title: Molecular deformation and free-solution electrophoresis of DNA-uncharged polymer conjugates at high field strengths: theoretical predictions. Part 1: hydrodynamic segregation.
abstract: Recent advancements in DNA sequencing by end-labeled free-solution electrophoresis (ELFSE) show the promise of this novel technique which overcomes the need for a gel by using a label (or drag-tag) to render the free solution mobility of the DNA size-dependent. It is the attachment of an uncharged drag-tag molecule of a set size to various lengths of DNA in the sample that selectively slows down smaller DNA chains which have less force to pull the drag-tag than larger DNA. So far, only globally random coil conformations have been associated with ELFSE, i.e., the DNA and the label together form a single, undeformed hydrodynamic unit. This paper investigates the conditions under which the DNA and label will segregate into two hydrodynamically distinct units, based on a theoretical approach developed for the electrophoresis of polyampholytes. Optimal experimental conditions tailored to the available label sizes and voltages are predicted along with insight into ideal label architecture.
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Laurette C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.forename: Gary W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Slater
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D012996:Solutions; D004247:DNA