Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is performed fora)to separate prote...
Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is used to separate proteins and DNA less than 500 bp.
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Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is performed fora)to separate prote...
Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) is a widely used technique in biochemistry and molecular biology to separate biomolecules based on their size and charge. It is commonly used to separate proteins and DNA fragments.
Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is performed to separate proteins and DNA of size less than 500 bp. Here is a detailed explanation:
1. Principle of Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis:
- Electrophoresis is a technique that uses an electric field to move charged molecules through a gel matrix.
- Polyacrylamide gel is a commonly used matrix for electrophoresis due to its uniform pore size and excellent resolution for small molecules.
2. Separation of Proteins and DNA:
- Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis can be used to separate proteins and DNA fragments based on their size and charge.
- In the case of proteins, the separation is based on their molecular weight.
- In the case of DNA fragments, the separation is based on their base pair length.
3. Size Limitation:
- Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is particularly suitable for separating small molecules, such as proteins and DNA fragments less than 500 base pairs (bp) in length.
- For larger molecules, agarose gel electrophoresis is typically used.
4. Gel Preparation:
- Polyacrylamide gel is prepared by polymerizing acrylamide monomers and a crosslinking agent, usually bis-acrylamide.
- The concentration of acrylamide determines the pore size of the gel, which in turn affects the separation of biomolecules.
- Higher acrylamide concentrations result in smaller pore sizes and better resolution for smaller molecules.
5. Electrophoresis Setup:
- The polyacrylamide gel is cast between two glass plates with a comb inserted at one end to create sample wells.
- The gel is submerged in a buffer solution that provides ions for conducting electricity.
6. Loading the Samples:
- The protein or DNA samples are mixed with a loading dye, which contains a tracking dye that helps to monitor the progress of electrophoresis.
- The samples are loaded into the wells of the gel.
7. Electrophoresis:
- An electric current is applied to the gel, causing the charged molecules to migrate through the gel matrix.
- The movement of the molecules is influenced by their charge, size, and the electric field strength.
- Smaller molecules migrate faster and travel farther through the gel.
8. Visualization:
- After electrophoresis, the gel is stained with a dye that binds to proteins or DNA, making them visible.
- The stained gel can be visualized under UV light or using a colorimetric stain.
9. Analysis:
- The separated proteins or DNA fragments can be quantified and analyzed based on their migration patterns.
- The distance migrated by each band can be compared to molecular weight markers to estimate the size of the molecules.
In conclusion, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is performed to separate proteins and DNA fragments less than 500 base pairs in length. It is a versatile technique widely used in molecular biology and biochemistry research.