Direct determination of macromolecular charge by equilibrium electrophoresis
Abstract
Charge is a fundamental property of macromolecules in solution. However, estimation of the apparent charge on polyions has confounded science for decades. Presented here is a general method to determine directly the apparent charge on a polyion, regardless of its size or shape. This new method uses equilibrium electrophoresis, a procedure in which opposing solute flows from electrophoresis and from diffusion balance everywhere as the system reaches a steady-state distribution. The method uses only small quantities of materials, is nondestructive, and requires only simple, inexpensive instrumentation. Here we describe a prototype apparatus, demonstrate the phenomenon, and present experimental examples of the procedure.
Department
Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences
Publication Date
11-1-1989
Journal Title
Analytical Biochemistry
Publisher
Elsevier
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Laue, T.M., Hazard, A.L., Ridgeway, T.M, and Yphantis, D.A. (1989) "Direct Determination of Apparent Charge on Macromolecules by Equilibrium Electrophoresis." Anal. Biochem., 182, 377-382.