The paper present the methodology to design and implement a mechatronic system for gel electrophoresis. It describes the steps towards the development of a prototype and presents its functions. The ...new automated system is characterized by high precision, small size and relatively low cost, thus achieving the introduction of a significant innovation in the area of medical and laboratory measurements.
The present review encompasses ca. 65 years of history of developments in electrokinetic separations, taking as a starting point the year 1937, i.e. the official launching of Tiselius’ moving ...boundary electrophoresis (MBE). The 1950s have been particularly rich in introducing novel methodologies in zone electrophoresis (ZE), thus bringing about the decline of MBE. Among them of extraordinary importance was the development of electrophoresis on agar gels coupled to immuno-diffusion at right angles, which brought a big revolution not only in biochemistry but also in clinical chemistry. Also the by now forgotten paper electrophoresis was a landmark in separation science, in that it implemented, in its “fingerprinting” version, the first genuine two-dimensional (2D) map, coupling orthogonally a charge to a hydrophobic scale separation, while permitting for the first time the detection of spot mutations, i.e. single amino acid replacements in a polypeptide chain, that paved the way to modern genetic analysis. Equally important was the introduction of starch-block electrophoresis, that brought about the notion of sieving and the first discontinuous buffers, refined, in the 1960s, by Ornstein and Davies with their classical papers combining multiphasic buffer systems to polyacrylamide gels, that went down to history as disc-electrophoresis. The 1960s also contributed with two fundamental techniques, isoelectric focusing (IEF) and sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) that permitted to discriminate proteins solely on the basis of surface charge and molecular mass, respectively. The 1970s gave other fundamental contributions, such as isotachophoresis, the first example of a fully instrumental approach to electrophoresis, both in its analytical and preparative version (Tachophor and Tachofrac), 2D maps combining IEF to SDS–PAGE at right angles and silver staining techniques, that incremented sensitivity by 3 orders of magnitude. The 1980s generated immobilized pH gradients and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), two big players that dominated the electrokinetic horizon for all the 1990s and still in vigorous use in present days. The review terminates with a glimpse, in the third millennium, onto microchip technology and hyphenated techniques, notably direct interfacing of various electrophoretic separation methods with mass spectrometry (MS).
•Review of current trends of 2-DE applications in the field of proteomics.•Strengths and shortcomings of 2-DE technique.•Innovative adaptations of 2-DE for alternative applications and future ...prospects.
Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) is a technique that has been widely applied in a variety of proteomics studies. It is capable of resolving complex protein mixtures into individual protein spots based on their isoelectric point and molecular weight, enabling large-scale analysis of protein expression patterns for deciphering their changes in different biological conditions. 2-DE is a powerful tool that empowers researchers to perform differential qualitative and quantitative proteome analysis and is particularly advantageous for characterizing protein isoforms and post-translationally modified proteins. Despite its popularity as the workhorse for proteomics in the past few decades, it has been gradually displaced by the more sophisticated and high-performance mass spectrometry-based methods. However, there are several variations of the 2-DE technique that have emerged as promising approaches that shine new light on specific niches that 2-DE could still contribute. In this review, we first provide an overview of the applications of 2-DE, its merits and pitfalls in the current proteomic research arena, followed by a discussion on several alternative approaches for potential future applications.
The development of capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection for the two‐year period from mid‐2014 to mid‐2016 is covered in this review. This includes a survey of fundamental studies ...and further developments of the measuring technique reported as well as a discussion of new applications. These mostly concern capillary electrophoresis carried out in conventional capillaries as well as on microchip electrophoresis devices. The main focus is on the determination of small non‐UV‐absorbing organic ions and inorganic ions in different types of samples of clinical, nutritional or environmental interest. Outside of electrophoresis contactless conductivity detection is finding uses in detection in column chromatography, flow‐injection analysis and industrial applications.
This review presents recent developments and applications of capillary and microchip electromigration methods in proteomics and peptidomics. Sample preparation methods as well as instrumental ...innovations in the coupling of these advanced electromigration methods with mass spectrometry detection employed in proteomic and peptidomic analyses are presented. Interesting applications of various capillary electromigration methods in bottom‐up as well as top‐down proteomics, including investigation of post‐translational modifications of proteins are described. In addition, several examples of the use of capillary electromigration methods combined with mass spectrometry detection in clinical proteomics and peptidomics are demonstrated.
1-D native electrophoresis is used for the separation of individual proteins, protein complexes, and supercomplexes. Stable and labile protein-protein interactions can be identified depending on ...detergent and buffer conditions. 1-D native gels are immediately applicable for in-gel detection of fluorescent-labeled proteins and for in-gel catalytic activity assays. 1-D native gels and blots are used to determine native mass and oligomeric state of membrane proteins. Protein extracts from 1-D native gels are used for generation of antibodies, for proteomic work, and for advanced structural investigations. 2-D separation of subunits of protein complexes by SDS-PAGE is mostly used for immunological and proteomic studies. Following the discussion of these general features, specific applications of native electrophoresis techniques in various research fields are highlighted: immunological and receptor studies, biogenesis and assembly of membrane protein complexes, protein import into organelles, dynamics of proteasomes, proteome and subproteome investigations, the identification and quantification of mitochondrial alterations in apoptosis, carcinogenesis, and neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and the vast variety of mitochondrial encephalomyopathies.
•ACE and IACE are outstanding techniques to study light and moderate binding.•Literature covered from 2016 to 2018, including immunoaffinity methods.•Data processing and calculations have been ...substantially improved.•Covered applications include proteins, polysaccharides and hormones.
Affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) analyzes noncovalent interactions between ligands and analytes based on changes in their electrophoretic mobility. This technique has been widely used to investigate various biomolecules, mainly proteins, polysaccharides and hormones. ACE is becoming a technique of choice to validate high throughput screening results, since it is very predictively working in realistic and relevant media, e.g. in body fluids. It is highly recommended to incorporate ACE as a powerful analytical tool to properly prepare animal testing and preclinical studies. The interacting molecules can be found free in solution or can be immobilized to a solid support. Thus, ACE is classified in two modes, free solution ACE and immobilized ACE. Every ACE mode has advantages and disadvantages. Each can be used for a variety of applications.
This review covers literature of scopus and SciFinder data base in the period from 2016 until beginning 2018, including the keywords “affinity capillary electrophoresis”, “immunoaffinity capillary electrophoresis”, “immunoassay capillary electrophoresis” and “immunosorbent capillary electrophoresis”. More than 200 articles have been found and 112 have been selected and thoroughly discussed. During this period, the data processing and the underlying calculations in mobility shift ACE (ms ACE), frontal analysis ACE (FA ACE) and plug-plug kinetic capillary electrophoresis (ppKCE) as mostly applied free solution techniques have substantially improved. The range of applications in diverse free solution and immobilized ACE techniques has been considerably broadened.