Two-dimensional electrophoresis apparatus and an electrophoresis

Details Two-dimensional electrophoresis apparatus and an electrophoresis Two-dimensional electrophoresis apparatus and an electrophoresis

1995-06-26

1996-10-08

Gorgos, Kathryn

Chemistry: electrical and wave energy

Apparatus

Electrophoretic or electro-osmotic apparatus

204467, 204616, 204466, G01N 2726

Patent

active

055628133

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a two-dimensional electrophoresis apparatus, more particularly to a two-dimensional electrophoresis apparatus wherein an electrophoresis unit comprising an electrophoresis medium enclosed between two plates is disposed vertically in the electrophoresis apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The apparatus according to the invention has been developed particularly for two-dimensional electrophoresis in the case of DNA characterization (U.S. Pat. No. 5.068.167) but can also be used for two-dimensional electrophoresis of proteins (O'Farrell, PH et al., Journal Biological Chemistry, 250, pp 4007-4021 (1975)). In principle the two-dimensional electrophoresis apparatus according to the invention is suitable for electrophoresis of all kinds of charged materials.
At the moment two-dimensional electrophoresis is for instance applied in genetic studies in which frequently large numbers of samples of individuals must be subjected to electrophoresis under identical conditions. The known two-dimensional electrophoresis of DNA comprises electrophoresis in the first dimension in a gel, whereafter the different gel strips are cut out and placed on a gel for electrophoresis in the second dimension. This procedure is labour-intensive and requires highly trained personnel. Moreover, as a result of the various treatments, artefacts occur (for instance due to stretching or breaking of the gel) which results in a decrease in the reproducibility of the obtained separation patterns.
The present invention has for its object to provide a two-dimensional electrophoresis apparatus which substantially does not have the above stated drawbacks and with which large numbers or electrophoreses of different samples can moreover be performed simultaneously under substantially identical conditions, while handling or preparing of the electrophoresis medium between the first and second dimension electrophoresis is substantially wholly avoided. A substantially horizontal disposition of the electrophoresis unit in the electrophoresis apparatus is furthermore dispensed with since a vertically disposed electrophoresis unit can be sampled more conveniently. It is nevertheless possible according to the invention to leave the construction of the apparatus as simple as possible.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above object is achieved according to the invention with an apparatus for two-dimensional electrophoresis provided with an electrophoresis unit comprising an electrophoresis medium enclosed between two plates in that a first pair and a second pair of compartments for electrophoresis liquid which are provided with electrodes make electrophoretic contact on either side and mutually transversely of each other with the eleotrophoresis medium of the electrophoresis unit, wherein the compartments are disposed and adapted such that the electrophoresis unit assumes a standing position in the apparatus.
Because the electrophoresis unit is disposed substantially vertically, a sample can, after placing of the electrophoresis unit in the apparatus and conditioning thereof, be arranged in the electrophoresis medium via an upper side, whereafter by starting the electrophoresis via the pairs of electrodes electrophoresis can take place successively in the first dimension and the second dimension.
A particularly simple construction of the apparatus according to the invention is obtained when in preference an electrophoresis tank is sub-divided by two dividing walls into two outer compartments forming one of both pairs and a middle compartment which forms with an electrophoresis liquid container to be placed in the apparatus the other pair of compartments. In this case the electrophoresis unit extends into the middle compartment which can be filled partially or for a greater part with electrophoresis liquid. A division can nevertheless be realized with an electrophoresis liquid container to be placed thereabove. It is however noted that a liquid container can be omitted and

REFERENCES:
patent: 4088561 (1978-05-01), Anderson
patent: 4148703 (1979-04-01), Trop et al.
patent: 4693804 (1987-09-01), Serwer
patent: 4915811 (1990-04-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 5080769 (1992-01-01), Fassett et al.
patent: 5108567 (1992-04-01), Kolble

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