Gel electrophoresis

Moleceules can be seperated through many different methods. One of them is called gel electrophoresis. Gel electrophoresis is used for purification of proteins. In general, gel electrophoresis is based on the movement of molecules such as RNA and DNA under the electric field applied. The main idea of the seperation is the movement of these molecules through small pores. The electric field created all over the gel, enables the molecules to move from negative to the positive electrodes. Large molecules move slowy and easily be attached to the pores and this prevents them to go further from the one size of the gel to the other. Whereas, small molecules more more rapidly compared to big molecules and they can go more futher than the big molecules do. Hence this mechanism allows the seperation of molecules due to their their sizes.

Berg.J, Tymoczko J., and Stryer L., (2012) Biochemistry, Seventh Edition, New York: WH Freeman