How to Determine Protein Size Based on the Gel
During SDS-PAGE, a molecular weight marker—comprising a set of proteins with known molecular weights—is typically loaded into one lane of the gel. After electrophoresis, these standard proteins produce a series of bands, each corresponding to a specific molecular weight.
The sample and the molecular weight marker are run simultaneously in SDS-PAGE. Upon completion of electrophoresis, the migration position of the sample band on the gel is observed and compared with the bands of the adjacent molecular weight marker. By analyzing the relative position between the sample band and the marker bands, the approximate molecular weight of the sample protein can be estimated.
SDS-PAGE provides an estimation of the relative molecular weight of proteins. However, the actual molecular weight may deviate due to specific structural features or post-translational modifications such as glycosylation. For highly accurate determination of protein molecular weight, more advanced techniques such as mass spectrometry may be required.
MtoZ Biolabs, an integrated chromatography and mass spectrometry (MS) services provider.
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