Matteo: SDS not only serves as a surfactant but also as a strong anions (negatively charged sulfates) wrapping almost all physiological proteins, which will migrate toward the cathode according to their sizes in the gel matrix and electric field. So, there are other charged surfactants used in PAGE, but the migration positions of proteins are based both on charges and sizes, and thus are considered as "native gel electrophoresis". Such a system has its unique property of preserving but NOT denaturing some biologically active proteins for down-stream uses.
The proteins subjected to SDS-PAGE are denatured and broken into simpler and linear units. All the linear units irrespective of their molecular weights are then uniformly coated with anions (SDS being negatively charged) and migrate towards the cathode under the electric field. Thus the separation of the protein sub-units occur purely based on their molecular weight as at this point of time all the proteins are having same charge to mass ratio.
Thus SDS is the most important ingredient in reducing type of electrophoresis. Moreover SDS is very easily available surfactant.
Please specify the need of choosing any alternative option
I know about the effect of SDS on proteins but i would know if there is some other similar reagent with a shorter carbon chain. Thanks for replying me
Deoxycholate and cholate fall in this category even though they do not contain a charged headgroup. Their polar groups are distributed in different parts of the chains. They are used to solubilize membranes.But I never try to do an gel with taht.
Good luck
Try with Sodium Octyl Sulfate (a SIGMA-Aldrich product); even if I never used it, this surfactant should satisfy your requirements....
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