Cellulose acetate electrophoresis is a technique used for the separation and analysis of proteins and other charged biological molecules based on their migration through a cellulose acetate gel under the influence of an electric field. It is a form of capillary electrophoresis, a powerful method widely employed in biochemistry, molecular biology, and clinical diagnostics.
In cellulose acetate electrophoresis, a cellulose acetate strip or gel is soaked in a buffer solution and placed between two electrodes. Due to their charge, proteins and other charged molecules are attracted to the oppositely charged electrode, and their migration through the gel is determined by both their net charge and molecular weight. Smaller, less charged molecules migrate faster and travel further through the gel, while larger, more charged molecules migrate slower and remain closer to the starting point.
By applying an electric current for a specific duration, separated bands or zones corresponding to different proteins form along the strip or gel. These bands can be visualized using various staining methods or by assessing enzymatic or immunological reactions. Thus, cellulose acetate electrophoresis allows for qualitative and quantitative analysis of proteins, identification of protein variants or isoforms, and determination of protein purity.
Cellulose acetate electrophoresis has found extensive applications in research laboratories, clinical laboratories, and forensic science. It is particularly valuable in diagnosing certain diseases, such as beta-thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies, by analyzing different hemoglobin fractions.
