What does “DIGE” mean?
Differential gel electrophoresis (DIGE) is a method for pre-labelling protein samples prior to two-dimensional electrophoresis. By allowing different samples to be run on a single gel, one of which can be an internal standard, it can significantly reduce the problems of inter-gel variations. The system is based upon the use of up to three cyanine dyes possessing unique flourescent properties. The dyes (Cy2, Cy3 and Cy5) are mass- and charge matched N-hydroxy succinimidyl ester derivatives that differentially attach to lysine residues in a protein. Therefore the labeled proteins migrate simultaneously on the 2-DE gel but still produce distinct excitation and emission spectra.
