Practical knowledge Flashcards
What data can be extracted from a 1D SDS-PAGE?
• SDS-Page- separates proteins in the dimension of mass
o The intensity of bands on the gel are linked to the abundance of that protein
Why is 2D gel electrophoresis (2-DGE) preferential to a 1D SDS-PAGE?
• 2D gel electrophoresis has higher resolution than SDS-Page
Can further visualise how many proteins are in the sample
What is the purpose of a 2-DGE gel?
• 2-DGE separates individual proteins from a complex mixture in a single experiment
What is the first dimension (x axis) of a 2-DGE gel and what is the purpose of this dimension?
• First dimension (x axis) is isoelectric focusing (IEF)
o Separates by charge
Describe what the isoelectric focusing (IEF) dimension of a 2-DGE gel is composed of, how it works and how the results in this dimension are interpreted.
o Uses immobilised pH gradients
Acidic proteins are on the left
Basic proteins are on the right
o When electric current is added, proteins migrate toward the pH point at which they have no net charge (their pl)
Proteins are positively charged when at pH values below their pl and negatively charged when at pH values above their pI
Once proteins have reached their pI, they can no longer move
What is the second dimension (y axis) of a 2-DGE gel and what is the purpose of this dimension?
• Second dimension is sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE)
o Separates by mass
How are the results in the second dimension of the 2-DGE gel interpreted?
High mass is at the top
Low mass is at the bottom
Describe what data can be extracted from a 2-DGE gel
- Protein charge
- Protein mass
- Protein abundance (density of spots)
- Approximation of number of types of protein in sample
Why are 2-DGE gels clinically important?
• Proteins are an important tool for clinical diagnosis in samples that do not contain DNA
o E.g. blood, plasma, CSF, urine and ascites
What is the most crucial step for a 2-DGE and why?
• Most crucial step for a 2-DGE is sample preparation
o Unlike nucleic acid, protein extraction is sample dependent
o Each sample contains a complex mixture of proteins with different abundances, chemical and physical properties
o Method of extraction of proteins out of cells is sample dependent
o Need a pure sample only containing proteins as any other molecule can interfere with the 2-DGE process
How is a protein sample prepared for a 2-DGE?
o Proteins need to be extracted from cells/tissues and solubilised in buffer compatible with isoelectric focusing
o Remove insoluble and interfering material (sugar, lipids, DNA, RNA…)
Centrifugation steps and DNAse
o Sub-fractionation
Look at different parts of the proteome
What is contained in the buffer in which proteins extracted from cells/tissues are solubilised in for preparation for a 2-DGE?
Chaotropes Zwitterionic detergents Reducing agents Protease inhibitors (optional) Carrier ampholytes (pH buffer)
What are chaotropes used for during sample preparation for a 2-DGE and what is an example of chaotropes used for this purpose?
Chaotropes (unfolds proteins by disrupting hydrogen bonds)
• Can be urea (6 Molar)
• Need to unfold tertiary structure so that proteins may be separated according to charge
What are zwitterionic detergents used for during sample preparation for a 2-DGE and what is an example of zwitterionic detergents used for this purpose?
Zwitterionic detergents
• Need detergents with no net charge
• Cannot use SDS due to its negative charge, which will interfere with protein separation during 2-DGE sample preparation
• Examples include CHAPS, sulfur butane-14, sulfur butaine-3 to 10
• Used to solubilise the proteins and protect their native state without altering their charge
What are reducing agents used for during sample preparation for a 2-DGE and what is an example of reducing agent used for this purpose?
Reducing agents
• To remove disulfide bonds to further unfold proteins
• Examples: DTT, TBP
What are protease inhibitors used for during sample preparation for a 2-DGE and what is an example of protein inhibitor used for this purpose?
Protease inhibitors (optional)
• Extracting proteins from cells can instigate death processes in the cell
o Proteases are produced in high quantity in dead/dying cells to degrade/recycle proteins
• However, add strong chaotropes and zwitterionic detergents quickly, death processes are not triggered and this step is not necessary
• Example: PMSF
How is the first dimension of the 2-DGE gel prepared?
o Immobilised pH gradients
Buffering molecules are covalently bonded into the polyacrylamide matrix as it is cast
• Uses well-characterised acrylamido buffers
• Single acidic or basic buffering group linked to an acrylamide monomer and distributed evenly to create a pH gradient
Describe how the structure of the acrylamide matrix allows for mass sorting in 2-DGE gels
o Pore size dictates the migration rate of the proteins
The bigger the pore size, the faster the proteins can move through
o Gels can be fixed percentage or gradients
o Proteins migrate until they cannot pass through the pores of the acrylamide matrix
Get trapped in the matrix
o Higher mass proteins migrate more slowly and less downwards, the smaller mass proteins migrate more quickly and more downwards
What determines pore size in a polyacrylamide gel?
o Pore size determined by the amount of acrylamide (monomer) (%T) present and the amount of bisarylaminde (cross-linker) (%C)
What are the dimensions of a 2-DGE IPG strip?
The IPG strip is approximately 0.5cm thick and 7-24 cm in length
Are IPG strips dehydrated or hydrated when first delivered?
dehydrated- they need to be rehydrated
What is the relationship between IPG strip length and resolution?
• The shorter the strip, the less resolution
How is the resolution of a 2-DGE gel determined?
o Resolution= strip length (cm)/number of pH units
When is a large pH range IPG strip appropriate in a 2-DGE gel?
• Large ranges are useful to visualise a large amount of the proteome
When is a narrow pH range IPG strip appropriate in a 2-DGE gel?
• Narrow ranges are useful to determine slight changes in post-translational modifications