ELECTROFOCUSING Meaning and
Definition
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Electrofocusing is a technique used in biochemistry and molecular biology to separate and concentrate charged molecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids, based on their isoelectric points (pI) along a pH gradient. In electrofocusing, an electric field is applied to a gel or capillary tube containing a pH gradient, allowing the charged molecules to migrate to their isoelectric points.
The isoelectric point is the pH at which a molecule carries no net charge, as the number of positive and negative charges is balanced. When an electric field is applied, charged molecules will migrate towards their respective isoelectric points, where they become immobilized due to the lack of charge necessary for further migration. This results in the formation of sharp, focused bands of molecules at specific positions along the pH gradient.
Electrofocusing is often performed in conjunction with techniques like sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) or two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-GE). After the electrofocusing step, further separation and analysis of the protein or nucleic acid mixture can be performed based on their size or other properties.
This technique is widely used in various fields of research and industrial applications, such as protein analysis, purification, and characterization. It enables the separation of complex mixtures, identification of individual components, and study of protein isoelectric points, while providing high resolution and sensitivity. Electrofocusing has proved to be an essential tool in the study of protein structure-function relationships, protein expression analysis, and biomarker discovery.
Common Misspellings for ELECTROFOCUSING
- wlectrofocusing
- slectrofocusing
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- eleftrofocusing
- eledtrofocusing
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Etymology of ELECTROFOCUSING
The word "electrofocusing" is composed of two parts: "electro" and "focusing".
The prefix "electro-" derives from the Greek word "ēlektron", which means "amber". In ancient Greece, they discovered that when amber was rubbed, it attracted lightweight objects. This phenomenon was later identified as static electricity. Over time, "ēlektron" evolved to "electron", which is now associated with electricity and electrical phenomena.
The term "focusing" originates from the verb "focus" which comes from the Latin word "focus" meaning "hearth" or "fireplace". In the context of optics and physics, "focusing" refers to the process of bringing light or other electromagnetic radiation to a central point.
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