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. 1987 Oct 26;15(20):8387–8398. doi: 10.1093/nar/15.20.8387

Plasmid migration using orthogonal-field-alternation gel electrophoresis.

R C Hightower 1, D W Metge 1, D V Santi 1
PMCID: PMC306366  PMID: 2823228

Abstract

The migration properties of a series of supercoiled plasmids ranging in size from 4 to 16 kilobases (kb) have been analyzed by orthogonal-field-alternation gel electrophoresis (OFAGE). These circular DNAs enter the gel and are well resolved. Unlike linear DNA molecules, the relative mobilities of these plasmids are constant over a wide range of pulse times, from 10 to 120 seconds, as well as over a broad range of total running times, from 6 to 24 hours. Electrophoresis of supercoiled, relaxed, and nicked open circular forms as well as topoisomers of pBR322 shows that the extent of supercoiling has a dramatic effect on plasmid migration on OFAGE. Several practical applications for exploiting the different migration properties of circular and linear DNA molecules on OFAGE are presented.

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Selected References

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