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AAT Bioquest

What are the factors affecting the resolution of separation in capillary gel electrophoresis?

Posted May 29, 2024


Answer

One factor is gel concentration. Higher concentrations favor separation of smaller molecules, while lower concentrations enhance separation of larger molecules. Another factor is the voltage and run time. Higher voltages can lead to faster separations but may also cause heating and band distortion. Buffer composition is another factor.  The buffer solution used in capillary gel electrophoresis plays a critical role in regulating the pH of the system. This in turn influences how molecules migrate through the gel matrix. Another factor is the support medium. It possesses an affinity for the molecules in the samples and it can affect the migration rate, leading to decreased separation resolution. 

Additional resources

Factors influencing the resolution and quantitation of oligonucleotides separated by capillary electrophoresis on a gel-filled capillary

Gel Electrophoresis

Gelite™ Green Nucleic Acid Gel Staining Kit