A New Assay For Protein Phosphatase Activity In Polyacrylamide Gel

Protein phosphatases are signal transducing enzymes that dephosphorylate cellular phosphoproteins. Based on their substrates, Protein Phosphatases can be divided in two sub-family: Protein Serine/Threonine Phosphatases and Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases.Our lab combine three individual technics, the immobilization of protein in Polyacrylamide Gel microsphere, the protein electrophoresis and a novel fluorescent phosphorylation sensor dye; to detect protein phosphatases in polyacrylamide gels. We immobilize a Protein phosphatases'substrate on Polyacrylamide Gel microspheres, and then pour the microspheres in electrophoresis'gel. When Protein phosphatases are separated in the gel, and after they react with the substrate. Using the fluorescent dye (Pro-Q Diamond Phosphoprotein Gel Stain) to stain the substrate, the dark band on the gel will be the protein phosphatases.