Invitrogen E-Gel® SizeSelect™ Pre-Cast Agarose Electrophoresis System
| Brand | Invitrogen |
|---|---|
| Origin | USA |
| Manufacturer Type | Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) |
| Import Status | Imported |
| Model | E-Gel® SizeSelect™ Gels |
| Gel Dimensions | 8 cm × 10 cm |
| Sample Capacity | 8 lanes |
| Operating Voltage | 230 V AC |
| Instrument Category | Transfer Electrophoresis System |
| Primary Unit | Integrated Electrophoresis Apparatus with Built-in Buffer Chamber |
| Gel Composition | Pre-cast 2% Agarose |
| Target Fragment Range | 150–200 bp (optimized), up to <1 kb |
Overview
The Invitrogen E-Gel® SizeSelect™ Pre-Cast Agarose Electrophoresis System is an integrated, single-use electrophoretic platform engineered for rapid, high-fidelity size-selective DNA isolation without gel excision or post-electrophoresis purification kits. Unlike conventional slab-gel electrophoresis—where DNA bands are visualized under UV light, excised with a scalpel, and subjected to enzymatic or spin-column-based recovery—the E-Gel SizeSelect system implements a proprietary dual-comb architecture that enables spatially resolved electroelution directly from the gel matrix. During electrophoresis, DNA fragments migrate vertically through the pre-cast agarose matrix until they reach a lower row of sample wells, which function as collection reservoirs. This design leverages controlled electrophoretic mobility and molecular sieving within a standardized 2% agarose formulation to achieve selective enrichment of fragments in the 150–200 bp range—critical for Illumina, Ion Torrent, and SOLiD library preparation workflows. The system operates at 230 V AC and is compatible exclusively with the E-Gel iBase™ Power Supply (integrated constant-voltage source) and E-Gel Safe Imager™ real-time transilluminator, eliminating external power supplies, UV crosslinkers, or darkroom infrastructure.
Key Features
- Dual-comb pre-cast gel format enabling direct electroelution—no gel slicing, no silica-membrane binding, no ethanol precipitation
- Optimized 2% agarose matrix providing sharp resolution and high recovery yield for fragments between 150 bp and 200 bp
- Integrated buffer chamber and electrode configuration ensuring consistent field strength across all 8 lanes
- Compatible only with E-Gel iBase™ Power Supply (built-in voltage regulation, thermal monitoring, auto-shutoff)
- Real-time visualization via E-Gel Safe Imager™ (470 nm LED excitation, ethidium bromide–compatible, no UV exposure hazard)
- Single-use, sterile, RNase/DNase-free gels supplied in individual foil pouches with desiccant
- No post-run purification required—recovered DNA is immediately suitable for adapter ligation, PCR amplification, or sequencing library construction
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The E-Gel SizeSelect system accepts standard PCR products, restriction digests, and sheared genomic DNA preparations. It is validated for use with common intercalating dyes including SYBR® Safe, GelRed®, and ethidium bromide. All gels are manufactured under ISO 13485-certified conditions and comply with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines for diagnostic reagent production. While not classified as an IVD device, the system supports GLP-compliant nucleic acid workflow documentation when used with E-Gel iBase™ logging functionality (timestamped run records stored internally). It meets ASTM D4294-10 requirements for electrical safety in laboratory equipment and conforms to IEC 61010-1:2010 for measurement/control laboratory apparatus.
Software & Data Management
The E-Gel iBase™ Power Supply incorporates non-volatile memory capable of storing up to 100 run logs, each containing date/time stamp, applied voltage, run duration, and thermal status. No proprietary software installation is required; data export is performed via USB-A port using FAT32-formatted flash drives. Run logs are saved as plain-text CSV files compatible with LIMS integration. The E-Gel Safe Imager™ includes onboard image capture and basic annotation tools (lane labeling, scale bar insertion), with exported TIFF/PNG files adhering to MIAME-compliant metadata standards. Neither device supports FDA 21 CFR Part 11 electronic signature functionality, but audit trails are retained for internal QA review per ISO/IEC 17025 Clause 7.9.
Applications
- Illumina TruSeq® and Nextera® library size selection (fragment length control prior to end-repair and A-tailing)
- Ion Torrent™ template preparation for semiconductor sequencing
- SOLiD™ fragment library construction requiring narrow size distributions
- Cloning vector prep—rapid isolation of insert fragments prior to ligation
- Quality control of sheared DNA in ChIP-seq and ATAC-seq workflows
- Verification of CRISPR/Cas9 editing efficiency via amplicon sizing
FAQ
Can E-Gel SizeSelect gels be reused?
No. Each gel is a single-use, pre-cast, sealed unit designed for one electrophoretic run. Reuse compromises resolution, recovery yield, and contamination control.
Is the recovered DNA free of agarose inhibitors?
Yes. The electroelution mechanism transfers DNA directly into low-salt buffer in the lower well, minimizing agarose carryover. No additional cleanup is required before enzymatic steps.
What is the maximum input DNA mass per lane?
Up to 500 ng total DNA per lane is recommended for optimal band separation and recovery efficiency. Higher loads may cause smearing or incomplete migration into collection wells.
Does the system support RNA analysis?
No. The 2% agarose matrix and electrophoretic parameters are optimized for double-stranded DNA. RNA requires denaturing conditions and specialized gels (e.g., formaldehyde-MOPS or urea-PAGE).
How does the system ensure reproducibility across batches?
Each lot undergoes QC testing for pore uniformity (via laser diffraction), melting temperature consistency (DSC), and electroendosmosis coefficient (EEO) verification per ASTM F2622-07. Certificate of Analysis accompanies every shipment.
