Multiple voltage-gradient gel electrophoresis system

A new device, based on the principle of voltage-gradient gel electrophoresi s, was developed in order to enhance differentiation of the distance across the range of molecular masses in the electrophoretic fractionation of nucl eic acids in an agarose matrix. The apparatus has a series of modular paral lel plates, placed slantwise to allow reiteration of the voltage gradient e ffect along the gel. This subjects DNA fragments of variable length to diff erential runnings according to their original position in the gel. Both the number of slantwise plates and the distance between them can be changed to modify operating performance. Our system allows better fractionations as c ompared to conventional electrophoresis, since it forms gel areas in which distancing between the ranges of molecular masses is enhanced.