title: A thin-layer multistrip agarose gel electrophoresis apparatus for Ferguson plot analysis at the sub-microgram load level.
abstract: A method for the simultaneous horizontal agarose gel electrophoresis on thin-layer strips of different gel concentrations was developed for the purpose of generating Ferguson plots at the sub-microgram load level. Seven independent gel strips on a common GelBond support were formed by filling channels created by a comb-shaped spacer (polycarbonate) in a vertical multistrip cassette. Electrophoresis on a horizontal Peltier-cooled surface employed commercial apparatus (E-C Apparatus Corp.) with a modified cover which is airtight and holds anodic and cathodic voltage measurement probes for each strip. The application of the apparatus to Ferguson plot analysis in a single experiment was exemplified on the RNA-containing turnip crinkle virus (TCV) at a load of 50 ng/gel strip, using an optimized silver staining method (a modification of a procedure of FMC Corp. BioProducts) for detection. Within the range of 3.5 to 12.5 V/cm, the plot was found to be independent of field strength. Mobility is also independent of the concentration of detergent (CHAPS) up to 10 mM.
authors: Laboratory of Theoretical and Physical Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Orbàn
authors: J V
authors: JV
authors: Sullivan
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Chrambach
mesh_terms: D004586:Electrophoresis; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008832:Microchemistry
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents