Disc Electrophoresis in Polyacrylamide Gel

Abstract

Earlier electrophoretic procedures, such as paper electrophoresis described in Exercise No. 9 of this Manual, were rapidly replaced by the much better resolving electrophoresis procedures in gel. While regular paper or cellulose acetate paper electrophoresis detected a maximum of 6 to 7 components in a human serum sample, electrophoresis in Polyacrylamide gel separates 15 or more components with ease. Particularly sharp electrophoretic separation can be achieved by the so-called disc electrophoresis. There are a number of physical-chemical explanations for the very high resolution achieved by such procedures, but discussion of these would be beyond the scope of this Manual. Those who wish to understand the background of this phenomenon should read the relevant chapter in the book by H.R. Maurer (1971) on disc electrophoresis. Part A of this Exercise describes the separation of serum protein components by disc electrophoresis.