Modification of the Electrokinetic Properties of Reversible Electrophoresis Gels for the Separation and Preparation of DNA

Published

September 1, 1999

Author(s)

Kenneth D. Cole, R Nguyen, C M. Tellez-Rodriguez

Abstract

The effect of adding linear polymers to a novel reversible electrophoretic media was measured. Reversible gels are formed using the polyanionic carbohydrate polymer, gellan gum. Gellan gum forms strong stable gels in the presence of divalent cations or diamines. The gels are reversible (return to solution) by changing the ionic environment or pH. Gellan gum is an anionic polymer and the electrophoresis gels have considerable electroosmotic flow (EOF) toward the negative electrode. We measured the EOF in gellan gum electrophoresis gels as a function of gel concentration, buffer composition, and linear polymer additive. The linear polymers used in this study were polyethyleneoxide and hydroxyethyl cellulose. Both polymers reduced EOF in the gels, in a manner dependent on molecular weight. Polymers with high molecular weight were more effective at reducing EOF. The addition of polymers increased the resolution of low molecular weight DNA. Native gellan gum resolved DNA from approximately 50,000 to 1000 bp. Addition of the polymers resolved DNA down to approximately 50 bp, in some instances. The influence of the polymers on circular plasmid DNA was also investigated. Addition of high molecular weight polyethylene oxide reduced the electrophoretic mobility of the nicked circular form compared to the supercoiled form.

Citation

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology

Volume

82

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

DNA, electroosmosis, electrophoresis gel, gellan gum, preparative, protein, separation reversible

Citation

Cole, K. , Nguyen, R. and Tellez-Rodriguez, C. (1999), Modification of the Electrokinetic Properties of Reversible Electrophoresis Gels for the Separation and Preparation of DNA, Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Accessed April 26, 2024)