What is SDS-PAGE?

SDS-PAGE stands for Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis. It is a laboratory process used for separating the proteins according to their molecular weight.  

SDS-PAGE is based on the principle that charged molecules move towards the electrode with the opposite charge when placed in an electric field. The movement is called migration. The rate of migration depends largely on the size of the protein molecules. The smaller the molecules, the faster they migrate towards the opposite charge because of less resistance during electrophoresis.  

SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) plays an important role in this process. Along with other reducing agents, SDS cleaves the disulphide bonds of proteins, disrupting their tertiary structure and eliminating the influence of protein structure on the rate of migration.    

SDS-PAGE is widely used in genetics, forensics, molecular biology, and biotechnology to separate the protein molecules according to their electrophoretic mobility.