Separation of the DNA molecules beyond conventional size limits by gel electrophoresis with sodium dodecyl sulfate

Electrophoretic mobility of DNA through polyacrylamide as well as agarose gels is greatly increased by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). DNA molecules well beyond the conventionally separable size limits are separated readily and rapidly by gel electrophoresis with SDS in a conventional static electric field. Furthermore in optimal concentration gels DNA molecules of similar molecular sizes are separated better from one another in the presence of SDS than without it. Evidence is presented that SDS may act at least in part by altering conformation of DNA. This simple and readily available means for high resolution separation of hitherto impossible sizes of DNA molecules in polyacrylamide and agarose gels in an ordinary static electric field should find general use in molecular genetic analyses. Structural analyses of DNA-protein complexes are also facilitated by virtue of the simultaneous separation of the DNA and protein components on the same gel lane.