From 2007.igem.org

Preparing the Gel

Dissolve UltraPure agarose to a final concentration of 1% in TAE buffer in a glass bottle. Heat the solution in the microwave with frequent stirring to dissolve the agarose homogenously. Place the solution in a 55C water bath for 15 mins. Add 1 µl EtBr (Ethidium Br;komide) per 50 ml of the solution and mix well. Pour 50ml of solution per small gel tray. (the gel trays and combs should be pre-cleaned with water and wiped dry). Wait for the gels to solidify. Label and store at 4C.

Use 120ml per large gel tray. Insert one large and one small comb in each small gel tray.

Running the Gel

There are two kinds of wells that fit different volumes:

Small: 15 ul

Big: 40 ul

Appropriate Hyperladder to be used for PCR product which is linear. Usually Hyperladder I will be used. 1. Add gel loading buffer (Orange G 6X), add 1X to 5X of DNA (it helps DNA sink into the bottom of the well) to DNA. 2. Make sure there is enough 1xTAE in the plate holder. 3. Load 5ul of appropriate hyperladder to one of the lanes. 4. Load appropriate amount of DNA (mixed with the buffer) in each well. 5. Set the timer and voltage to 120V and 60 min.

Gel Extraction Protocol using QIAquick Gel Extraction Kit:

Look at the gel under low wavelength UV (high wavelengths will denature DNA). Quickly take a polaroid image, cut out relevant bands and shut OFF the UV.

Place the cut bands in 2ml Eppendorf tubes; Weigh slices; No more than 400mg per tube Add 3 volumes of Buffer QG to 1 volume of gel (100mg ~ 100ul)

Incubate at 50C for 10min or until gel is dissolved; vortex every 2-3 min

Confirm that color of mixture is yellow (if not, add 10ul of 3M NaAc, pH 5.0)

Add 1 gel volume of isopropanol (not necessary for DNA fragments between 500-4000bp)

Add max of 770ul to QIAquick column and centrifuge for 1 min (max speed, ~13,000rpm, RT)

Discard flow-through and place column back in tube.

If needed, add rest of mixture to same tube (up to additional 770ul), spin, and discard flow-through

Wash: add 0.75ml Buffer PE(make sure that the buffer has ethanol added to it) to column and centrifuge for 1 min

Discard flow-through & centrifuge for 1 min

Place column into clean Eppendorf tube

Add 50ul Buffer EB or water to center of membrane

Let stand at RT for 3 min

Centrifuge for 5 min and throw away the column.

Measure the concentration using the UV spectrophotometer.