Polymerization of acrylamide at acid pH using uranyl nitrate

A new photopolymerizing reagent, uranyl nitrate, is used for the polymerization of acrylamide gels at low pH. The amount of uranyl nitrate (0.2 mg/ml) required for the polymerization of gels at pH 3.0 is considerably less than that of persulfate (7 mg/ml). Use of this reagent obviates the need for the removal of excess of persulfate by preelectrophoresis. The electrophoretic separation of basic proteins in uranium-polymerized gels showed faster movement and better resolution of proteins and proved the gels to be versatile, uniform, and reproducible. Electrophoresis of trypsin in these gels does not affect the enzymatic activity. The catalyst can also be used for the polymerization of gels containing 3 M urea.