Insights from a new analytical electrophoresis apparatus

Charge is a fundamental property of macromolecules that is inextricably linked to their structure, solubility, stability, and interactions. Progress has been made on the theoretical and structural aspects of these relationships. However, for several reasons, charge is difficult to measure in solution. Consequently, there is a lack of experimental data that, independent of other macro-ion properties, determines the effective charge. To overcome this problem, novel instrumentation and methods are being developed in our laboratory. Described here is an analytical electrophoresis apparatus that permits both the measurement of electrophoretic mobilities and the determination of steady-state electrophoresis concentration distributions. The latter provides a different-perspective on the processes that influence macro-ion behavior in an electric field. In addition, the apparatus permits the determination of diffusion coefficients either from boundary spreading during transport or from the decay of a concentration gradient. All of these determinations can be made with a single, 8-microL sample in a variety of solvents, thus providing unique insights into the charge properties of a macro-ion. Presented here is a progress report about this emerging technology, including the description of a prototype apparatus and examples of its use with a DNA oligonucleotide.