Enhanced sensitivity of Gelcode silver staining by glutaraldehyde fixation of proteins in two‐dimensional electrophoresis

Abstract The staining of proteins in polyacrylamide gels using Gelcode® silver staining can be enhanced approximately tenfold by fixing with glutaraldehyde. The glutaraldehyde results in the formation of a protein‐aldehyde complex. This complex retards the diffusion of low molecular weight proteins from the gel and increases staining sensitivity by increasing the amount of metallic silver deposited within the protein‐aldehyde complex.