Electrophoresis Units: Boosting Accuracy And Efficiency In Molecular Analysis

Overview

Electrophoresis units are laboratory instruments used to separate and analyze DNA, RNA, and proteins on the basis of size and charge through an electric field, where molecules are able to produce distinct bands for visualization from the differing rates of migration. Electrophoresis units can be used to run gels horizontally or vertically, with rapid gel protocols, as 2D gels, on cellulose acetate, or using denaturing gradients. Along with stand-alone electrophoresis devices, these are offered in combination to be used with a power supply that provides accurate voltage and current to the gel assembly. These are versatile for a variety of research interests and applications in molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry, for example, in mobile applications, DNA sequencing, PCR analysis, protein characterization, and molecular diagnostics.

What are Electrophoresis Units and Why Are They Used?

Electrophoresis units are systems that utilize a gel to separate molecules by applying an electric field. The gel acts like a sieve where small molecules can move through more quickly than larger molecules, producing bands or patterns that can be "stained" with dyes. Gel electrophoresis is not as simple as just a stain; it provides good, quantitative data.

Electrophoresis units can be found in a variety of labs and used for many purposes:

• Genetics & Molecular Biology: DNA fingerprinting, validating PCR, sequencing, and verification of cloning.

• Biochemistry & Proteomics: separation of proteins, isoenzymes, and quality check of purified proteins.

• Clinical Diagnostics: to identify genetic disorders or biomarkers, serum proteins, etc., and many lab-based diagnostic tests.

Researchers make use of gel electrophoresis systems because they provide precision, reproducibility, and flexibility in the same system.

How Electrophoresis Units Function?

An electrophoresis unit consists of three parts:

• Gel Chamber: Can be vertically or horizontally orientated, holds the gel matrix in which the molecules migrate.

• Power Supply: Applies voltage to the gel to create an electric field that will drive the migration of the molecules.

• Sample Wells: Slots where samples can be loaded to provide controlled and organized separation of the molecules.

When power is applied to your system, the molecules in your samples will migrate according to their charge and size. Smaller molecules will migrate faster than larger molecules. When molecules have a similar charge, they will migrate relative to their polarity. After the run, the bands appear in the gel and can be visualized using stains, dyes, or fluorescence.

Currently, many modern systems have rapid gel electrophoresis units or 2D gel electrophoresis units with digital displays, programmable voltage and/or current settings, and safety features that provide ease of use and reproducibility.

Types of Electrophoresis Units

Electrophoresis can be done in many configurations, depending on the focus of the lab research or application. Typical examples of electrophoresis modes are:

• Horizontal Electrophoresis Unit: The horizontal unit is typically recommended for agarose gels for the separation of DNA and RNA.

• Vertical Electrophoresis Unit: The vertical unit is the best unit for the separation of proteins using polyacrylamide gels.

• Vertical Gel Electrophoresis Apparatus: Often used in labs for protein separation and proteomics applications.

• 2D Gel Electrophoresis Unit: The protein separations are based on charge and size (often used in proteomics).

• Cellulose Acetate Membrane Electrophoresis Unit: Used mainly for serum proteins.

• Rapid Electrophoresis Unit: Has standard applications with shortened run times.

• Electrophoresis Power Supplies: Which has controlled voltage and current for highly reproducible and standardized results.

• Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis Unit: Useful for identifying mutations or variations in sequences.

• Horizontal Gel Electrophoresis Units: These are useful in laboratories that utilize agarose gels for DNA/RNA and are more reliable than standard horizontal electrophoresis units.

Each unit has some sort of gel area, volume of buffer, and capacity of samples based on the needs and throughput of the laboratory.

Where Electrophoretic Units Are Used

• Research and Academic Labs: DNA, RNA, and protein analysis are used to conduct research, diagnostics, and/or teaching.

• Clinical and Diagnostic Labs: Protein electrophoresis, etc., are used in serum analysis and for genetic testing to aid in the process of diagnosing disease.

• Biotech and Pharma: Gene expression monitoring, quality control, and protein characterization are used during drug development.

• Industrial Testing Labs: Molecular testing during applications in agriculture, food, or the environment. Ensures product integrity.

Things to Think About Before Buying 

Before selecting an electrophoresis unit, think about:

• Sample Throughput: Select a unit that can adequately handle the sample volume needed, regardless of whether the research project is a small project or a high-volume testing project that uses a lot of samples.

• Gel Size and Type: Ensure that your unit can accommodate the DNA, RNA, or proteins in whichever gel type you need, whether that is agarose gel electrophoresis, polyacrylamide gels, etc.

• Voltage and Current Control: Ideally, for electrophoresis power sources, you'll want to select a power source to your needs and gives you the potential to change the voltage amount used, and this will allow your separation yields to be as accurate as possible.

• Safety Features: Check for some combination of over-current protection, splash mats, and locking lids.

Conclusion:

Labotronics offers a full range of electrophoresis unit options for the separation and analysis of DNA, RNA, and proteins. The product line includes horizontal electrophoresis units, horizontal gel electrophoresis units, vertical electrophoresis units, vertical gel electrophoresis apparatus, 2D gel electrophoresis unit, rapid electrophoresis units, cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis unit, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis unit, and power supply units for all of the above.

The features of the electrophoresis units have common features, which include adjustable comb thickness, multiple sample throughputs, various gel tray sizes, and compatible buffer volumes, which all accommodate specific experimental needs. The typical features of electrophoresis power supplies include adjustable voltage and current output, multiple parallel output terminals, and power ratings that cater to either small-volume or high-throughput laboratory applications.

The standard specifications of Labotronics electrophoresis units include gel tray dimensions from small (48 × 75 mm) to large (245 × 250 mm), buffer volumes from 50 mL up to 3500 mL, and a sample capacity from 1 to 364 samples, depending on the model. The power supply units have specifications from 5 to 10,000 V, 1 to 3,500 µA or mA current ratings, and from 35 W up to 450 W output power ratings for a variety of laboratory applications.

These features promote electrophoresis unit application for use in laboratories for molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, and biotechnology applications, such as DNA sequencing, PCR verification, protein analysis, and DNA fingerprinting applications.

Discover all models, features, and specifications of Labotronics electrophoresis units — click here to find out more.
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