ELECTROPHORESIS Flashcards
Seen in diagnostic laboratories
ELECTROPHORESIS
migration of charged solutes or particles in a solid medium under the influence of an electrical field/current.
ELECTROPHORESIS
Two types of electrophoresis:
Zone electrophoresis
Iontophoresis
– separation of macromolecules on an electromagnetic field or support medium under the influence of electric current
Zone electrophoresis
– separation of small particles such as ions or electrolytes (Ex. Separation of Calcium ions in a substance)
Iontophoresis
– most important macromolecule
Protein
Zwitterion
AMPHOLYTE
amphoteric pH (can act as either acid+cathode or base-anode) depending upon the support medium where they are found
AMPHOLYTE (Zwitterion)
takes a positive charge (binds protons) at an acidic pH and migrates toward the cathode
Cathode
negative electrode
Cathode
it tends to bind with proton = receives a proton = carries a positive charge
Cathode
takes a negative charge (loses protons) at an alkaline pH and migrates toward the anode - more common
Anode
positive electrode
Anode
it tends to donate and give up proton = loses a proton = carries a negative charge
Anode
generated from electrophoresis
ELECTROPHORETOGRAM
display of protein zones, each one (fraction) sharply separated from neighboring zones on the support medium/material
ELECTROPHORETOGRAM
Per column represents one [?] (serum or any biological sample).
sample
Different fractions per column represents one [?].
protein fraction
The thicker the protein zone, the higher the [?].
protien concentration
FACTORS AFFECTING MIGRATION:
Net electrical charge of molecule (pH of buffer)
MW of the particle
Strength of the electrical field
Type of support medium
The heavier the protein, the slower it migrates
MW of the particle
Ex. Serum protein electrophoresis – smallest protein founf in normal serum: [?], which migrates the fastest
Albumin
Constantly maintained
Strength of the electrical field
A strip of paper can be moistened using a specific buffer to be used for electrophoresis.
The specific sample subjected to electrophoresis will be applied.
The filter paper can be placed between two glass slides.
Both ends of the filter paper (electrodes) must be in contact with the electrolyte solution found in the two chambers (containers)
Electric current will be applied to facilitate the separation of proteins placed on the paper.
PAPER ELECTROPHORESIS
PAPER ELECTROPHORESIS DRAWBACKS
excessive background failing
electrophoresis time may be longer when paper is utilized
too many shadows found per fraction instead of very distinct, clearly demarcated zones
excessive background failing
Type of support medium
- Paper
- Starch (starch gel)
- Cellulose acetate
- Agarose gel
- Polyacrylamide Gel
medium is prepared before electrophoresis
Starch (starch gel)
greater resolution
Cellulose acetate
faster & permanent
Cellulose acetate
distinct zones are separated
Cellulose acetate
most commonly used in electrophoresis
Cellulose acetate
most commonly used in electrophoresis
Agarose gel
High Resolution Electrophoresis
Polyacrylamide Gel
most commonly used medium in isoelectric focusing
Polyacrylamide Gel
- 45 minutes to 1 hour
AGAROSE GEL ELECTROPHORESIS
- Mix the agarose with the buffer of choice
- Heated in a microwave until such time that the buffer agarose is completely dissolved
- The agarose mixture will be poured into the mould
4 . At one end of the mould, a comb is inserted
AGAROSE GEL ELECTROPHORESIS
TYPES OF BUFFER
- Barbital (pH 8.6)
- Citric Acid – PO4 (pH 6.0-6.2)
- Tris-Boric EDTA (pH 8.4-8.6)
Buffer: Citric Acid
Solid support: Agarose Gel
Citrate-agar electrophoresis
Citrate-phosphate-agar electrophoresis
Buffer: Alkaline solution
Solid support: Cellulose acetate
Tris-Boric EDTA (pH 8.4-8.6)
Tris-EDTA-Boric
- for preservation
FIXATIVE
TYPES OF FIXATIVE
- Methanol
- Cyclohexanol
- Acetic acid
- Dioxane
- to allow visualization of the protein zones that have been separated
STAINS
Protein stains:
- Amido black or Naphthol blue black
- Bromphenol blue
- Coomasie Brilliant blue
- Nigrosin
- Ponceau S dye
Isoenzymes:
- Nitrotetrazoleum Blue
Lipoproteins (HDL, LDL, VLDL):
- Fat Red 7B (Sudan Red)
- Oil Red O
- Sudan Black B
are separated based on their isoelectric pH
Proteins
are made up of amino acids
Proteins
is determined by the type of amino acid that predominates in their structure on the basis of acidity (neutral, acidic, basic)
isoelectric pH
An electrophoretic method in w/c proteins are separated on the basis of their
pI (isoelectric pH)
Makes use of the property of proteins that their net charges are determined by the [?] of their local environment
pH
net electrical charges
(+), (-) or (0)
If the # of acidic groups (in protein) exceeds # of basic groups, the pI of the protein will be at a [?] pH (ACIDIC PROTEIN)
low
If the basic group > acidic groups, pI will be [?] (BASIC PROTEIN)
high
Proteins show considerable variation in pI, but pI values fall in the range pH [?] (many having pIs between pH 4-7)
3-12
REQUIREMENTS FOR ISOELECTRIC FOCUSING
- Establishing pH gradient
- Gel for Isoelectric Focusing
- Establishing pH gradient
a. Carrier Ampholytes (Amphoteric electrolytes)
b. Acrylamide buffers
- Gel for Isoelectric Focusing
a. Polyacrylamide Gel
most commonly used in isoelectric focusing to maintain a pH gradient
Acrylamide buffers
- Mixtures of molecules containing multiple aliphatic amino & carboxylate groups (buffer molecules)
a. Carrier Ampholytes (Amphoteric electrolytes)
- Included directly in IEF gels
a. Carrier Ampholytes (Amphoteric electrolytes)
- Derivatives of Acrylamide containing both reactive double bonds & buffering groups
b. Acrylamide buffers
- Covalently incorporated in PAG at the time of casting
b. Acrylamide buffers
- polymerized with an initiator system including Riboflavin (initiator) for photo-polymerization
a. Polyacrylamide Gel
- large-pore convective matrices
a. Polyacrylamide Gel
- A stable pH gradient is established in the gel after application of an electric field.
- A protein solution is added and an electrical field is reapplied.
- After staining, proteins are to be distributed along a pH gradient, according to pH values
Addition of carrier ampholyte or acrylamide buffers into the support medium
- A stable pH gradient is established in the gel after application of an electric field.
Allow the support medium to solidify = POLYACRYLAMIDE GEL
- A protein solution is added and an electrical field is reapplied.
Available locations for electric current to flow through the medium.
- A protein solution is added and an electrical field is reapplied.
On the surface of the solidified polyacrylamide gel, place the protein solution.
- A protein solution is added and an electrical field is reapplied.
Followed by the application of electric current.
- A protein solution is added and an electrical field is reapplied.
After appropriate separation time;
- A protein solution is added and an electrical field is reapplied.
Stains are used to visualize protein zones that have been separated
- After staning, proteins are to be distributed along a pH gradient, according to pH values
AUTOMATION ADVANTAGES:
- [?] results
- Increase in the [?] performed
- Saves [?]
- Eliminates the need for [?]
- [?]
6 . Errors in [?] are reduced - Better [?]
Rapid
number of tests
time and effort
personnel increase
Economical
calculations & transcriptions
precision & accuracy
- introductory of the first automated analyzer by Technicon
1957
: sequential batch analyzer capable of providing single test result on approximately 40 samples per hour
Continuous flow
- Technicon instruments w/c were next developed
Simultaneous Multiple Analyzer (SMA)
With multiple channels (for diff. tests)
Simultaneous Multiple Analyzer (SMA)
6-12 test results simultaneously at the rate of 360 - 720 tests per hour
Simultaneous Multiple Analyzer (SMA)
- specialty area w/ rapidly developing arsenal of analyzers
IMMUNOCHEMISTRY
Immunological techniques (application of antigen antibody reaction) for assaying drugs, specific proteins, tumor markers & hormones
Fluorescence Polarization
Immunoassay
Nephelometry
Chemiluminescent Detection
BASIC APPROACHES OF AUTOMATED ANALYZERS
I. CONTINUOUS - FLOW
II. CENTRIFUGAL ANALYSIS
III. DISCRETE ANALYSIS
- Liquids (reagents, diluents & samples) are pumped through a system of continuous tubing
I. CONTINUOUS - FLOW
- Samples are introduced in a sequential manner, following each other through the same network
I. CONTINUOUS - FLOW
- Batch analysis can be used (e.g. large # of specimen in one run)
I. CONTINUOUS - FLOW
- More sophisticated continuous flow anayzers
Use parallel single channels to run multiple tests on each sample (e.g. SMA & SMAC)
I. CONTINUOUS - FLOW
- Major drawbacks: significant carry-over problems & wasteful use of continuously flowing reagents
I. CONTINUOUS - FLOW
- More sophisticated continuous flow anayzers
I. CONTINUOUS - FLOW
- Use parallel single channels to run multiple tests on each sample (e.g. SMA & SMAC)
I. CONTINUOUS - FLOW
- Uses the force generated by centrifugation to transfer & then contain liquids in separate cuvets for measurement
II. CENTRIFUGAL ANALYSIS
- Capable of running multiple samples, one test ata time, ina batch
II. CENTRIFUGAL ANALYSIS
- MAJOR ADV.: batch analysis (e.g. COBAS - Bio by Roche Diagnostics)
II. CENTRIFUGAL ANALYSIS
- Most popular & versatile
III. DISCRETE ANALYSIS
- Separation of each sample & accompanying reagents in a separate container
III. DISCRETE ANALYSIS
- Capability of running multiple tests one sample at a time OR multiple samples one test ata time
- Random access, stat capabilities
III. DISCRETE ANALYSIS