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Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Native Cell Membrane Nanoparticles System for Membrane Protein-Protein Interaction Analysis
Published on: July 16, 2020
Free flow electrophoresis for separation of native membrane protein complexes
Lutz Andreas Eichacker1, Gerhard Weber, Ute Sukop-Köppel
1Center of Organelle Research (CORE), University of Stavanger, Richard Johnsensgate 4, 4036, Stavanger, Norway.
Abstract:
This chapter describes the technology of free flow electrophoresis (FFE) and protocols to separate membrane protein complexes for proteome analysis. FFE is a highly versatile technology applied in the field of protein analysis. It is superior to native PAGE due to its fast continuous processing of sample at high resolution. Additionally, the dynamic separation range from ions, peptides, to proteins, protein complexes, up to organelles, and whole cells makes it the method of choice in the analysis of proteins. FFE is carried out in an aqueous medium without inducing any solid matrix, such as acrylamide, so that it simplifies the analysis of protein complexes for the downstream analysis. Here, we describe the novel zone electrophoresis interval method (IZE-FFE) for separation of protein complexes from the thylakoid membrane of Arabidopsis thaliana by charge only. Protein complexes isolated by IZE FFE were characterized according to molecular weight by Blue Native PAGE and were proteins stained with coomassie.
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