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Gel electrophoresis of micron‐sized particles: A problem and a solution
Author(s) -
Griess Gary A.,
Serwer Philip
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
biopolymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1097-0282
pISSN - 0006-3525
DOI - 10.1002/bip.360291416
Subject(s) - electrophoresis , chemistry , spheres , agarose , brownian motion , radius , chemical physics , chromatography , physics , computer security , quantum mechanics , astronomy , computer science
Abstract The gel electrophoresis of spherical particles with a radius above 0.2 μm has not been reported yet. In the present study, video phase‐contrast light microscopy is used to observe the motion of individual latex spheres, 0.52 μm in radius, during electrophoresis in 0.1% agarose gels. At 2V/cm, the spheres initially migrate in the direction of the electrical field. However, each sphere eventually undergoes a cessation of all motion. Brownian motion is restored when the electrical potential gradient is reduced to zero. Arrest can be prevented by periodically inverting the direction of the electrical field. These observations are explained by electrical field‐ induced steric trapping of the spheres by gel fibers. Inversion of the electrical field should assist the application of agarose gel electrophoresis to micron sized cellular organelles and cells.