Polymer studies electrophoresis

Electric-field-driven transport in media made of hydrophilic polymers with nanometer-size pores is of much current interest for applications in separation processes. Recent advances in the synthesis of novel media, in experimental methods to study electrophoresis, and in theoretical methodology to study electrophoretic transport lead to the possibility for improvement of our understanding of the fundamentals of macromolecular transport in gels and gel-like media and to the development of new materials and applications for electric-field-driven macromolecular transport. Specific conclusions concerning electrodiffusive transport in polymer hydrogels include the following. 

We begin with a short introduction to provide polymer chemists who may be new to the field of electrophoresis with a brief background concerning electrophoretic separation and characterization. Those who wish to obtain an in-depth understanding of the theory or detailed practical techniques are referred to textbooks/monographs on this subject [1-6]. Next, the advantages of gel electrophoresis as an analytical tool, and the structural requirements regarding dendrimers as electrophoretic analytes are discussed. Finally, studies directed at... 

Structure controlled dendritic polymers that have been studied using gel electrophoresis generally behave as mimics of either proteins or nucleic acids, and possess similar ionic groups such as -NH3 , -COO , or P04 functionality. Dendrimer structures may be widely modified as a function of their interior composition and as well as the nature of their surface groups. Depending on their structure, the influence of pH may vary dramatically for different dendrimers. 

Before the phase transition was found, a shrinking and swelling effect of an electric field was recognized and studied by several researchers [40-43]. Tanaka and colleagues found the phase transition in hydrolyzed acrylamide gel in 50% acetone/water mixtures. Their original interpretation that the electrophoresis of the polymer network might be responsible for the phase transition does not seem correct [44]. The most important effect seems to be the migration and redistribution of counter and added ions within the gel [45]. 

Sauvaigo S, Petec-Calin C, Caillat S, Odin F, Cadet J (2002) Comet assay couple to repair enzymes for the detection of oxidative damage to DNA induced by low doses of y-radiation use of YOYO-1, low-background slides, and optimized electrophoresis conditions. Anal Biochem 303 107-109 Schnabel W (1986) Pulse radiolysis studies concerning oxidative degradation processes in linear polymers. Radiat Phys Chem 28 303-313... 

Ruhr s group studied the separation of double- and single-stranded DNA restriction fragments in capillary electrophoresis with polymer solutions under alkaline conditions in epoxy-coated capillaries and found that at pH 11 the theoretical plate numbers exceeded several millions [96], At pH 12, single-stranded DNA molecules were still well separated in entangled hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) solutions, but the resolution decreased significantly in dilute polymer solutions. 

To study subunit structure, it is essential to determine the molecular mass of the holoenzyme by gel filtration and/or sucrose density gradient followed by determination of enzymatic activity. The size of the subunits can be determined by sodium dodecyl phosphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Put together, this information will show whether the enzyme is a monomer or a polymer and, if the latter, how many subunits make up the holoenzyme and whether there is only one kind of subunit or more than one kind. 

Grossman PD, Sloane DS (1991) Experimental and theoretical studies of DNA separations by capillary electrophoresis in entangled polymer solutions. Biopolymers 31 1221-1228. 

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