Abstract: The method of electrophoresis uses for separation of charged species their different mobilities in an electric field. The process is usually carried out by forcing the molecules to migrate through an aqueous gel. The gels are run in essentially two types of electrophoretic units: vertical and horizontal ones. It was found that in the standard submerged electrophoresis units the resolution of DNA in the poly(NAT) gels was never so good as in the vertical system. It was observed that by looking at the gel from above under an angle declined from the vertical, the viewed DNA bands in the gel were much sharper than they were pictured on the photograph taken by a camera positioned more or less vertically above the gel. On basis of this observation it was assumed that the diffuseness of bands seen on the photograph did not originate from a real diffuseness of bands in the gel, but rather from the vertical position of the camera and bending of the bands against the vertical axis.

Abstract: An acrylic monomer which is an amino sugar alcohol whose primary or secondary amino group has been derivatized by an acryloyl or a methacryloyl function. The amino group can be linked to any carbon of five or six-carbon sugar alcohols. The acrylic monomer has the formula: ##STR1## where R.sub.1 is H, CH.sub.2 OH or (CHOH).sub.m CH.sub.2 OH, m being 1 or 2;R.sub.2 is monohydroxyalkyl, polyhydroxyalkyl or hydrocarbon radical;R.sub.3 is H or CH.sub.3 ; andn is an integer of 1-4The acrylic monomer can be polymerized by a free radical polymerization, either alone or with other compounds and materials having polymerizable double bonds. The so formed polymers are linear or branched (cross-linked). The cross-linked polymers are usually in the form of gels. The gels can be polymerized in different forms and shapes, i.e., beads, thin sheets, rods, blocks, etc. and are useful as separation media, e.g.

Abstract: A novel synthesis of N-acryloyl-tris-(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (NAT) is described. The polymerization kinetics and transparency of the poly(NAT) gels crosslinked by a crosslinker (CL) e.g. N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (Bis), i.e. poly(NAT+Bis) polymer, are shown. Poly(NAT+Bis) gradient (4-24%) gels were prepared and found to resolve native proteins according to their size. The exclusion limit of these gels is over 3.times.10.sup.6 Da. This is more than threefold higher than the exclusion limit of the polyacrylamide gradient gel of the same concentration. Therefore poly(NAT+CL) gels are better than polyacrylamide gels for the resolution of large proteins. It was demonstrated that poly(NAT+CL)-polyacrylamide composite gels could be prepared. The poly(NAT+CL) gels were found to be advantageous also for isoelectric focussing in carrier ampholytes or immobilized pH gradients. Poly(NAT+CL) gels are also very good for separation of nucleic acids.

Abstract: Electrophoresis apparatus for conducting electrophoresis in submerged gels, comprises a plurality of compartments including at least one gel compartment and at least one reservoir compartment; a plate as the bottom of a gel compartment, electrodes only in a gel compartment; the electrodes arranged in such a way that during operation the created electric field is confined essentially within a rectangular box, the said rectangular box defined on sides by side walls or barriers, on top by air and on bottom by the plate; means to circulate buffer; and barriers in a gel compartment mounted on the plate in front of buffer circulation openings.