Electrophoresis is a separations technique that is based on the the mobility of ions in an electric
field. Positively charged ions migrate towards a negative electrode and negatively-charged ions migrate toward a positive electrode.For safety reasons one electrode is usually at ground and the other is biased positively or negatively. Ions have different
migration rates depending on their total charge, size, and shape, and can therefore be separated. Instrumentation An electrode apparatus consists of a high-voltage supply, electrodes, buffer, and a support for the
buffer such as filter paper,
cellulose acetate strips, polyacrylamide gel, or a
capillary tube. Open
capillary tubes are used for many types of samples and the other supports are usually used for biological samples such as protein mixtures or
DNA fragments. After a separation is completed the support is stained to visualize the separated components.
Resolution can be greatly improved using isoelectric focusing. In this technique the support gel maintains a pH gradient. As a protein migrates down the gel, it reaches a pH that is equal to its isoelectric point. At this pH the protein is netural and no longer migrates, i.e, it is focused into a sharp band on the gel.
Schematic of zone electrophoresis apparatus
Specific electrophoretic techniques
- disc electrophoresis
- capillary electrophoresis
- gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE)
Search the Dictionary
