Agarose Gel Electrophoresis

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Agarose gel electrophoresis

A form of electrophoresis used for the separation of macromolecules, such as DNA fragments, in an agarose matrix.

Chelating agent

A chemical compound that reacts with metal ions to form stable, water-soluble metal complexes.

Denaturing agarose gels

Agarose gels run under conditions that disrupt the natural structure of DNA, RNA or proteins, causing them to unfold.

Deprotonation

Removal of a proton (H+).

DNA ladder/marker ladder

A solution of DNA fragments of known sizes that can be used to extrapolate the sizes of fragments in unknown samples.

Electrical separation

The separation of biomolecules, such as DNA, RNA or proteins, according to their size and/or charge using electrical current.

Electrophoresis

A technique that uses electrical current to separate DNA, RNA or proteins based on their physical properties such as size and charge.

Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA)

Also called gel shift assays, EMSAs are an electrophoresis-based technique used to detect interactions between proteins and nucleic acids.

Gel electrophoresis machine

Equipment used to perform gel electrophoresis that normally consists of a gel tank and power pack with connecting electrodes.

Intercalating dye

Dyes that bind double stranded DNA, enabling them to be visualized under UV light.

Loading dye

A dye used to prepare DNA ladders and samples for electrophoresis that enables them to be seen with the naked eye and increases their density to prevent dispersion.

Mutagen

A chemical or physical phenomenon that promotes errors in DNA replication.

Native agarose gels

Agarose gels run under conditions that allow the preservation of the natural structure of biomolecules such as DNA, RNA or proteins.

Northern blot

A technique used to detect specific RNA sequences in a sample that employs electrophoresis for sample separation.

Nucleases

Enzymes that cleave nucleic acids such as DNA or RNA.

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

A form of electrophoresis used for the separation of macromolecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins, in a polymerized acrylamide matrix.

Restriction digestion

A process that uses enzymes to cut DNA at specific sites according to the surrounding DNA sequence.

Running buffer

The buffer used to fill the tank in which the gel is immersed and will be run. It helps to maintain stable conditions.

Secondary structure

The 3D structure adopted by a polypeptide or polynucleotide resulting from electrostatic attractions between neighboring residues.

Southern blot

A technique used to detect specific DNA sequences in a sample that employs electrophoresis for sample separation.

Transcription factors

Proteins involved in the process of converting, or transcribing, DNA into RNA.