- SDS-PAGE (SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) is an electrophoretic technique that separates polypeptide chains according to their molecular weights (Mr).
- Polyacrylamide gel protocol utilizes polyacrylamide gel containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). SDS in the sample and the gel cancels the effect of the intrinsic electrical charge of the sample proteins.
- All proteins acquire a negatively charged rod-like structure, so separation becomes largely dependent on the molecular weight of sample proteins.
Applications of protein gel electrophoresis:
Once proteins have been separated by gel electrophoresis, they can be utilized for a number of downstream applications including:
- Determine the size and isoelectric point of separated proteins.
- Enzyme assays.
- Further purification.
- Immunoblotting or western blotting.
- Elution and digestion for mass spectrometric analysis.
- Serum protein electrophoresis is tested when a patient has an abnormal total protein or albumin blood test, or if a patient has symptoms of diseases associated with abnormal protein production, such as multiple myeloma or multiple sclerosis.