The Perkin-elmer Corporation

David Clark

Binh Vo

Barton G Selby

Johan Goudberg

Munechika Sakabe

Thomas Schefer

The present invention relates to the electrophoretic separation of bio-organic molecules using a slab gel electrophoresis apparatus having a pair of spaced, confronting plates defining a multi-lane separation zone adapted to hold a separation medium and an upper loading zone. In one aspect of the invention, at least one of the plates is shaped to provide an expanded loading zone. The plate-to-plate distance within the expanded loading zone is greater than the plate-to-plate width within the separation zone. In another aspect of the invention, a comb is provided with each tooth having a gradual taper beginning at a support member and extending along most of the tooth's longitudinal axis, and a sharp taper beginning immediately beyond the gradual taper and extending to the end of the tooth. In a related aspect of the invention, a method is provided wherein a comb is inserted into the loading zone so that the teeth penetrate an upper portion of the separation medium, thereby forming a series of fluid-tight, elongate sample-loading apertures of substantially rectangular cross-section having a plate-to-plate width greater than that of the inter-plate distance in the separation zone. Methods of separating biomolecule analytes for optimized resolution and increased base reads are also disclosed.

Electrophoresis method and apparatus for separating bio-organic molecules

The present invention relates to the electrophoretic separation of bio-organic molecules using a slab gel electrophoresis apparatus having a pair of spaced, confronting plates defining a multi-lane separation zone adapted to hold a separation medium and an upper loading zone. In one aspect of the invention, at least one of the plates is shaped to provide an expanded loading zone. The plate-to-plate distance within the expanded loading zone is greater than the plate-to-plate width within the separation zone. In another aspect of the invention, a comb is provided with each tooth having a gradual taper beginning at a support member and extending along most of the tooth's longitudinal axis, and a sharp taper beginning immediately beyond the gradual taper and extending to the end of the tooth. In a related aspect of the invention, a method is provided wherein a comb is inserted into the loading zone so that the teeth penetrate an upper portion of the separation medium, thereby forming a series of fluid-tight, elongate sample-loading apertures of substantially rectangular cross-section having a plate-to-plate width greater than that of the inter-plate distance in the separation zone.

Growing community of inventors

Hayward, CA, United States of America

David Clark