D-1 AGAROSE

More reliable and easier handling: extraordinary mechanical resistance.

• Greater thermal stability due to high hysteresis (difference between gelling and melting temperatures).
• Excellent gel transparency and visibility.
• Absence of toxicity (unlike polyacrylamide, which is toxic).

Agaroses Flasks - handling instructions

Un-tighten the cap without removing it from the flask. Microwave for one minute at maximum power. Agitate the flask gently and introduce it again in the microwave for another 30 seconds at low power, and gently agitate again. Repeat this until it dissolves completely: Agarose has to appear totally transparent and without bubbles. Let the solution to cool during 1 or 2 minutes. Once the agarose is perfectly dissolved, with no bubbles, pour the necessary volume of the solution in the gel tray. Let it set at room temperature until the solution forms a hard gel. Keep flask totally closed in refrigerator until next use. For a total gelification process, it is recommended, to keep MS-8 and LM SIEVE gels at 4ºC to 8ºC for one hour. 

 Warning! Always use safety mask, gloves, and glasses. Open the flask gently to prevent burns.

TIPS FOR GEL PREPARATION

• Adjust time and power settings according to your microwave output strength.
• Overboiling can cause agarose hydrolysis and lower gel strength.
• For total agarose melting: boil the solution only enough to affect total dissolution.
• To avoid bubble formation: cool to 60°C and pour carefully into the gel cassette.
• After pouring, allow the gel to cool gradually; rapid cooling will cause an irregular gel matrix and band distortion during electrophoresis.
• Low melt agarose gels need to sit for an additional 30 min or overnight at 4-8°C to allow a total gelling process.
• Low melting or low percentage gels: it is important to run electrophoresis in a cold buffer. High voltages can cause overheating of the buffer which can melt the gel.
• Buffer composition can be determinative in the gelling process: if agents that disrupt hydrogen bond formation are added too 
• The buffer, melting temperature and gel strength will decrease, or even inhibit gel formation.
• Once the gel is set, flood with the buffer.
• The gel can be stored refrigerated for several days.

WHY DO WE USE NON TOXIC STAIN?

Pronasafe Nucleic Acid Staining is a safe nucleic acid stain, alternative to the traditional ethidium bromide (EtBr) stain for detecting nucleic acid in agarose gels. It allows visualizing DNA and RNA, as they are separated during agarose gel electrophoresis and isolating DNA fragments for subcloning without introducing mutations. This stain emits fluorescence when bound to DNA or RNDA. It has two wavelengths for excitation, one centered at 309 nm and another at 419 nm. In addition, it has one visible excitation at 514 nm. The fluoresce emission is centered at 537 nm.

• NON toxic, NON mutagenic, NON carcinogenic.
• More resolution than EtBr.
• No hazard waste.
• Used for DNA and RNA detection.
• Isolation of DNA fragments for subcloning without introducing mutations, normally caused by EtBr.

NOTE: Repeated melting of gels containing non toxic stain may result in low sensitivity. An overheating of the agarose with non toxic stain could cause a loose of 5% of sensitivity.