G-Biosciences' Reversible Zinc Stain™ is a single step stain for the rapid detection of proteins resolved by PAGE (native gels or SDS denatured gels)

G-Biosciences' Reversible Zinc Stain™ is based on the interaction of Zinc ions with polyacrylamide and proteins. It works by depositing a zinc metal precipitate in the gel which turns the gel opaque white, while the SDS coating on the proteins prevents the stains from binding. A negative image of the gel is produced; clear protein bands are detected against a semi-opaque white polyacrylamide background. High contrast protein bands are visualized in as little as 10-15 minutes.

G-Biosciences' Reversible Zinc Stain™ has a unique property that in some situations makes it far superior than the highly sensitive silver stains. Silver staining, although very sensitive, is known not to detect certain types of proteins, including glycoproteins. Reversible Zinc Stain™, having comparable sensitivity, is able to stain glycoproteins and phosphoproteins. The sensitivity of the Reversible Zinc Stain™ is 0.1-0.5 ng BSA protein and does not interfere with electroelution of proteins or alter their biological properties. Gels stained with the Reversible Zinc Stain™ can be destained in 5 minutes before the transfer or electroelution of proteins.

No destaining is necessary. This stain works with native as well as SDS denatured gels and gels containing glycine, tricine and a variety of primary amine containing buffers. Reversible Zinc Stain™ is suitable for subsequent protein elution, blotting, sequencing and mass spectroscopy.