Detection of biomolecules in electrophoresis gels with salts of imidazole and zinc II: A decade of research

Abstract:

The proven ability of gel electrophoresis to simultaneously resolve, in a single experiment, many components from complex biological samples, has determined its preference over a variety of well-established chromatographi methods. Therefore, procedrues placed at the interface between gel separation and microanalysis have earned increasing significance with respect to the overall success of the microanalytical strateg. The first of these procedures is the detection technique. The most important requirement for compatibility wih further analysis o bioapplications is that the staining method does not compromise the chemical integrity and the biological properties of micropurified biomolecules. procedures for negative detection of proteins with metal salts that have been proven to comply with this condition have been known for about 15 years. Only recenly have these procedures been extended to the field of nucleic acids and lipopolysaccharides. The focus of this review is o chronicle the development and curret status of the negative or reverse stain procedure based on the in-gel reaction of imidazole with zinc salts and its applications for the micropurification and analysis of unmodified proteins, nucleic acids and bacterial lipopolysaccharides. We highlight the common aspects in the detection of the three types of iomolecules, and their applications to structural and biological analyses. Emphasis is given on the mechanism underlying imidazole-zinc staining, as it contributes to a deeper understanding of a general detection mechanism with metal salts. Finally, we discuss the latest applications of he techniques in proteomics and their possible impact on the characterization of gel-separated single components from complex lipopolysaccharides.

Año de publicación:

2001

Keywords:

• Gel electrophoresis detection
• lipopolysaccharides
• Nucleic acids
• Review
• Reverse staining
• proteins
• Imidazole zinc staining

Fuente:

scopus