Centrifugation • DIFFERENTIAL CENTRIFUGATION • DENSITY GRADIENT CENTRIFUGATION
DIFFERENTIAL CENTRIFUGATION
DENSITY GRADIENT CENTRIFUGATION
Meselson-Stahl Experiment
Gel Electrophoresis
Definition • Electro = Charge + Phorsesis= Carry • Electrophoresis = Separation of charged molecules by differences in their rate of migration in an electric field.
The Components of The System • Molecules to be separated • Proteins • Nucleic Acids • Support medium • Gel (Starch, Polyacrylamide or Agarose) • Buffer System • DC Power Source
Common Support Media for Biological Molecules • Proteins • Native Gel (Acrylamide or Starch) • Denaturing (SDS) Gel (Acrylamide) • Nucleic Acids – DNA & RNA • Agarose Gel • Acrylamide Gel
Factors that Influence Mobility • Properties of the Molecules to be separated • Molecular size (MW) • Molecular shape • Molecular charge • Properties of the System • Electric field strength (V/cm) • Porosity of the support medium (% S) • Conductivity of the buffer (R)
These Factors Interact • Mobility is proportional to charge/MW. • Mobility is proportional to field strength.
SDS Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS PAGE)
Separation of DNA Molecules in Agarose Gels • The phosphate groups bear negative charge at neutral p. H (2 phosphates/BP) • Therefore mobility will be based on number of base pairs/molecule