Comparison of Four Protein Staining Methods in Common Use in Two-dimensional Electrophoresis

In order to choose an appropriate visualization method for proteomics research,the advantages and disadvantages of four protein staining methods in common use in two-dimensional electrophoresis(2-DE) were compared and analyzed by using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE).The results showed that the sensitivity of conventional silver staining method was low;the improved silver staining method of diamine silver nitrate was not compatible with MS;the sensitivity of the complex silver staining method combined with Commassic brilliant blue was slightly lower than that of the improved silver staining method of diamine silver nitrate;the sensitivity of improved silver staining method was high,having a clear background,being compatible with MS.Therefore,the latter two methods were more widely used in proteomics research.