved detection of human pancreatic proteins separated by two-dimensional isoelectric focusing/sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis using a combined staining procedure.

In order to assess secretory pancreatic proteins in a two-dimensional isoelectric focusing/sodium dodecyl sulphate electrophoresis gel, a highly sensitive double-staining method with Coomassie Brilliant Blue followed by silver stain was used. This combined procedure afforded more distinct spots and additional bands, particularly glycoproteins, than either silver or Coomassie Blue staining alone. As measurements of dye volumes by densitometry have shown, double staining of two-dimensional separated pancreatic proteins is up to twenty times more sensitive than the usual Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining.