Chemistry: electrical and wave energy – Apparatus – Electrophoretic or electro-osmotic apparatus
Patent
1998-03-18
1999-09-21
Warden, Robert
Chemistry: electrical and wave energy
Apparatus
Electrophoretic or electro-osmotic apparatus
G01N 2726
Patent
active
059549343
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cassette for use in the formation of an electrophoretic gel and more particularly to such a cassette which includes means to assist ill separating and defining individual sample receiving wells at one end of the electrophoretic gel.
BACKGROUND ART
Electrophoretic gels, usually comprising hydrogels such as agarose or polyacrylamide, are used for the separation of nucleic acids, proteins and other macromolecular compounds. The sample to be separated is placed at one end of the gel and a direct electric field is applied between the ends of the gel causing the components of the sample to migrate through the gel at rates dependent upon their molecular size and charge.
A mixture of components to be separated is normally introduced into one of a number of small wells formed in an upper edge of the gel before the electric current is applied. It is usual to run a number of such mixtures simultaneously on an electrophoretic gel in a side by side arrangement. For this purpose one mixture is placed in each of a series of wells formed in the upper edge of the gel.
It is conventional to form electrophoretic gels by juxtaposing a pair of glass plates in a slightly spaced apart side-by-side relationship and filling the space there between with a liquid which can set and form an electrophoretic gel. The side edges of the space between the glass plates are, in this case, sealed with adhesive tape or a similar material, when the gel is poured a comb is placed in the upper end of the space between the glass plates. After the gel has set the comb can be withdrawn leaving in the top of the gel a series of spaced apart wells, each well having been defined by one tooth of the comb. A tongue of gel remains between the glass plates separating a pair of adjacent wells.
In more recent years it has been proposed to pre-form electrophoretic gels in cassettes formed of synthetic plastics materials. The side walls of the cassette are formed with integral means to connect them together along the sides of the cassette. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,465 ribs are provided on the cassette walls to define wells at one end of the cassette. This arrangement has the disadvantage that the walls of the wells interfere with the smooth flow of electric current through the electrophoretic gel.
In the case of pre-formed gels in a cassette, the use of a conventional comb has the disadvantage that upon withdrawal of the comb the tongues of gel may, with time, show an increased tendency to break away from the remainder of the gel. This results in poorly defined wells. Alternatively, if the tongues of gel are left intact upon withdrawal of the comb they may not be firmly adhered to the side wall of the cassette. This means that the tongues may fold over sideways occluding an adjacent well. In either case the smooth and convenient operation of the cassette is inhibited.
The present invention is directed to an alternative arrangement in which the tongues of gel may be maintained in position in the cassette thereby ensuring clear definition of the wells at all times.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In a first aspect, the present invention consists in an improved cassette for use in the formation of an electrophoretic gel comprising two plates with substantially planar walls having two sides and two ends so arranged in a side-by-side, spaced apart array to form a gel receiving space between them, the improvement consisting of a plurality of projections on one or each of the plates, the projections extending into the gel receiving space and the projections being so sized and so spaced apart over the surface of one or each of the plates that when a gel is introduced into the gel receiving space and a well forming comb is inserted into that space, a plurality of spaced wells are formed in the gel, at least some of the wells being separated by a tongue of gel which surrounds and engages at least one of the projections, wherein the projections prevent the tongues of the gel from moving relative to the two plates
REFERENCES:
patent: 5288465 (1994-02-01), Margolis
Proceedings, Annual Technical Conference Proceedings--Society of Vacuum Coaters 1992, Published by Society of Vacuum Coaters, Albuquerque NM, USA, p. 431.
Gradipore Limited
Naguerola Alex
Striker Michael J.
Warden Robert
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