Question

give sone types of organic compounds that can be tested on a gel .

Answer 1

Nucleic acids, Proteins, Carbohydrates and lipids are the 4 main organic compounds. Gel electrophoresis is a technique where molecules can be analysed by separating them based on their size and charge. All organic compounds mentioned above can be separated and analysed by gel electrophoresis. The molecules can be compared to other molecules which is much useful if the size and charge of specific molecules is known.

Gel electrophoresis for Nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA: They are separated by applying electric field so that the negatively charged molecules move through the matrix. Short molecules move faster than that of the longer because shorter ones move faster and thus migrate longer through the pores. This is called as sieving.

Gel electrophoresis for Proteins : Proteins are separated by charge in agarose gel because the pores of the gel are too large to sieve proteins. also they are separated and analysed using SDS page gel electrophoresis.

Gel electrophoresis for Carbohydrates : Polysaccharide analysis is done using carbohydrate gel electrophoresis also called as PACE. PACE depends on derivitization which is conversion of a chemical compound into a derivative. When it is carbohydrate, monosacchride, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides are the compound of interest. These are labelled at the reducing ends with a fluorophore. which allows imaging the gel.

Gel electrophoresis for lipids: lipoprotein gel electrophoresis is done for lipids.