Expanding cam lock for sealing slab gels in an electrophoresis apparatus

An expanding cam lock for sealing at least one electrophoresis gel cassette in an electrophoresis apparatus, the expanding cam lock comprising:

• a base plate having a first surface adapted to engage a first buffer core assembly comprising at least one electrophoresis gel cassette;
• a follower plate having second surface adapted to engage a second buffer core assembly comprising at least one electrophoresis gel cassette,
• a cam positioned between and moveably coupled with the base plate and the follower plate;
• wherein, the base plate and the follower plate are slideably coupled together and configured for insertion between the first buffer core assembly and the second buffer assembly in the electrophoresis apparatus, and the cam being movable from a first position to a second position to urge the first surface toward the electrophoresis gel cassette of the first buffer core assembly and the second surface toward the electrophoresis gel cassette of the second buffer core assembly thereby sealing the electrophoresis gel cassettes to the first and second buffer core assemblies within the electrophoresis apparatus.

An electrophoresis kit, comprising

• a) an electrophoresis container having a first end wall defining a first recess and a second end wall defining a second recess;
• b) at least one buffer core assembly;
• and
• c) an expanding cam lock, comprising:
• a base plate having a first surface adapted to engage a buffer core assembly and having first side panels on the reverse side of the first surface;
• a follower plate having a second surface adapted to engage a partition assembly and having second side panels on the reverse side of the second surface, the first and second side panels being slideably coupled and the base plate and follower plate being configured for insertion between the first buffer core assembly and the partition assembly;
• and
• a cam pivotally coupled to the base plate and the cam slidingly engaging the follower plate.

An electrophoresis assembly, comprising

• a) art electrophoresis container having a first end wall defining a first recess and a second end wall defining a second recess;
• b) a buffer core assembly disposed in the container proximate the first end wall;
• c) a partition assembly disposed in the container proximate the second end wall;
• and
• d) an expanding cam lock for sealing at least one electrophoresis gel cassette to the buffer core assembly, wherein the expanding cam is positioned between the buffer core assembly and the partition assembly within the electrophoresis container.

A method for securing an electrophoresis gel cassettes in an electrophoresis container, the method comprising:

• providing a base plate having a first surface adapted to engage a buffer core assembly comprising the electrophoresis gel cassette;
• providing a follower plate having second surface adapted to engage a partition assembly, the follower plate being slideably coupled to the base plate;
• providing a cam positioned between and moveably coupled with the base plate and the follower plate;
• inserting the base plate, the follower plate, and the cam between the buffer core assembly and the partition assembly in the electrophoresis container;
• moving the cam from an open position to a closed position to urge the first and second surfaces to secure the gel cassettes to the first and second buffer core assemblies.

A method of performing electrophoretic transfer of one or more biomolecules from a gel to a filter or membrane, comprising:

• positioning within a buffer tank a gel cassette comprising a transfer membrane and a gel that comprises one or more biomolecules, wherein the buffer tank comprises or contacts two electrodes;
• adding a buffer displacement dam to the buffer tank;
• adding transfer buffer to the buffer tank;
• connecting a power source to the two electrodes;
• and
• applying a voltage across the gel to cause electrophoretic transfer of the one or more biomolecules from the gel to the transfer membrane.

A method of performing electrophoretic separation of one or more biomolecules, comprising:

• positioning at least one gel cassette in a gel electrophoresis apparatus such that one end of a gel enclosed within the gel cassette is in contact with a first buffer reservoir and another end of the gel enclosed within the gel cassette is in contact with a second buffer reservoir, wherein the first buffer reservoir comprises or contacts a first electrode and the second buffer reservoir comprises or contacts a second electrode;
• adding a buffer displacement dam to the f gel electrophoresis apparatus;
• adding electrophoresis buffer to the first buffer reservoir and the second reservoir;
• adding one or more samples comprising one or more biomolecules to sample wells at one end of the gel;
• connecting the first electrode and the second electrode to a power source;
• and
• applying a voltage across the gel to separate one or more biomolecules.