silver stain can even get band with the loading buffer control - (Dec/14/2006 )

even i just load the loading buffer, the staining pattern is the same as the experimental lane.
What's the problem. I used two different loading buffers, so the chance of the contamination in the loading dye is low.

and my experiment cell and control cell also shows the same pattern. ( I expect that the experimental cell lane will have bands that the control cell lane will barely have bands, what's the problem?


I'm so frustrated by this , can anyone give me some clue?

Thanks so much!

there are artifacts that are known to appear when performing sds-page, especially when silver staining. they have been tentatively identified as keratins from dust or from exposure to skin (ie- sticking a finger into buffer just prior to running gel). they are more prominent when using reducing agent with the sample. in fact, they can be even more prominent if your stock of 2-mercaptoethanol is old.

the artifact bands appear in the mw range of ~43-68 kDa.

the bands can even show up on a western.

Thanks for the replies. I think it's not the problem of contamination from neighbouring lanes. I did westerns, it's specific, though.