Comparison of fluorescent stains: relative photostability and differential staining of proteins in two-dimensional gels.

The fluorescence of proteins stained with Deep Purple and SYPRO Ruby was measured over a time course of UV transillumination to determine the relative photostability of each stain. Mean spot fluorescence (n = 200 matched spots) in gels stained with Deep Purple decreased 27% following 2 min of UV transillumination, compared to SYPRO Ruby, which decreased 17%. After 19 min, an 83% decrease in Deep Purple fluorescence was observed, compared to 44% for SYPRO Ruby. By interpolation, the half-life of Deep Purple fluorescence was estimated to be approximately 6 min. The half-life of SYPRO Ruby fluorescence was not reached during the 19 min time course. Further, differential staining of proteins was observed in gels stained with Deep Purple and SYPRO Ruby as compared to colloidal Coomassie Brilliant Blue and silver staining.