title: Simultaneous Ferguson plot analysis, using electrophoresis on a single agarose pore gradient gel, of DNA fragments contained in a mixture.
abstract: A recent study has demonstrated the feasibility of obtaining Ferguson plots in agarose gel electrophoresis, using a single pore gradient gel. We now report three remedies for defects in the previous experimental approach: (i) UV-absorbing media for density stabilization of the gel is avoided by replacing 5-(N-2,3-dihydroxypropylacetamido)-2,4,6-triiodo-N,N'-bis(2,3-dihy droxypropyl) isophthalamide (Nycodenz) with heavy water; this renders the method applicable to ethidium bromide-labeled DNA. (ii) The density stabilizing medium is kept from having an effect on field strength. (iii) Data collection by uninterrupted time-lapse photography is possible by using an apparatus with a quartz window. These three measures make the method practical for the gel electrophoretic identification and physical characterization of DNA species, potentially up to 50 kb in size.
authors.affiliation: Section on Macromolecular Analysis, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gombocz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chrambach
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003903:Deuterium; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel / Q000379:methods*; D010781:Photography / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D003903:Deuterium