Native protein separations and enzyme microassays by capillary zone and gel electrophoresis

Native protein separations by capillary gel electrophoresis are achieved using linear acrylamide gel matrices. Polyacrylamide gels with a concentration range of 3.5-5% did not exhibit size separations for native proteins with molecular weights from 20,000 to 47,000. The separation of native proteins in gel-filled capillaries is based solely on the charge of the protein as in normal zonal electrophoresis. Retention of protein activity in the acrylamide matrix was demonstrated by performing enzymatic assays in the gel matrix. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and beta-galactosidase assays were conducted in both C18-PF108-modified and polyacrylamide gel-filled capillaries. Enzyme assays were achieved by filling the capillary with an appropriate substrate dissolved in the electrophoresis buffer. The product formed by the reaction of enzyme with substrate was monitored using a standard UV-visible detector. Both constant potential and zero potential modes of analysis were demonstrated. The polyacrylamide gel columns provide the advantages of minimized diffusion and limited band spreading due to the high viscosity of the gel matrix. The lowest detection limit achieved was 5.2 x 10(-20) mol (7.6 x 10(-12) M sample injected) of ALP. The dual enzyme assay of ALP and beta-galactosidase was achieved in gel-filled capillaries simultaneously.