KWARA STATE UNIVERSITY, MALETE

FACULTY OF PURE AND APPLIED SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY

BCH413: ADVANCED BIOCHEMICAL METHODS AND REASONING (3 UNITS)

TOPIC: APPLICATION OF ELECTROPHORETIC AND CENTRIFUGATION IN

RESEARCH
APPLICATIONS OF ELECTROPHORESIS

Electrophoresis refers to the movement of dispersed or colloidal particles (which are suspended in a
fluid) due to their interactions with an electric field which is spatially uniform. Some important
applications of electrophoresis are listed below.

Table of Contents

• Application of Electrophoresis in DNA Fragmentation and DNA Analysis

• Application of Electrophoresis in Protein Detection
• Application of Electrophoresis in the Testing of Antibodies

Application of Electrophoresis in DNA Fragmentation and DNA Analysis

One of the most important applications of electrophoresis lies in DNA analysis and the study of DNA
fragments. Known for the consistency of the negative charge it holds, DNA (or deoxyribonucleic acid)
is affected by the presence of an electrical current. Under the pressure exerted by an electric field on
it, DNA breaks down into large and small fragments. This occurs because different fragments of the
DNA are affected on different scales by the electric current. Now, a test medium (such as acrylamide
gel or agarose gel) is employed to freeze the separate fragments of the DNA strand. Then, the electric
field is removed and the fragments are studied under relatively high resolutions.

Application of Electrophoresis in Protein Detection

Immunoelectrophoresis, which is a relatively common type of electrophoresis, can be employed in

order to analyze the existence of specific proteins and their chemical behaviour in certain
environments. The formation of irregular protein molecules can be triggered due to several medical
conditions such as kidney failure, multiple sclerosis, and certain types of cancers. These irregular
proteins can be detected with the help of electrophoresis on the blood or urine samples and
subsequently checking the results for any deviations from standard protein amounts and forms.
Immunoelectrophoresis may also be used in order to detect particular proteins that are commonly
referred to as immunoglobulins.

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Application of Electrophoresis in the Testing of Antibodies

Electrophoresis is known to play a variety of important functions during the testing of antibiotics.
Some of the most popular applications of electrophoresis in this field are in the testing of antibiotics
for their purity. Through the application of electrophoresis to a solution which contains the antibiotic
in the form of a paper strip which is impregnated with the antibiotic or a capillary (a tube which has a
very small diameter) that is filled with the drug, the antibiotic can be differentiated from any impurities
that may be present.

Here, electrophoresis is also incredibly useful in the determination of the strength of the antibiotic,
which is of vital importance when it comes to the administration of exact dosages. The field of
antibiotic research shares common ground with the field of genetic testing. Therefore, electrophoresis
may also help in the discovery of genes that can indicate resistance to particular antibiotics.

APPLICATIONS OF CENTRIFUGATION

The process of centrifugation has a wide spectrum of industrial and laboratory-scale applications.
Centrifugation is a technique that can be used to separate the dissolved particles in a solution based on
their density, size, viscosity, or shape. In this technique, a centrifugal force is applied on the solution
in order to separate the highly dense components of the solution from the components that have
relatively low densities. A few important applications of centrifugation are listed below.

What are the Applications of Centrifugation?

• Centrifugation can be employed to separate a mixture of two different miscible liquids.

• This technique can also be used in order to study and analyze macromolecules and their
hydrodynamic properties.
• Mammalian cells can be purified with the help of a special type of centrifuge.
• Centrifugation is known to have a vital role in the fractionation of many subcellular organelles.
Furthermore, centrifugation is also useful in the fractionation of membrane fractions and
membranes.
• Centrifugation also has applications in the fractionation of membrane vesicles.
• Chalk can be separated from water with the help of a centrifuge.
• Skimmed milk is a form of milk that has a lower amount of dissolved fats. Skimmed milk can
be obtained from regular milk with the help of the process of centrifugation. Here, the
centrifuge serves to separate the fat from the milk, leaving the required skimmed milk behind.

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 • Cyclonic separation is an important process that has vital applications in the separation of
particles from air flows.
• Another important application of this technique is in the stabilization and clarification of wine.
• This technique, in combination with other purification techniques, is extremely helpful while
separating proteins. Other techniques that are used include salting out techniques such as
ammonium sulfate precipitation.
• Centrifuges are widely used in the field of forensic chemistry. In this field, the technique is
employed for the separation of blood components from blood samples. Furthermore, the
technique is also employed in certain laboratories for the separation of urine components from
urine samples.
• Differential centrifugation, a distinct type of centrifugation, is known to have applications in
the identification of organelles.

What is the principle of centrifugation?

The technique of centrifugation operates using the concept of sedimentation, where the centrifugal
force causes denser liquids and particles to travel in the radial direction outwards. Around the same
time, objects with relatively low densities are displaced and pushed towards the centre.

List some examples of centrifugation.

Some common examples of centrifugation include:

• The extraction of fat from milk in order to produce skimmed milk.

• The removal of water from moist lettuce with the help of a salad spinner.
• The Spin-drying of water in washing machines in order to remove water from the clothing.
• The separation of solid blood and urine materials into forensic and testing laboratories.

What are the different types of centrifuges?

Some common types of centrifuges include:

• Ultra centrifuges
• Large capacity refrigerated centrifuges
• Zonal rotors
• High speed refrigerated centrifuges
• Small bench centrifuges
• Fixed axle rotors

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Goodluck...........................

Dr. M.A. Alabi

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