Isolation of human platelet and red blood cell plasma membrane proteins by preparative detergent electrophoresis

High resolution polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic techniques have been applied to the preparative isolation and analysis of plasma membrane proteins and glycoproteins from human platelets and red blood cells. The techniques presented allow relatively simple, direct, rapid and quantitative purification of a broad molecular weight range of membrane proteins, by means of continuous elution preparative gel electrophoresis of protein solubilized with sodium dodecyl sulfate. Spectrophotometric and fluorophotometric (fluorescamine) profiling, and high resolution gel electrophoretic analysis (SDS-acrylamide gradient slab gels, and gel electrofocusing) of eluted protein species indicate that purified membrane proteins of a broad molecular weight range may be obtained in a one step procedure, and in quantities and concentrations sufficient for further analytical or experimental procedures.