Purification and use of gellan in electrophoresis gels

Abstract

Gellan can be purified from nucleic acid contamination by combining the contaminated gellan with DNase under conditions that allow the DNase to degrade the nucleic acid contaminant. The purified gellan is useful in gel electrophoresis. A buffer which allows cystamine to be used as a reversible cross-linker does not have to be recirculated during the course of a normal gel run.

1 . A composition comprising water, imidazole or a salt thereof, and boric acid or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  having a pH between 5 and 9.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  having an imidazole or salt thereof concentration between 10 and 100 mM.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  having a boric acid or salt thereof concentration between 50 and 500 mM.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  having an imidazole or salt thereof concentration between 20 and 60 mM and a boric acid or salt thereof concentration between 100 and 300 mM.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising EDTA or a salt thereof.