Rapid electronic autofluorography of labeled macromolecules on two-dimensional gels.

The feasibility of electronically locating and measuring tritium-labeled macromolecules directly on dried electrophoretic gels has been demonstrated. This new procedure eliminates the usual long film exposure in autofluorography and the attendant delay in processing and data reduction. An image intensifier and electronic camera tube are used to integrate the light produced by the tritium interaction with a scintillator incorporated in the gel. Preliminary results show that, compared to film, the exposure is reduced 100 to 1000 times. The response to low activity levels is improved, and spatial resolution is maintained. A proposed instrument could be used for measuring other isotopes as well as fluorescent and visible stains.