Photometric evaluation of slab gels I. Data acquisition and image analysis

Abstract

Abstract The photometry of two‐dimensional electrophoretograms is described in some detail. This method has a high sensitivity of 5·10 −4 O.D., because it takes advantage of the noise characteristics of photometric signals. Digital image analysis is used to locate and evaluate the individual spots on the electrophoretogram. The presented procedure of segmentation detects the faintest protein spots visible by eye and separates even confluent spots reliably and automatically. The combination of scanning photometry and image analysis is a sensitive, versatile, and accurate method for the evaluation of slab gels.