1. Electrophoresis is a technique used to separate charged molecules like proteins and nucleic acids by using an electric field to move them through a medium like gel or paper. 2. The rate at which molecules move depends on factors like their charge, size, and shape. Larger or more irregularly shaped molecules move more slowly. 3. Common types of electrophoresis include paper electrophoresis, cellulose acetate electrophoresis, and gel electrophoresis using agarose or polyacrylamide gels. Gel electrophoresis is often used to separate proteins and DNA fragments by size.

1. ELECTROPHORESIS
By Mohammadi M.
Master of Science (Medical Physics)
Department of Medical Physics, KUMS

3. Outline
 Definition
 Purpose (Application)
 Principle
 Factors affecting on EF mobility
 Types
 Explain three common types of electrophoresis
 Electrophoresis of proteins

4. DEFINITION:
It describes migration of charged particles or molecules
under the influence of electric field.
ELECTROPHORESIS

5. PURPOSE FOR CARRYING OUT ELECTROPHORESIS
• 1. To determine the number, amount and
mobility of components in a given sample or
to separate them.
• 2. To obtain information about the electrical
double layers surrounding the particles.
• 3. Determination of molecular weight of
proteins and DNA sequencing.

6. PRINCIPLE
Any charged ion or molecule migrates when placed in an electric
field. The rate of migration depend upon its net charge, size,
shape and the applied electric current.
v = Eq
F
where F = frictional coefficient, which depends upon the mass and shape of the
molecule.
E = electric field (V/ cm)
q = the net charge on molecule
v = velocity of the molecule.

7. FACTORS AFFECTING ELECTROPHORETIC MOBILITY
1. Charge – higher the charge greater the electrophoretic
mobility.
2. Size – bigger the molecule, greater are the frictional
and electrostatic forces exerted on it by the medium.
Consequently, larger particles have smaller
electrophoretic mobility compared to smaller particles.
3. Shape – rounded contours elicit lesser frictional and
electrostatic retardation compared to sharp contours.
Therefore globular protein move faster than fibrous
protein.

8. Buffer Solution
• Electrophoresis is performed in buffer
solutions to reduce pH changes due to the
electric field, which is important because the
charge of DNA and RNA depends on pH, but
running for too long can exhaust the buffering
capacity of the solution.

9. TYPES OF ELECTROPHORESIS
ELECTROPHORESIS
FREE
ELECTROPHORESIS
ZONE
ELECTROPHORESIS
MICRO
ELECTROPHORESIS
MOVING
BOUNDARY
PAPER
ELECTROPHORESIS
CELLULOSE ACETATE
ELECTROPHORESIS
GEL
ELECTROPHORESIS

10. Supporting Medium
• A supporting medium is a physical support
through which the charged molecules get
separated.
• It has two primary functions:
adsorption and molecular sieving of the taken
molecules which are intended to be
separated.

11. PAPER ELECTROPHORESIS
It is the form of electrophoresis that is carried out on
filter paper. This technique is useful for separation of
small charged molecules such as amino acids and small
proteins.

12. PAPER ELECTROPHORESIS
Filter Paper
whatman filter paper, cellulose acetate filter paper or
chromatography paper
Apparatus
Power pack, electrophoretic cell that contains electrodes, buffer
reservoirs, support for paper, transparent insulating cover
Sample Application
may be applied as a spot (about 0.5 cm in diameter) or as a uniform
streak.
Electrophoretic Run
The current is switched on after the sample has been applied to the
paper and the paper has been equilibrated with the buffer
Detection
Physical properties like fluorescence,ultraviolet absorption or
radioactivity are exploited for detection.
Applications
(a) Serum analysis for diagnostic purpose is carried out by paper
electrophoresis.
(b) Muscle protein (Myosin), egg protein (albumin), milk protein
(casein), snake and insect venoms have been satisfactorily analysed
using paper electrophoresis.
Disadvantage
It is very time-taking. Around 14-16 hours are needed for the process
of complete separation.

13. • modified version of paper electrophoresis
• bacteriological acetate membrane filters are taken in place of
regular chromatography paper
Advantages of cellulose acetate strips over chromatography paper:
• are chemically pure and free of lignin and hemicelluloses
• Has low content of glucose
• is not hydrophilic
Applications:
• clinical investigation such as separation of glycoproteins, lipopro-
teins and haemoglobin from blood.
CELLULOSE ACETATE ELECTROPHORESIS

14. It is a technique used for the separation of DNA, RNA or protein
molecules according to their size and electrical charge using an
electric current applied to a gel matrix.
 What is a gel?
Gel is a cross linked polymer whose composition and porosity is
chosen based on the specific weight and porosity of the target
molecules.
Types of Gels:
 Agarose gel.
 Polyacrylamide gel.
GEL ELECTROPHORESIS

16. AGAROSE GEL
 A highly purified uncharged polysaccharide derived from agar.
 Used to separate macromolecules such as nucleic acids, large
proteins and protein complexes.
 It is prepared by dissolving 0.5% agarose in boiling water and
allowing it to cool to 40°C.
 It is fragile because of the formation of weak hydrogen bonds
and hydrophobic bonds.

17. POLYACRYLAMIDE GEL
 Commonly used components: Acrylamide monomers,
Ammonium persulphate, Tetramethylenediamine (TEMED),
N,N’-methylenebisacrylamide.
 These free radicals activate acrylamide monomers inducing
them to react with other acrylamide monomers forming long
chains.
 Used to separate most proteins and small oligonucleotides
because of the presence of small pores.

18. ELECTROPHORESIS OF PROTEINS
The most commonly used technique for the separation of proteins
is Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
(SDS PAGE).
PROCEDURE
 Protein sample is first boiled for 5 mins in a buffer solution
containing SDS and β-mercaptoethanol.
 Protein gets denatured and opens up into rod-shaped structure.
 Sample buffer contains bromophenol blue which is used as a
tracking dye, and sucrose or glycerol.
 Before the sample is loaded into the main separating gel a
stacking gel is poured on top of the separating gel.

19. PROCEDURE Continued…
 Current is switched on.
 The negatively charged protein-SDS complexes now continue to
move towards the anode.
 As they pass through the separating gel, the proteins separate,
owing to the molecular sieving properties of the gel.
 When the dye reaches the bottom of the gel, the current is
turned off.
 Gel is removed from between the glass plates and shaken in an
appropriate stain solution.
 Blue colored bands are observed under UV rays.