D L4: Electrophoresis

Question 1

what is Electrophoresis?

Answer 1

Electrophoresis is the process of moving charged molecules contained in a solution by the application of an electric field

Question 2

when is electrophoresis used?

Answer 2

Commonly used to separate large bio-molecules such as nucleic acids and proteins

Question 3

what is migration rate based off ?

Answer 3

size, shape and charge of the molecule

Question 4

what is food between the electrodes?

Answer 4

porous matrix

Question 5

why is a matrix required?

Answer 5

because heat is generated during electrophoresis

Question 6

what do Common matrices include?

Answer 6

Paper
Cellulose acetate
Gels (polyacrylamide, agarose or starch)

Question 7

what are the 3 types of electrophoresis?

Answer 7

Tube electrophoresis
Vertical slab electrophoresis
Horizontal slab electrophoresis

Question 8

what does electrophoresis contain ?

Answer 8

Sample well, matrix, buffer, +/- electrodes

Question 9

what makes the most efficient use of the electric field ?

Answer 9

Direct contact between the buffer and the gel

Question 10

what is Horizontal slab electrophoresis known as ?

Answer 10

submarine gel

Question 11

what are the 2 most common gel matrices?

Answer 11

agarose and polyacrylamide gels

Question 12

How can pore size be controlled?

Answer 12

varying the concentration of the gel

Question 13

what kind of technique is electrophoresis?

Answer 13

electrically driven separation technique

Question 14

When a _____ is applied across the matrix (of ____) a _____ ______ (E) is generated

Answer 14

voltage
distance
potential gradient

Question 15

whats the electrophoresis formula?

Answer 15

E=V/d

Question 16

whats the units for V, d and E?

Answer 16

volts, cm Vcm^-1

Question 17

The potential gradient (E) creates a force (F) on the charged molecule which is expressed by what equation?

Answer 17

F=Eq

Question 18

The velocity of the charged molecule in the potential gradient can be expressed by the equation?

Answer 18

v=F/f = Eq/f

Question 19

F represents?

Answer 19

force in newtons

Question 20

f represents?

Answer 20

frictional coefficient

Question 21

q represents?

Answer 21

change (in coulombs) on the molecule

Question 22

Electrophoretic mobility (M) can be defined by the following equation:

Answer 22

M=v/E = Eq/Ef = q/f