polyakrylamidegeelit

Polyakrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) is a widely used technique in molecular biology and biochemistry for separating and analyzing macromolecules, primarily proteins and nucleic acids, based on their size and charge. The method involves the use of polyacrylamide gels, which are porous polymer networks formed by the polymerization of acrylamide and bis-acrylamide in an aqueous solution.

In PAGE, the gel is typically cast in a vertical or horizontal slab format and contains a gradient of acrylamide concentration, which allows for the separation of molecules of different sizes. The gel is submerged in a buffer solution and subjected to an electric field, causing the molecules to migrate through the gel matrix towards the anode or cathode, depending on their charge.

The technique is highly versatile and can be adapted for various applications, including the separation of proteins based on their size (SDS-PAGE), isoelectric point (IEF), or post-translational modifications (Western blotting). PAGE is also used for the separation of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, based on their size (agarose gel electrophoresis).

PAGE has numerous applications in research and diagnostics, including the analysis of protein expression, detection of genetic mutations, and characterization of protein-protein interactions. The technique is widely used in academic and industrial settings due to its high resolution, sensitivity, and reproducibility.