Protocol

SDS-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis of Proteins

This protocol was adapted from "Commonly Used Techniques in Molecular Cloning," Appendix 8, in Molecular Cloning, Volume 3, 3rd edition (eds. Sambrook and Russell). Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA, 2001.

INTRODUCTION

This protocol describes the separation of proteins by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. SDS is used with a reducing agent and heat to dissociate the proteins. SDS-polypeptide complexes form and migrate through the gels according to the size of the polypeptide. By using markers of known molecular weight, the molecular weight of the polypeptide chain(s) can be estimated.