US Patent:
20070209939, Sep 13, 2007
Inventors:
Stephen Haralampu - Belmont MA, US
William Skea - Saco ME, US
Mark Chlenov - Brighton MA, US
Edward Thompson - Hudson NH, US
International Classification:
C07K 1/26
G01N 27/00
Abstract:
A system including apparatus and method of use that insures uniform contact and transfer of analytes from a first dimensional electrophoretic analytical gel to a second dimension, such as an electrophoretic analytical gel, has been developed. The device provides a means for transfer of analytes from a first dimension isoelectric focusing gel to a second dimension electrophoretic analytical gel. In a preferred embodiment, the device facilitates the transfer of protein analytes from a digital proteome chip to a second dimension electrophoretic analytical gel. The second dimension electrophoretic analytical gel can be for use with any technique known in the art, such as, but not limited to SDS-PAGE molecular weight analysis, secondary isoelectric focusing, and capillary electrophoresis. The main features of the system are a mechanical device that locates the first dimension analysis at a fixed and known position in space, and a low density medium that assures uniform electrical contact between the first and second dimension analyses. The advantage of an apparatus that places the first dimension in a known position is that the final data analysis is greatly facilitated by precisely knowing the locations of the first dimension pH features. The medium that assures electrical contact also has the advantage of simplifying the final data analysis by assuring a uniform frame of reference on how the second dimension analysis was run.
