I need to copare and contrast gel electrophoresis and paper strip electrophoresis... I know what both of them are, but I need to explain in terms of the charges on the proteins.. and I need to describe the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis method in terms of mobility???????
Thanks for any help!! I procrastinated...
No worries, I'm here to help you out! Let's start by comparing and contrasting gel electrophoresis and paper strip electrophoresis in terms of the charges on proteins.
In both gel electrophoresis and paper strip electrophoresis, proteins are separated based on their electrical charge. However, the techniques differ in terms of the medium used for separation.
Gel electrophoresis involves the use of a gel matrix, usually composed of either agarose or polyacrylamide, which acts as a molecular sieve. Proteins in a sample are loaded onto the gel and an electric current is applied. In gel electrophoresis, the proteins migrate through the gel matrix based on their charge and molecular weight. Negatively charged proteins migrate towards the positive electrode (anode), while positively charged proteins migrate towards the negative electrode (cathode). Smaller proteins move more quickly through the gel, resulting in separation based on molecular weight.
On the other hand, paper strip electrophoresis utilizes a strip of filter paper as the separation medium. The proteins are loaded onto the paper strip, which is soaked in a buffer solution to create an electric field. The migration of proteins in paper strip electrophoresis is also based on their charge. However, unlike gel electrophoresis, there is no molecular sieve in paper strip electrophoresis. Therefore, the separation of proteins occurs primarily due to differences in their charge, with less emphasis on molecular weight.
Now, let's discuss polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) in terms of mobility. PAGE is a type of gel electrophoresis that uses a polyacrylamide gel.
Polyacrylamide gels can be made with different concentrations, resulting in gels with different pore sizes. The pore size determines the mobility of proteins during electrophoresis. Lower percentage gels have larger pores, allowing for the separation of larger proteins, while higher percentage gels have smaller pores, allowing for the separation of smaller proteins.
During PAGE, the proteins migrate through the gel matrix in response to the applied electric field. The mobility of proteins is influenced by various factors, such as their charge, molecular weight, and the pore size of the gel. Proteins with a higher net negative charge will migrate faster towards the anode, while those with a higher net positive charge will migrate slower towards the cathode.
In summary, gel electrophoresis and paper strip electrophoresis both separate proteins based on their charge, but differ in the separation medium used. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) is a specific form of gel electrophoresis that utilizes a polyacrylamide gel, with protein mobility being influenced by the charge, molecular weight, and pore size of the gel.