Knight:NuPAGE electrophoresis/Hybrid staining

Overview
A fast protocol for visualizing bands on a polyacrylamide gel via coomassie-like staining.

Materials

 * Deionized water
 * Invitrogen SimplyBlue SafeStain
 * Microwave
 * Plastic tray
 * Use lid of a 1000&mu;L pipette tip box.
 * Orbital shaker
 * Kimwipes

Procedure

 * 1) Add 100mL deionized water in staining tray.
 * 2) Microwave staining tray loosely covered for 30 secs on high.
 * 3) Shake staining tray for 1 min on orbital shaker at room temperature.
 * 4) Discard water.
 * 5) Repeat steps 1-4 two more times.
 * 6) Add 20mL SimplyBlue SafeStain (enough to just cover the gel).
 * 7) Microwave staining tray loosely covered for 20 secs on high.
 * 8) Shake staining tray for 5 mins on orbital shaker at room temperature.
 * 9) *You should now be able to see most of the bands on the gel.
 * 10) Place staining tray with gel inside a ziploc bag to limit evaporation.
 * 11) Incubate overnight on orbital shaker at room temperature.
 * 12) *Overnight incubation will yield better sensitivity due to darker staining.
 * 13) Discard SimplyBlue SafeStain.
 * 14) Add 100mL deionized water.
 * 15) Add 2 kimwipes.
 * 16) Shake staining tray for 2-3 hours on orbital shaker at room temperature.
 * 17) Take gel picture.
 * 18) Add 20mL 20% NaCl for at least 5 mins.
 * 19) *Only do this step if you aren't planning on drying the gel! Otherwise, when the gel dries, you will see a white salt precipitate.
 * 20) Gel can be stored in salt solution for several weeks.