Rapid determination of protein molecular weight by the Ferguson method and multiplexed capillary electrophoresis

A method based on the use of the Ferguson method and multiplexed sodium dodecyl sulfate-capillary gel electrophoresis (SDS-CGE) with UV detection was demonstrated for the rapid determination of molecular weights of proteins. The method employs a capillary array where different uncoated capillaries are filled with gel buffers containing different concentrations of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). All data required to construct Ferguson plots and universal calibration curves for the determination of the molecular weights of diverse types of proteins are generated simultaneously in an eight-capillary array within 20 min.