Agarose gel electrophoresis
Agarose gel electrophoresis is a method of gel electrophoresis used in biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and clinical chemistry to separate a mixed population of macromolecules such as DNA or RNA.This is achieved by moving negatively charged nucleic acid molecules through an agarose matrix with electrophoresis.
Properties of agarose gel
Agarose gel is a three-dimensional matrix formed of helical agarose molecules in supercoiled bundles that are aggregated into three-dimensional structures with channels and pores through which biomolecules can pass.The 3-D structure is held together with hydrogen bonds and can therefore be disrupted by heating back to a liquid state. The melting temperature is different from the gelling temperature, depending on the sources, agarose gel has a gelling temperature of 35-42 °C and a melting temperature of 85-95 °C. Low-melting and low-gelling agaroses made through chemical modifications are also available.
Advantages and disadvantages of agarose gel electrophoresis
The main benefit of agarose gel electrophoresis technique is that it can be easily processed and the DNA molecule that is used as as sample can also be recovered without any harm to it at the end of the process. Because the agarose gel doesn’t contain sulfate and carboxyl group, it will not cause the electroosmosis of agar. With the uniform structure and big pore size, the agarose gel is good for separating large DNA molecules, such as enzyme complex, nucleic acid and virus. Agarose gel doesn’t absorb UV light, so it can be stained directly or after gelling to be a film, it is thermally reversible as well.
There are also some disadvantages of agarose gel electrophoresis technique. Agarose gel is easily broken, so the density cannot be too lower, it will cost more agarose.The agarose gel is hard to save because it is easy to be contaminated by bacteria, and it should be prepared just before use it. Comparing to PAGE electrophoresis technique, the efficiency of molecular sieve is less, and electrophoresis zone is less.
Horizontal electrophoresis system for agarose gel
Except agarose and buffer, agarose gel electrophoresis experiment needs horizontal electrophoresis system and low-voltage electrophoresis power supply. Beijing Liuyi Biotechnology can offer the horizontal electrophoresis system and electrophoresis power supply, like model DYCP-31BN, DYCP-31CN for horizontal electrophoresis system and DYY-6C for power supply.
Depending on the different gel sizes required by the agrose gel electrophoresis experiment, different sizes of horizontal electrophoresis system can be provided by Beijing Liuyi Biotechnology. The model DYCP-31 series, such as DYCP-31BN, DYCP-31CN, DYCP-31DN, DYCP-31E, DYCP-32B, and DYCP-32C have different sizes of gel tray, from casting mini size gel to massive size gel, they can meet your experimental requirements.
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Post time: Apr-16-2022