Premium
Molecular deformation and free‐solution electrophoresis of DNA‐uncharged polymer conjugates at high field strengths: Theoretical predictions Part 2: Stretching
Author(s) -
McCormick Laurette C.,
Slater Gary W.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
electrophoresis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.666
H-Index - 158
eISSN - 1522-2683
pISSN - 0173-0835
DOI - 10.1002/elps.200600838
Subject(s) - drag , electrophoresis , dna , deformation (meteorology) , polymer , random coil , chemistry , nanotechnology , chemical physics , chromatography , materials science , mechanics , physics , crystallography , composite material , biochemistry , circular dichroism , organic chemistry
DNA sequencing by electrophoresis can be dramatically sped up by overcoming the need for the sieving medium. Normally it is possible to separate DNA based on size in free solution; however, not end‐labeled free‐solution electrophoresis (ELFSE) uses a neutral drag‐tag molecule to make it possible. In experiments to date, the drag‐tag and DNA together form a random coil conformation; while with future generation drag‐tags and high fields, deformation of this conformation may occur. In the first paper in this series we investigated the conditions under which the DNA and label become hydrodynamically distinct (or segregated), based on a theoretical approach developed for the electrophoresis of polyampholytes. In this paper we study further deformation wherein either the DNA and/or a polymeric label stretch. We show that deformation may dramatically improve the capabilities of ELFSE, especially when both the DNA and a polymeric drag‐tag fully stretch; however, reaching these regimes will require extremely high field intensities, something that only microchip technologies may be able to achieve.