Fluorescent staining for proteins on polyacrylamide gels with 5-dimethylamino-1-naphthalenesulfonyl chloride (dansyl chloride)

A simple and sensitive post electrophoresis fluorescent staining technique for proteins on polyacrylamide gels using 5-dimethylamino-1-naphthalene sulfonyl chloride (dansyl chloride) has been developed. Dansyl chloride staining increases the sensitivity, 0.125 μg protein per band can be visualised by this technique. The staining method appears to be applicable to all types of proteins including proteoglycans.