title: Use of a bilayer stacking gel to improve resolution of lipopolysaccharides and lipooligosaccharides in polyacrylamide gels.
abstract: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipooligosaccharide (LOS) are important antigenic and integral components of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Alteration or heterogeneity of LPS/LOS structure is most often assessed by alteration of electrophoretic band profiles using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). In order to discern minor differences in the electrophoretic profile of closely spaced bands, particularly the low molecular weight bands of LOS, optimum resolution is required. Unfortunately, many publications of LPS/LOS in polyacrylamide gels show a diffuse, smeared pattern without discernible bands. We report here a formulation for polyacrylamide gels that reproducibly yields LPS/LOS bands with sharp resolution. A key feature of this formulation is the use of a separate comb gel containing electrode buffer layered on top of the conventional stacking gel.
authors.affiliation: Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061, USA. tinzana@vt.edu
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Inzana
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Apicella
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / Q000379:methods*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C023023:lipid-linked oligosaccharides; C016680:polyacrylamide gels