MULTI-COMPARTMENT ELECTROPHORESIS

摘要

A novel multi-compartment electrolyser design is used to prefractionate complex protein mixtures, for use prior to the implementation of 2-D maps. Such sub-fractionation processes can effectively remove, via suitable narrow range isoelectric membranes, proteins present in large excess in a cell lysate or in body fluids. In turn, the remaining protein mixture, devoid of such major components, can be loaded in a 2-D map at much higher levels, thus ensuring a greater sensitivity and detection capability of low-abundance proteins. The apparatus is a multi-compartment electrolyser, which is characterised in that recirculation of the samples is not required. The apparatus produces protein fractions which are fully compatible with the subsequent 2-D protocols, since it is based on a focusing technique, which yields samples highly concentrated and devoid of salts and buffers.