GelAir Drying System Instruction Manual - Bio-Rad
Contents
1. GelAir Drying System Instruction Manual Catalog Numbers 165 1771 165 1772 For Technical Service Call Your Local Bio Rad Office or in the U S Call 1 800 4BIORAD 1 800 424 6723 Table of Contents Page FIGuUres ANd Tables M ii SET LA A T H iii Section 1 Introduction ll zOVerveWicecc m ERUBERUCIUI NE IRURE RUDI 1 12 Unpacking esis neos someone UO DO P ER EOD dd 1 Section 2 System Featur es ssscssssssssssessssssssssssssssssssssssssssccssssssssssssssssssssassossssses 2 2 GOLA Dryers eite ect tpe ee pesto 2 22 GelAirDrymng Erame 5 se oasoeRo esee an Cue 2 2 3 S Gel Air Assembly Table rt RR EE RE tee 3 Section 3 Set Up and Operation e eee eee eee eee eee eee eee eene ene tne eese en seas tae taue 3 3 1 Drymg Acrylamide Gels oC SERIE REPORT ORE POP RIEN SES 3 32 Drying Other Types of Gels eoo ee aene eode ded sa sbesaseaeteseaeds 7 Section 4 Maintenance and Troubleshooting e eee ee eere eee eee eene ene eneenue 9 Appendix A Specifications e eee eee e eee e eere enses e tees enses e tette senses vosos vs soios sss 10 Appendix B Warranty Information ecce eee eee eee eene eee neta etna tae eene en etas en aes 10 Appendix C Ordering Information ee esee eere esee ee eee eese en eene enae setae tas ta asas 11 Appendix D R f rences cree rre e2. 53 1990 11 Life Science Group Bio Rad Laboratories Web site www bio rad com Bio Rad Laboratories Main Office 2000 Alfred Nobel Drive Hercules CA 94547 Ph 510 741 1000 Fx 510 741 5800 Also in Australia Ph 02 9914 2800 Fx 02 9914 2889 Austria Ph 01 877 89 01 Fx 01 876 56 29 Belgium Ph 09 385 55 11 Fx 09 385 65 54 Brazil Ph 55 21 507 6191 Canada Ph 905 712 2771 Fx 905 712 2990 China Ph 86 10 8201 1366 68 Fx 86 10 8201 1367 Denmark Ph 45 44 52 1000 Fx 45 4452 1001 Finland Ph 358 0 9 804 2200 Fx 358 0 9 804 1100 France Ph 01 47 95 69 65 Fx 01 47 41 9133 Germany Ph 089 318 84 177 Fx 089 318 84 123 Hong Kong Ph 852 2789 3300 Fx 852 2789 1257 India Ph 91 124 63981 12 113 114 Fx 91 124 6398115 Israel Ph 03 951 4124 Fx 03 951 4129 Italy Ph 34 91 590 5200 Fx 34 91 590 5211 Japan Ph 03 5811 6270 Fx 03 5811 6272 Korea Ph 82 2 3473 4460 Fx 82 2 3472 7003 Latin America Ph 305 894 5950 Fx 305 894 5960 Mexico Ph 52 5 534 2552 to 54 Fx 52 5 524 5971 The Netherlands Ph 0318 540666 Fx 0318 542216 New Zealand Ph 64 9 4152280 Fx 64 9 443 3097 Norway Ph 47 23 38 41 30 Fx 47 23 38 41 39 Russia Ph 7 095 979 98 00 Fx 7 095 979 98 56 Singapore Ph 65 2729877 Fx 65 2734835 Spain Ph 34 91 590 5200 Fx 34 91 590 5211 Sweden Ph 46 0 8 55 51 27 00 Fx 46 0 8 55 51 27 80 Switzerland Ph 061 717 9555 Fx 061 717 9550 United Kingdom Ph 0800 181134 Fx 01442 259118 Sig 1200 40
3. EN61010 1 safety standards These products are safe to use when operated in accor dance with the instruction manual This instrument should not be modified or altered in any way Alteration of this instrument will void the manufacturer s warranty void the CE EN61010 1 CAN CSA C22 2 No 1010 1 and UL 3101 1 certification and create a potential safety hazard for the user Bio Rad is not responsible for any injury or damage caused by the use of this instrument for purposes other than for which it is intended or by modifications of the instrument not per formed by Bio Rad or an authorized agent EN61010 1 certification is an internationally accepted electrical safety and EMC standard for laboratory instrumentation which includes the CE mark Section 1 Introduction 1 1 Overview Stainless Steel Top Frame Assembly Table Molded Bottom Frame Fig 1 GelAir Drying System The GelAir Drying System can be used for drying practically any type of polyacrylamide SDS PAGE native IEF 2 D or agarose gel The GelAir Drying System produces dried gels in a format that is ideal for densitometry autoradiography or permanent storage The GelAir system requires no vacuum pump or vapor trap is practically maintenance free and will dry up to 16 Mini PROTEAN II gels simultaneously and as quickly as a standard vac uum dryer 1 2 Unpacking Upon receipt of your GelAir Drying System carefully inspect the box for any damage which m
4. drying frame lift the clamp latches to release the clamps from the frame Fig 9 Trimming a dried gel 13 Separate the cellophane from the frames and cut away any unnecessary cellophane from around the gel You can trim the cellophane right up to the edge of the dried gel Figure 9 The gel will not peel or separate from the cellophane 14 The gel is now ready for densitometry gel documentation or any other appropriate appli cation 3 2 Drying Other Types of Gels Drying Gels for Autoradiography Fluorography one side exposed The following protocol describes a method of layering a sheet of plastic food wrap between the gel and the top sheet of cellophane This layering method allows easy separa tion of the cellophane sheet from the surface of the dried gel Uncovering the surface of the dried gel enables direct exposure of the gel to photographic or X ray film for autoradiography or fluorography Cellophane backing 1 Prepare the gel by following the protocol described in Section 3 1 Drying Acrylamide Gels steps 1 4 2 After completing step 4 add a layer of plastic food wrap on top of the gels Cut the piece of plastic food wrap to approximately the same dimensions as the cellophane 12 5 x 12 5 Wet the plastic wrap in water The wrap does not absorb water but wetting it helps make handling easier Holding one end of the plastic wrap with both hands drape the other end across one edge of the plastic frame and lower
5. trapped between the plastic wrap and the top sheet of cellophane can remain The plastic wrap may appear wrinkled but this is normal and should not be a concern Continue with steps 7 9 of Section 3 1 Continue drying the gel long after it feels dry If the paper is still damp even though it may not feel damp and the gel is removed from the frame the gel will crack A 3 hour drying time for a single gel on filter paper is recommended When the gel is dry carefully peel off the cellophane top layer and plastic wrap to expose the gel The gel is now ready for autoradiography or fluorography Drying Agarose Gels The GelAir Drying System can be used to dry agarose gels effectively and with little dis tortion 2 Agarose gels require no preparation prior to drying Follow the procedure in section 3 3 Drying Gels for Autoradiography Cellophane Backing When assembling the gel sandwich place a sheet of plastic food wrap over the agarose gel before applying the top sheet of cellophane The layer of plastic wrap reduces stress on the agarose gel and minimizes cracking Agarose gels require less effort during assembly than do polyacrylamide gels because agarose gels do not crack when bubbles are present around them Lay the plastic wrap and cellophane on top of the gel and ensure that all four sides of the plastic wrap and cellophane are overhanging the bottom frame Cellophane SS Plastic Wrap Cc Agarose Gel Cellopha
6. 06040 Rev E
7. The following is a guide to troubleshooting your GelAir Drying System No Power to the Dryer Check to insure the unit is plugged into a live power outlet Check that the input voltage rating of the dryer matches the local voltage No Heat from the Dryer Check whether the heat on off switch is in the on position Check to see if the fan is oper ating If the fan does not operate after turning the timer switch to the on or timer mode posi tion call Bio Rad Laboratories If there is still no heat call Bio Rad Laboratories Appendix A GelAir Drying System Specifications Specifications Input rating Catalog number 165 1777 115 VAC 60 Hz 6 0A Catalog number 165 1778 230 VAC 50 Hz 3 0A Installation category II overvoltage category Environmental conditions Indoor use only Temperature 5 C to 40 C Operating humidity 9 95 non condensing Altitude Up to 2 000 M Input power cable 3 wire grounded Timer control O to 3 hr fully adjustable Function modes Off Fan Only Fan plus Heat Dryer capacity 4 shelves 4 drying frames Drying frame area 20 cm x 20 cm Drying frame capacity 1 large format gel 20 x 16 cm or 4 small format gels 7 x 8 cm Dryer dimensions 27 x 43 x 30 cm H x Dx W Dryer weight 8 kg Chemical resistance All of the GelAir components are resistant to corrosion due to common electrophoresis chemicals Appendix B Warranty Information The GelAir Drying System is warranted for 1 year against defects in mat
8. ay have occurred in shipping Severe damage to the container may indicate damage to the system components If any parts are missing or damaged immediately file a claim with the carrier in accordance with their instructions and contact Bio Rad Laboratories Unpack your Gel Drying System The complete GelAir Drying System is shipped with the following GelAir Dryer with power cord Two Complete Drying Frames molded bottom frame stainless steel top frame and clamps Assembly Table Cellophane Support 50 pre cut sheets Instruction Manual Section 2 GelAir System Features 2 1 GelAir Dryer The GelAir Dryer can be operated with or without heat by toggling the heat on off switch The dryer operating temperature is optimized to dry gels without cracking The oven has a con tinuously adjustable 3 hour timer that shuts off automatically when the timer expires To oper ate turn the timer knob clockwise to activate the timer turn counterclockwise for continuous operation The dryer holds a maximum of four drying frames The front flap maintains the proper gel drying temperature and air circulation do not remove it Use of other manufac turers drying frames with this dryer is not recommended Heat On Off Switch Timer Knob continuous or timer mode Fig 2 GelAir Dryer 2 2 GelAir Drying Frame The GelAir Drying Frame maintains a flat cellophane surface for distortion free gel dry ing The drying frame consists of a stainless steel
9. elAir Dryer is electrically isolated from earth ground to minimize the risk of elec trical shock to the user These guidelines should be observed when using the gel dryer e To insure adequate air flow be sure that there is at least 10 cm of clearance around the gel dryer Do not block the fan vent at the rear of the unit e Always connect the power supply to a 3 prong grounded AC outlet using the 3 prong AC power cord provided with the dryer This instrument should not be modified or altered in any way Alteration of this instrument will void the manufacturer s warranty and create a potential safety hazard for the user Bio Rad is not responsible for any injury or damage caused by the use of this instrument for purposes other than for which it is intended or by modifications of the instrument not per formed by Bio Rad or an authorized agent Important This instrument is intended for laboratory use only This product conforms to the Class A standards for electromagnetic emissions intend ed for laboratory equipment applications It is possible that emissions from this product may interfere with some sensitive appliances when placed nearby or in the same circuit as those appliances The user should be aware of this potential and take appropriate measures to avoid interference This Bio Rad product 115 V and 230 V is certified to meet CAN CSA C22 2 No 1010 1 and UL 3101 1 safety standards Additionally the 230 V is certified to
10. er into the drying sandwich 1 Prepare the gel by following the protocol described in Section 3 1 Drying Acrylamide Gels steps 1 3 Fig Cut a piece of Bio Rad filter paper catalog number 165 0921 slightly larger than the gel and wet it completely Roll the gel out on top of the wetted paper Place the paper and gel on the bottom layer of cellophane Using a wash bottle add water to the surface of the filter paper and directly around the edges of the gel Be sure to fill in the wells of the gels with water Cut a piece of plastic food wrap to approximately the same dimensions as the cellophane 12 5 x 12 5 Wet the plastic wrap in water The wrap does not absorb water but wet ting it helps make handling easier Holding one end of the plastic wrap with both hands drape the other end across one edge of the plastic frame and lower the sheet to cover the entire frame If air bubbles are trapped beneath the plastic wrap raise the sheet to expose the bubbles and then lower it again If this does not eliminate the bubbles add more water beneath the sheet and try again It is important to remove all bubbles to avoid gel crack ing Cellophane Plastic Wrap Acrylamide Gel Ee Filter Paper Cellophane 11 Autoradiography gel assembly with filter paper backing Wet the second sheet of cellophane in water and lay it over the plastic wrap ensuring all four sides of the cellophane overhang the plastic frame Bubbles
11. erials and work manship If any defects should occur during this warranty period Bio Rad Laboratories will replace the defective parts without charge However the following defects are specifically excluded 1 Defects caused by improper operation 2 Repair or modification done by anyone other than Bio Rad Laboratories or their autho rized agent 3 Deliberate or accidental misuse 4 Damage caused by disaster For inquiry or request for repair service contact your local Bio Rad office listed on the back cover 10 Appendix C Ordering Information Catalog Number Product Description 165 1771 GelAir Drying System 115 V includes dryer 2 drying frames 16 clamps assembly table and 50 sheets of pre cut cellophane support 165 1772 GelAir Drying System 230 V includes dryer 2 drying frames 16 clamps assembly table and 50 sheets of pre cut cellophane support 165 1775 GelAir Drying Frames includes 2 drying frames and 16 clamps 165 1776 GelAir Assembly Table 165 1777 GelAir Dryer 115 V 165 1778 GelAir Dryer 230 V 165 1779 GelAir Cellophane Support 50 pre cut sheets 165 1780 GelAir Drying Frame Clamps 8 Appendix D References 1 Porter R and Gatschet J Simplified Drying of Polyacrylamide Gels for Fluorography BioTechniques 13 364 365 1992 2 Krishnan M and Nguyen T Drying Acrylamide Slab Gels for Fluorography without Using Gel Drier and Vacuum Pump Analytical Biochemistry 187 51
12. face of the cellophane directly around the edges of the gels Be sure to fill in the wells of the gels with water Use plenty of water It provides a means for removing air bubbles when applying the top layer of cellophane Fig 5 Adding the top layer of cellophane 5 Wet a second sheet of cellophane with water Carefully lay this sheet on top of the gels Use both hands to hold one end of the cellophane while draping the other end over one edge of the plastic frame Slowly lower the cellophane to cover the gels and the rest of the frame Figure 5 If air bubbles are trapped next to one or more of the gels raise the cel lophane to expose the bubbles and then lower it again If this does not work add more water and try again It is important to remove the air bubbles trapped between the two sheets of cellophane If they migrate next to the gel they can cause gel cracking ESS fA 27 Fig 6 Removing air bubbles from between the sheets of cellophane 6 Once the top cellophane sheet is in place make sure both sheets of cellophane overhang all four sides of the plastic frame Re adjust them if necessary Use your hand or one edge of the stainless steel frame to smooth away any remaining bubbles It is not necessary to remove excess water Top Frame Top Cellophane 924 Bottom Cellophane ZR DK Bottom Frame Fig 7 Drying frame assembly 7 Place the top frame over the cellophane and center it over the botto
13. m frame Top Frame Fig 8 Clamping the drying frame 8 Clamp the top frame to the bottom frame using two clamps per side Before positioning a clamp make sure the latch is up Slide the clamp over the edge of the cellophane and onto the bottom frame until it is seated over the top frame Figure 8 Push the latch down to lock it in place 9 Lift the clamped drying frame off the assembly table and slide it onto one of the shelves of the GelAir dryer Always place wet assemblies below any partially dried gels Water dripping on a drying gel may cause cracking 10 Turn on the dryer using the timer knob Choose either continuous on by turning the knob counter clockwise or timer by turning clockwise Select heat or no heat with the heat on off switch Gel drying times are primarily dependent upon gel thickness Table 1 Table 1 Approximate drying times for polyacrylamide gels in heated GelAir Dryer Gel Thickness Drying Time 0 5 mm 30 45 minutes 0 75 mm 40 55 minutes 1 0mm 45 60 minutes 1 5mm 65 80 minutes 11 To test gel dryness remove the frame from the oven Feel the entire gel using the back of your fingers or hand fingertips are less sensitive for this purpose If any part of the gel feels cold or slightly damp the gel is not completely dry and needs more time in the dryer If a gel is removed from its frame before it is entirely dry it may crack and or wrinkle 12 To remove a dry gel from the
14. ne Fig 12 Agarose gel assembly Note Do not use the plastic wrap layer when drying an agarose gel on gel bond Both the gel bond and the plastic wrap are impermeable to water and the gel will not dry 3 Drying times for agarose gels as with acrylamide gels are dependent upon gel thick ness Because agarose gels are generally much thicker than acrylamide gels their drying times are longer Agarose slab gels 1 6 10 mm thick require approximately 7 9 hours in the GelAir dryer Do not dry agarose gels under ambient benchtop conditions Agarose gels should be dried in the GelAir dryer After the gel is dry remove the plastic wrap and upper layer of cellophane If you wish to remove the cellophane backing rub the cellophane with a damp cloth until it just begins to hydrate The cellophane can then be easily peeled off the gel The agarose gel will be unaf fected because it will rehydrate only with heating Note This technique will not work with acrylamide gels Section 4 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Maintenance The GelAir Drying System requires very little maintenance to assure reliable operation To clean the drying oven wipe the inside of the drying chamber with a damp cloth To clean the assembly table and drying frame rinse with water It is important to wipe up any excess solution that is spilled either on top of the dryer or within the dryer to reduce the chance of electrical shock hazard Troubleshooting
15. nero eerte tee reor ona en bie toe rbi na eee e Eee ere r oei o To ane aS 11 Figures and Tables Figure 1 GelAir Drying System ccscsscssssssssscscsssssscssssesssssessessssssessessesssessessess Figure 2 GelAidr Dry eb ascos anere aaae aaao a RE oeo E a E EEEE ero EES re Figure 3 Drying Frame ccccccccsiscccssssscessonsocessensosecseaseccsssosecessentscnsoousssassastecocearsacessonsens Figure4 Drying Frame Assembly eeeeeee eee esee eene enata ente ens tassa stets tn etna Figure5 Adding the Top Layer of Cellophane eere eese reete eee enud Figure6 Removing Air Bubbles from Between the Sheets of Cellophane Figure7 Drying Frame Assembly e eeeee eese eee en enean eene ta teens theta etn ete tasas Figure8 Clamping the Drying Frame eeeeeee esee sees esee tete enata einen ene tnetas Figure9 Trimming a Dried Gel eeeeecee eese ee eee teen estne teen ene tne tae tn ene tn stas Figure 10 Autoradiography Gel Assembly eere eese eere eene teens een ene enano Figure 11 Autoradiography Gel Assembly with Filter Paper Backing Figure 12 Agarose Gel Assembly e cere reete eese e estne nene tn etae to estas taste es tnetaa Table 1 Approximate Drying Times for Polyacrylamide Gels in Heated GelAir DIY C8 D bovo Safety Caution Warning The G
16. the sheet to cover the entire frame If air bubbles are trapped beneath the plastic wrap raise the sheet to expose the bubbles and then lower it again If this does not eliminate the bubbles add more water beneath the sheet and try again It is important to remove all bubbles to avoid gel cracking Cellophane EM Plastic Wrap L Acrylamide Gel Cellophane Fig 10 Autoradiography gel assembly 3 Wet the second sheet of cellophane in water and lay it over the plastic wrap ensuring all four sides of the cellophane overhang the plastic frame Bubbles trapped between the plastic wrap and the top sheet of cellophane can remain The plastic wrap may appear wrinkled but this is normal and should not be a concern Continue with steps 7 9 of Section 3 1 4 With plastic wrap drying occurs from the bottom therefore drying times will increase slightly no more than 15 minutes 5 Afterthe gel is dry carefully peel off the plastic wrap to expose the gel With only a sin gle sheet of cellophane the gel may curl up Tape the gel to a more rigid surface to hold it flat The gel is now ready for autoradiography or fluorography Filter paper backing Adding a sheet of filter paper to this layering process allows easier handling of thin gels and insures less gel distortion during drying Additionally the dried gel does not curl because it is attached to filter paper The following protocol describes how to incorporate filter pap
17. top frame a molded bottom frame and eight clamps The gel is held between two sheets of cellophane which is clamped between the top frame and the bottom frame Fig 3 Drying frame 2 3 GelAir Assembly Table The GelAir Assembly Table provides a smooth flat surface for assembling and clamp ing the drying frame Section 3 Set Up and Operation 3 1 Drying Acrylamide gels Gel Preparation Equilibrate the gel in water for a minimum of 5 minutes to minimize gel cracking during drying Examine the gel and with a razor blade carefully remove any areas of the gel which are noticeably thicker Bio Rad s Ready Gels and other brands of precast gels have a noticeably thicker edge along the bottom of the gel The noticeably thicker edges must be removed to prevent gel cracking Frame Assembly 1 Place the molded bottom frame on the assembly table with the textured side up 2 Fully submerge a sheet of cellophane in water 3 Lay the wetted sheet of cellophane on top of the assembly table It should lay flat and should be centered over the assembly table and plastic frame Make sure that the edges of the cellophane are hanging over all four sides of the frame Using your fingers smooth away any wrinkles and remove air bubbles trapped beneath P s Oe Cellophane Bottom Frame Assembly Table Fig 4 Drying frame assembly 4 Place as many gels on the cellophane as desired Using a wash bottle add water to the sur
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