Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE)

DGGE permits the separation of DNA fragments of identical size on the basis of different susceptibility to denaturation because of mutation even in a single nucleotide. The DNA fragments are electrophoresed in polyacryl-amide gels in which there is an increasing gradient of a denaturing agent such as urea or formamide or both. The increased temperature also promotes separation of the strands of the DNA double helix. The partially denatured fragments migrate at a lower speed in the gel. electrophoresis, mutation detection; Myers RM et al 1987 Methods Enzymol 155:501.