IMPROVED ELECTROPHORETIC GEL FOR SEPARATING ISOENZYMES.
Background of the Invention
1. Field of the Invention
The instant invention pertains to an electrophoretic technique for separating isoenzymes and to an electrophoretic gel for use therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electrophoretic techniques for separating isoenzymes and electrophoretic gels for use therein are well known to those skilled in the art. Cawley, Electroohoresis and Immunoelectrophoresis, Little, Brown and Company, Boston, Mass. (1969). In general, electrophoretic gels employed for separating isoenzymes are of the type comprising a polysaccharide. A buffer is also commonly present in these electrophoretic gels.
Typical polysaccharides employed in prior art electrophoretic gels include, but are not limited to, starch, cellulose acetate, agar, agarose, and combinations thereof.
Typical buffers employed in prior art electrophoretic gels include, but are not limited to, the buffers which are set forth in Table I of Cawley, supra, pp. 331-332.
One problem present in a basic prior art electrophoretic technique for separating isoenzymes is that the electrophoretic gel employed therein has a relatively poor shelf life.
Accordingly, it would be very desirable to have an electrophoretic gel for use in the electrophoretic separation of isoenzymes which possesses an improved shelf life.
Summary of the Invention
In accordance with the present invention there is provided an improved electrophoretic gel having an improved shelf life. The electrophoretic gel of this invention is of the type comprising a polysaccharide. The improved electrophoretic gel of the instant invention is characterized in that it further comprises a stabilizing amount of an alkylpolyol having 2-6 carbon atoms and 2-4 hydroxyl groups. The alkyl polyol when incorporated into the electrophoretic gel enables one to obtain a resulting product having an improved shelf life. Still other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Alkylpolyols capable of use in the instant invention include, but are not limited to, ethylene
glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, glycerol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2,3- butanediol, 1,2,3-butanetriol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, erythritol, pentaerythritol, and pinacol. Preferably, the alkylpolyol is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol and propanediol.
Polysaccharides which can preferably be employed in the electrophoretic gel of the instant invention are agar and agarose. The agarose can be either low electroendosmosis agarose, medium electroendosmosis, or high electroendosmosis agarose. More preferably, the polysaccharide employed in the electrophoretic gel of the instant invention is high electroendosmosis agarose.
The electrophoretic gel of the instant invention can optionally further comprise an antimicrobial agent. Typical antimicrobial agents include, but are not limited to, antibiotics, halogenated organic compounds, and inorganic compounds. One readily available antimicrobial agent capable of use herein is sodium azide.
The exact concentrations of the various constituents employed in the electrophoretic gel of the present invention are not critical. However, the electrophoretic gel of the instant invention preferably comprises from about 0.1 to about 15, more preferably from about 1 to about 10, and optimally from about 3 to about 7 percent volume/volume of the alkylpolyol.
The electrophoretic gels of the instant invention can be prepared via any technique well known to those skilled in the art. See, for example, Cawley, supra. In general, the gel solution is prepared by mixing the various ingredients present therein while heating the mixture to a temperature of about 80 to about 100°C. The electrophoretic gel can be prepared by either standard molding or casting techniques. The gels can be stored at any convenient temperature, for example from about 2° to about 40°C , preferably from about 15° to about 26°C. It is preferred to store the electrophoretic gels in sealed, plastic trays until ready for use.
Samples can be applied to the electrophoretic gels of the instant invention via any technique used in the prior art, e.g., via a microliter syringe. The electrophoretic gels can be electrophoresed at 100 volts for 20 minutes. The gels are next incubated at an appropriate temperature, e.g., room temperature to aboμt 50°C, for a convenient period of time, e.g., for up to about two hours, with any known substrate capable of reacting with the isoenzymes being assayed therein. If desired, the gels can be either fixed or rinsed in an appropriate solution. In addition, the gels can optionally be dried at about 80 to about 90°C.
The following examples are provided for the purpose of further illustraton only and are not intended to be limitations on the disclosed invention.
Example 1 Electrophoretic gels having the formulations set forth in Table I were cast onto a plastic backing. These electrophoretic gels were then placed in plastic trays, covered with a plastic lid, and sealed in moisture impermeable plastic bags. The sealed gels were next stored at the temperatures noted in Table II and were examined at periodic intervals for weight loss and electrophoretic functionality. The results of the weight loss tests are summarized in Table II.
TABLE I
Gel Gel
Within Scope Outside Scope
Ingredient of Invention of Invention HE Agarose, X X
1% w/v Arabic Acid, X X
1% w/v Sodium Azide, X X
0.1% w/v Ethylene Glycol, X
5% v/v
0.05M Barbital Buffer X X
*Each formulated electrophoretic gel had an initial weight of from about 4.45 to about 4.70g.
TABLE II
Weight Loss
Gel Gels Within Scope of Invention Gels Outside Scope of Invention
Age, Temperature, °C. Temperature, °C.
Days 4 25 37 50 .70 4 25 37 50 70
1 0/2* 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2
8 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 1/2 2/2 0/2 0/2 4/4 2/2
15 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/4 0/2 2/3 0/2 0/2 5/6 2/2
22 0/2 0/2 0/2 1/2 2/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 2/2 3/3
23 N/R** N/R N/R 0/2 N/R N/R N/R N/R 1/2 N/R
29 0/2 0/2 0/2 2/2 N/R 0/2 0/2 0/2 N/R N/R
30 N/R N/R N/R 0/2 N/R N/R N/R N/R 2/2 N/R
37 N/R N/R N/R 0/2 N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R
A3 0/2 0/2 0/2 N/R N/R 1/2 0/2 0/2 N/R N/R
50 0/2 0/2 0/2 N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R
51 N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R 0/2 0/2 0/2 N/R N/R
57 0/2 0/2 0/2 N/R N/R 1/3 0/2 0/2 N/R N/R
64 1/2 0/2 0/2 N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R
Failures/ 1/18 0/18 0/18 3/18 3/8 6/18 0/16 0/16 14/18 7/9
Total
Tested
%Failures 6 0 0 16.7 37.5 33.3 0 0 77.7 77.8
*Failures/Number Tested **N/R denotes "Not Run"
Example 2 Electrophoretic gels having the formulations set forth in Table III were cast onto a plastic backing. These electrophoretic gels were then placed in plastic trays, covered with a plastic lid, and sealed in moisture impermeable plastic bags. The sealed gels were next stored at the temperatures noted in Table IV and were examined at periodic intervals for weight loss and electrophoretic functionality. The results of the weight loss tests are summarized in Table IV.
TABLE III*
Gels Gels Within Scope Outside Scope
Ingredient of Invention of Invention
ME Agarose, X X
1% w/v
Sodium Azide, X X
0.1% w/v
Ethylene Glycol, X
5% v/v
Tis, 0.765% v/v X X
EDTA, 0.045% w/v X X
Boric Acid, X X
0.240% w/v
*Each formulated electrophoretic gel had an initial weight of from about 4.35 to.about 4.65g.
TABLE IV
Weight Loss
Gel. Gels Within Scope of Invention Gels Outside : Scope of Invention
Age, Tempisrature, °C. Temperature, °C.
Days 4 25 37 4 25 37
1 N/R* N/R N/R 0/2 0/2 0/2
3 0/1** 0/1 0/1 N/R N/R N/R
5 0/1 0/1 0/1 N/R N/R N/R
8 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/2 0/2 0/2
10 0/1 0/1 0/1 N/R N/R N/R
12 0/1 0/1 0/1 N/R N/R N/R
15 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/2 0/2 0/2
17 0/1 0/1 0/1 N/R N/R N/R
19 0/1 0/1 0/1 N/R N/R N/R
22 0/1 0/1 0/2 1/2 1/2 2/2
24 0/1 0/1 0/1 N/R N/R N/R
26 0/1 0/1 N/R N/R N/R N/R
29 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/2 0/2 0/2
32 0/1 0/1 N/R N/R N/R N/R
36 0/1 0/1 N/R 1/2 0/2 0/2
39 0/1 0/1 N/R N/R N/R N/R
43 0/1 0/1 N/R 2/2 0/2 0/2
46 1/1 1/1 N/R N/R N/R N/R
50 1/1 0/1 N/R 2/2 0/2 0/2
53 0/1 0/1 N/R N/R N/R N/R
57 0/1 0/1 N/R 2/2 0/2 1/2
64 0/1 0/1 N/R 2/2 0/2 0/2
Failures/
Total 2/21 1/21 0/12 10/20 1/20 3/20
Tested
%Faillures 9.5 4.8 0 50 5 15
*N/R denotes "Not Run" **Fai Llures/Number Tested
The data set forth in Tables II and IV show that gels within the scope of the instant invention, i.e., electrophoretic gels comprising a polysaccharide and a stabilizing amount of an alkylpolyol having 2-6 carbon atoms and 2-4 hydroxyl groups, are able to better maintain their weight over a period of time at various storage temperatures than corresponding gels devoid of the alkylpolyol. In other words, the data set forth in Tables II and IV indicate that the incorporation of an alkylpolyol into a polysaccharide matrix tends to prevent the collapse of the polysaccharidewater structure and the resulting weight loss due to the exodus of the water therefrom.
Based on this disclosure, many other modifications and ramifications will naturally suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. These are intended to be comprehended as within the scope of this invention.