Capillary Electrophoresis CE

Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) is an electrophoretic technique in which separation of molecules is achieved by their different electrophoretic mobility in a narrow-bore capillary tube filled with an electrolyte. CE is a powerful separation technique that has been used for a variety of applications, including DNA sequencing, protein analysis, and药物 discovery. It is faster and uses less sample than many other electrophoretic techniques.

Principle of CE

CE is based on the principle of electrophoresis, which is the migration of charged molecules through an electric field. In CE, a voltage is applied across a capillary tube filled with an electrolyte to create an electric field. The sample is injected into the capillary tube, and the molecules in the sample migrate through the electric field. The rate of migration depends on the net charge of the molecule, the size of the molecule and the strength of the electric field. Smaller molecules migrate faster than larger molecules and highly charged molecules migrate faster than molecules with a lower charge.

Applications of CE

CE has been used for a wide variety of applications, including:

  • DNA sequencing: CE was one of the first techniques used for DNA sequencing, and it is still widely used today. CE is able to sequence DNA fragments up to 1,000 nucleotides in length.
  • Protein analysis: CE can be used to separate and analyze proteins based on their size, charge, and isoelectric point. CE is able to separate proteins that are difficult to separate by other methods.
  • Drug discovery: CE can be used to screen potential drug candidates for their ability to bind to specific targets.

Advantages of CE

CE has several advantages over other electrophoretic techniques, including:

  • Speed: CE is a very fast technique, and it can be used to separate molecules in a matter of minutes or even seconds.
  • Sample size: CE requires only a small sample size, typically less than 1 microliter. This makes CE ideal for analyzing samples that are limited in quantity.
  • Versatility: CE can be used to separate a wide variety of molecules, including DNA, proteins, and small molecules. CE can also be used to perform a variety of different types of analyses, including qualitative and quantitative analysis.