Measurement of binding kinetics using the gel electrophoresis mobility shift assay

The gel electrophoresis mobility shift assay is a technique for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of protein-DNA complexes. The ability to resolve reactants, reaction intermediates and products makes this method particularly well-suited for the measurement of the assembly and dissociation rates of protein-nucleic acid complexes. Here we identify conditions that must be met and variations of the technique that are useful for the measurement of reaction rates.