Rapid visuallzation of protein-dodecyl sulfate complexes in polyacrylamide gels

A rapid and sensitive technique for the visualization and quantitation of protein bands on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-containing polyacrylamide gels has been developed. Visualization is based on the formation of the insoluble potassium salt of lauryl sulfate bound to the protein. Precipitates thus formed are visible within minutes down to the level of 0.06 μg of protein/mm2 of gel cross-sectional surface area, and bands containing from 0.12 to 1.5 μg of protein/mm2 of gel cross-sectional surface area may be quantitated by densitometry following clearing of the gel background. The technique has been applied to muscle actin, brain tubulin, and ovalbumin which give identical standard curves.