Isoelectric Focusing: A Simple Way to Enhance Your Protein Separation

Mentors at Your Benchside

20-08-2024 • 9 mins

#112 — Isoelectric focusing (IEF) is a powerful technique distinct from the more familiar SDS-PAGE, [1,2] tailored for separating proteins or peptides based on their isoelectric points (pI). [3]

This method capitalizes on the migration of charged molecules through a stable pH gradient until they reach a zone where their net charge is zero, halting their movement.

Essential to setting up an IEF experiment are the IPG strips, equipped with a pH-responsive gel, and the sample, often mixed with carrier ampholytes for efficient migration.

IEF's utility spans various applications, from enhancing 2D-PAGE protein separations to analyzing post-translational modifications and preparing samples for mass spectrometry. [4]

Discover more about how this technique can advance your research and streamline your experimental workflows.

Resources:
1. How SDS-PAGE Works. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/580/how-sds-page-works/
2. Isoelectric Focusing: A Simple Way to Enhance Your Protein Separation. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/26811/isoelectric-focusing-separation-proteins-peptides/
3. The Definitive Guide to pH, pKa, and pI. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/9425/what-is-ph-pka-pi/
4. Detecting Post-Translational Modifications. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/49322/detecting-post-translational-modifications/

You Might Like

StarTalk Radio
StarTalk Radio
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Science Weekly
Science Weekly
The Guardian
The Naked Scientists Podcast
The Naked Scientists Podcast
The Naked Scientists
Farming Today
Farming Today
BBC Radio 4
Curious Cases
Curious Cases
BBC Radio 4
That UFO Podcast
That UFO Podcast
That UFO Podcast
Sasquatch Chronicles
Sasquatch Chronicles
Sasquatch Chronicles - Bigfoot Encounters
Paranormal Mysteries
Paranormal Mysteries
Nic Ryan Media | Unexplained Supernatural Stories
Hidden Brain
Hidden Brain
Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam
Radiolab
Radiolab
WNYC Studios
WEAPONIZED with Jeremy Corbell & George Knapp
WEAPONIZED with Jeremy Corbell & George Knapp
Jeremy Corbell and George Knapp
UAP Unidentified Alien Podcast
UAP Unidentified Alien Podcast
Stephen Diener with Hubbard Podcasts