A method of removing gels from narrow-diameter glass tubes as part of mini-two-dimensional electrophoresis procedure

A glass chamber that facilitates the removal of polyacrylamide gels from narrow glass tubes after the completion of isoelectric focusing is described. The tube is firmly held at one end of the glass chamber and a syringe is connected to the other end. By slowly forcing water from the syringe into the glass chamber, sufficient pressure can be generated to cause the rod gel to move slowly out of the glass tube. The rod gel is then used for the second stage of a mini-two-dimensional electrophoresis technique. Rod gels of 1.7-mm diameter have been used most extensively and can be removed from the glass tubes with almost 100% success.