Electro-blotting Devices, Systems, and Kits and Methods for Their use

Abstract

The invention provides a dry electroblotting system for dry blotting gels, in which the system includes an electroblotting transfer stack that comprises an analysis gel and a blotting membrane, an anode, a body of anodic gel matrix juxtaposed with the anode between the anode and the transfer stack, a cathode, and a body of cathodic gel matrix juxtaposed with the cathode between the cathode and the transfer stack, in which the anodic gel matrix and the cathodic gel matrix each comprise an ion source for electrophoretic transfer. The dry electroblotting system does not use any liquid buffers that are added to the system just before electroblotting (such as when the transfer stack is being assembled). The anode, the cathode, or both can be separate from a power supply and provided as part of a disposable electrode assembly that also includes a body of gel matrix that includes ions for electrophoretic transfer.

1 . A method for performing dry electroblotting, comprising:
 positioning a transfer stack that includes an analysis gel that comprises one or more biomolecules and at least one blotting membrane between an anode assembly and a cathode assembly, and   passing an electric current between an anode of the anode assembly and a cathode of the cathode assembly to transfer one or more biomolecules from the analysis gel to a blotting membrane.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said anode comprises copper and wherein current density used in said step of passing an electric current is equal to or larger than 15 milliamperes per square centimeter of a first face of said analysis gel that comprises one or more biomolecules. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said analysis gel that comprises one or more biomolecules comprises an electrophoresis gel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anode assembly comprises an anodic gel matrix and the cathode assembly comprises a cathodic gel matrix, and wherein the anodic gel matrix comprises at least one anionic buffer compound that is not present, or is present in significantly reduced amounts, in said cathodic gel matrix. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said anionic buffer compound comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of EDTA, succinate, citrate, maleate, cacodylate, 2-(N-morpholino)-ethanesulfonic acid (MES), N-(2-Acetamido)iminodiacetic acid (ADA), N-(2-acetamido)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (ACES), piperazine-N,N′-2-ethanesulfonic acid (PIPES), 2-(N-morpholino)-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid (MOPSO), N,N-bis-(hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (BES), 3-(N-morpholino)-propanesulfonic acid (MOPS), and N-tris-(hydroxymethyl)-2-ethanesulfonic acid (TES). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said anionic buffer compound comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 2-(N-morpholino)-ethanesulfonic acid (MES), N-(2-acetamido)-2-aminomethanesulfonic acid (ACES), 2-(N-morpholino)-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid (MOPSO), N,N-bis-(hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (BES), and 3-(N-morpholino)-propanesulfonic acid (MOPS). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting one or more biomolecules electroblotted onto said blotting membrane. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said detecting is by chemiluminescence detection, chromogenic detection, radioisotope detection, or fluorescence detection. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said detecting is by nucleic acid staining, nucleic acid hybridization, protein staining, or immunodetection. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said detecting is by immunodetection. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said immunodetection is by chemiluminescence detection, chromogenic detection, radioisotope detection, or fluorescence detection. 
     
     
         12 . A kit for performing dry electroblotting, the kit comprising:
 one or more disposable anodic electrode assemblies comprising an anodic body of gel matrix that comprises a source of ions for electrophoresis, an electrically conducting anodic electrode juxtaposed with a first side of the anodic body of gel matrix, and a blotting membrane juxtaposed with a first side of the anodic body of gel matrix; and   one or more cathodic electrode assemblies comprising a cathodic body of gel matrix comprising a source of ions, and an electrically conducting cathodic electrode juxtaposed with the cathodic body of gel matrix.   
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein said anodic body of gel matrix comprises at least one anionic compound that is not present in, or present in significantly reduced amounts in, said cathodic body of gel matrix. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein said anodic electrode comprises copper. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein said cathodic electrode comprises copper. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein said one or more disposable anodic electrode assemblies is provided in a plastic tray. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 12 , further comprising one or more disposable sponges. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 12 , further comprising one or more sheets of filter paper. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein each of said one or more anodic electrode assemblies and each of said one or more cathodic electrode assemblies is enclosed within a sealed container. 
     
     
         20 . A kit for performing dry electroblotting, the kit comprising:
 one or more disposable anodic electrode assemblies comprising an anodic body of gel matrix comprising a source of ions for electrophoresis and an electrode juxtaposed with a first side of said anodic body of gel matrix; and   one or more cathodic electrode assemblies comprising a cathodic body of gel comprising a source of ions, and an electrically conducting electrode juxtaposed with the cathodic body of gel matrix,   wherein the composition of the anodic body of gel matrix and the composition the cathodic body of gel matrix are different.