Author Introduction A great deal of knowledge can be obtained by observing the behavior of charged molecuels traversing a uniform electric field. To obtain a uniform elcetric field with a constant magnitude and direction over a specified volume of space, two flat metal plates are set up parallel to each other as shown in Fig. 1. When the terminals of a power source with voltage V are connected to these plates, as indicated in the diagram, a uniform electric field E is produced between the plates. Out side of the plates and near the ends, the field is not uniform.
Electrophoresis is the migration of charged molecules like proteins in an electrical field.
The separation of proteins in an electric field is based on the size, shape, and charge. The charges are contributed by the side chains of the amino acids of which the proteins are composed. The charge of the protein depends on the IpH of the protein and the pH of the surrounding buffer. Most electrophoretic methods use a supporting media, such as starch, paper, polycrylamide, or Agarose. The term zone electrophoresis refers to electrophoresis which is carried out in a supporting medium, whereas moving-boundary electrophoresis is carried out entirely in a liquid phase.