Difference between vertical and horizontal gel Electrophoresis Systems

 

A gel electrophoresis is an effective system that runs important DNA and RNA samples. We would like to explain the difference between horizontal and vertical electrophoresis systems. Both systems follow a similar theory of gel electrophoresis; However, there are some key differences between them.

During the study of protein and nucleic acid, the requirement of running a sample through a vertical gel electrophoresis system or a horizontal gel electrophoresis system is what makes this equipment so important. The running of the samples for separating your protein, DNA, and RNA of interest from a mixture is one of the most effective methods. As a result, this method is used in most of the mining and food sciences applications, and life science.

How Does a Gel Electrophoresis Work?

The requirement of separating the nucleic acid or proteins interest this very method is called gel electrophoresis.  The samples are run through a gel apparatus that has a cathode on one end, an anode on the other, and a platform that holds a porous gel matrix in the middle. When an electric current is applied, the proper buffer is added to produce a charge gradient. Additionally, the buffer aids in keeping the gel cold and stops it from overheating because the gel can become hot when a charge is applied.

Understand the Differences between Horizontal vs. Vertical Electrophoresis

There are essentially two different forms of gel electrophoresis that you can utilize for your application: horizontal gel electrophoresis and vertical gel electrophoresis. While all techniques adhere to the same gel electrophoresis theory, there are several significant variances between them. When should you choose one of these systems over the other? How do they differ? Let’s find out

Orientation and Buffer System

Their direction is one of the main distinctions between the two systems. As opposed to vertical gel electrophoresis, where the gel matrix is vertically oriented and immersed in a discontinuous buffer solution, horizontal gel electrophoresis involves casting the gel matrix horizontally.

The cathode is located in the top chamber of the vertical gel system, and the anode is located in the bottom chamber. Electrodes inside of both chambers produce the appropriate electric field. Next, some gel is added between two mounted glass plates so that the lower portion of the gel is submerged in one chamber of the buffer and the upper portion is submerged in another chamber of the buffer. A small quantity of buffer travels through the gel and down the chamber when an electric current is applied.

You can fully manage voltage gradients throughout the separation process since the buffer only passes through the gel. This implies that while using the vertical electrophoresis method, you may anticipate a more effective separation and improved resolution.

Gel

Agarose gel is used in horizontal gel electrophoresis and acrylamide gel is used in vertical gel electrophoresis. Agarose gels have holes that are bigger (100 to 500 nm in size), while acrylamide gels have pores that are smaller (10 to 200 nm in diameter). Since horizontal gel electrophoresis exposes the gel to ambient oxygen, acrylamide cannot be utilized in this procedure.

Oxygen prevents acrylamide from polymerizing and prevents the gel from forming. However, since the buffer only runs through the gel and the separate compartments are not exposed to ambient oxygen, you are allowed to employ acrylamide gel in vertical gel electrophoresis.

If you want to learn everything there is to know about a Vertical Gel Electrophoresis System, get in touch with IGene Labserve by going to https://www.igenels.com   or dial 09310696848 to know more about our product.