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PubMed1979

A rhelogical separator for very large DNA molecules.

We present a rheological separation method for DNA molecules in which their deformability is used to advantage. This is the "radial migration method"; here we present experimental verification of the principle, theory having been reported elsewhere. The main conclusions are: (1) the theory is reasonably good; (2) radial migration is highly sensitive to the molecular weight, as predicted, and (3) intact T2 DNA (1.25 X 108 daltons) can be made to migrate about three centimeters in less than three hours.

Animals↗

PubMed1979

Theory for the separation of very large DNA molecules by radial migration.

The separation of very large biological macromolecules is not presently possible with conventional techniques such as sedimentation and gel electrophoresis. For molecules larger than about 5 x 10(8) daltons, such as chromosomal DNA, it is necessary to develop new separation methods. Herein we describe the principle for a new device which shows promise for separating molecules in this size range, as a function of molecular weight. It is based on the deformability of random coil molecules, and the normal stresses which they generate in a certain class of rheological flows. In particular, when a solution of large DNA molecules (we have used the intact chromosome from phage T2) is contained between two concentric cones, one of which rotates relative to the other, there will be a "radial migration" of the DNA toward the center of the cones. The velocity with which the macromolecules migrate is highly dependent on the molecular weight, and therefore the potential exists for separating these large molecules.

Journal Article↗

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Protein surgery.

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