Chemistry: electrical and wave energy – Processes and products – Electrophoresis or electro-osmosis processes and electrolyte...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-16
2001-03-20
Snay, Jeffrey (Department: 1743)
Chemistry: electrical and wave energy
Processes and products
Electrophoresis or electro-osmosis processes and electrolyte...
C204S456000, C204S606000, C204S613000, C204S616000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203679
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to apparatuses and methods for conducting gel electrophoresis. In particular, the present invention relates to ultraviolet light transparent apparatuses for holding electrophoresis gels and to methods for using such apparatuses to simply and safely process electrophoresis gels.
2. Background of the Invention
Gel electrophoresis is widely used in the molecular biology and biotechnology fields. Initially all laboratories made their own electrophoresis gels and apparatuses for containing such gels. Subsequently, as such gels became popular they were prefabricated and sold to laboratories in compact and easy to use apparatuses. However, prefabricated electrophoresis gels for are fragile and are subject to drying. Thus, these gels must be handled carefully.
Agarose gels has also been widely used in the molecular biology and biotechnology fields. Typical procedures include preparing the agarose gel, loading samples, running the electrophoresis, staining the samples with fluorescent dyes, and photographing the gels. The use of precast or prefabricated gels eliminates the time required for gel preparation and greatly minimizes potential human contact with highly toxic fluorescent dye stains.
One known electrophoresis gel container for packaging prefabricated electrophoresis gels or to be cast electrophoresis gels is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,704, entitled “Electrophoresis Gel Container Assemblies.” The device of the '704 patent has a number of drawbacks. For example, it is not transparent to sufficient ultraviolet (“UV”) light to illuminate ethidium bromide-stained DNA bands. Therefore, visualization of stained bands of DNA fragments cannot be made with the '704 device while the gel is still within the gel container. With the '704 device, the user is required to remove the gel from the cassette and place the gel directly onto the ultraviolet light source (e.g., transilluminator) for viewing or photography (i.e., photographing to keep a record of the results). In contrast, according to one aspect of the invention discussed below, one can place the entire apparatus with the gel contained therein directly onto a transilluminator for direct viewing or photography.
The '704 device also does not provide an immediate means of handling the gel without user contact with various solutions used in staining and destaining. In contrast, according to another aspect of the present invention as discussed below, handles are provided that allow the user to transfer the gel and container from place to place and from solution to solution without contacting the gel. This aspect of the invention minimizes the likelihood of contamination and prevents the user from contacting dangerous solutions commonly used in staining, e.g., ethidium bromide (a mutagen used in DNA and RNA staining).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved disposable apparatus for holding electrophoresis gels. The apparatus, typically in the form of a tray, is constructed from UV light transparent materials and contains a UV light transparent pre-cast gel. The improved apparatus: (1) provides a method for conducting UV light analysis on the gel without removing the gel from the apparatus and (2) provides convenient and safe handling of gels by minimizing potential human contact with hazardous fluorescent dye stains.
According to one aspect of the invention, an electrophoresis container apparatus is provided which includes: a primary container having a bottom for supporting an electrophoresis gel and perimeter side walls extending from the bottom, the primary container being made from a UV light transmitting material; a removable top sheet adhered to the perimeter side walls of the primary container, optionally made from a UV light transmitting material; and an electrophoresis gel within the primary container, the gel being a UV light transmitting gel.
According to another aspect of the invention, a handle is provided that is configured to grasp opposite sides of the primary container. Preferably, the handle includes two opposing legs that are biased towards one another.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of analyzing samples in an electrophoresis gel includes: a) providing an electrophoresis container apparatus, comprising: a primary container having a bottom for supporting an electrophoresis gel and perimeter side walls extending from the bottom, the primary container being made from a UV transmitting material; a removable top sheet adherable to the perimeter side walls of the primary container, optionally made from a UV light transmitting material; b) pre-casting a UV light transparent electrophoresis gel within the primary container; c) loading samples into the gel; d) carrying out electrophoresis on the samples; e) visualizing the samples in the gel with UV irradiation transmitted to the gel through the primary container. Optionally, the removable top sheet is completely removed before visualizing the samples in the gel or allowed to remain on the apparatus while visualizing the samples in the gel. If the removable top sheet is allowed to remain on the apparatus during visualization, it can be made of UV light transparent materials or, for analysis where visible light is emitted from the sample, from non-UV transparent materials. In gels where the stain is not included in the gel mixture, further steps of staining and rinsing the gel after carrying out the electrophoresis may be needed.
According to another aspect of the invention, the method also includes the step of grasping the primary container with the gel therein with a handle and transferring the container and gel to required locations during steps that require the apparatus to be moved, e.g., the visualization step requiring transfer to an illuminator or the optional staining and rinsing steps.
The above and other advantages, features and aspects of the present invention will be more readily perceived from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof taken together with the accompanying drawings and claims.
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Bouis Paul A.
Hsu Chien-Pin S.
Magee Steven C.
Mallinckrodt Inc.
Snay Jeffrey
Starsiak Jr. John S.
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