How does electrophoretic transfer work?

During the electrophoretic transfer process, the membrane and gel are sandwiched together with filter paper and placed between two electrodes. An electric voltage is applied across the electrodes, causing proteins to migrate from the gel to the membrane along the direction of the electric current. The strength of the electric field (measured in volts per centimeter (V/cm) determines the transfer rate. Both the voltage applied and the distance between the electrodes are critical factors determining how quickly proteins elute from the gel. It's crucial to optimize transfer conditions for proteins of varying molecular weights to avoid incomplete transfer or excessive loss of proteins.