Question

In capillary gel electrochromatography. a) what is the source of solute movement through the capillary? b) what drawbacks does this technique have? c) what are the advantages of this technique?

Answer 1

(a)  electrical field, is the source of solute movement through the capillary.

Its ability to separate molecules accurately and consistently relies on a constant field strength across the capillary and the pH of the buffer solution and then ultimately on the charge/mass ratio of the molecules.

(b)

Drawbacks:
Toxicity. DNA visualization uses dyes like Ethidium Bromide which chelate DNA and is a known carcinogen. Although some safer alternatives are becoming available (SYBR Safe). Polyacrylamide, used as a matrix in protein gels is also a known neurotoxin.

Accuracy. Unless you're going to use densitometry to measure the density of each protein or DNA band, Gels can't really give you an accurate idea of the concentration or abundancy of your protein or DNA.

(c)

Advantages of Gel electrophoresis:
Cheap. It doesn't cost much to obtain agarose or poly-acrylamide.

Quick. Depending on what you're looking, it could take an hour to get your results. Unless you're doing blots, which take a little longer, perhaps a day or two, depending.