Microscale PAGE performance improves with
smaller PA gel pore size.
(A) False-color fluorescence micrographs of a 1 mm long PAGE separation
distance for a range of PA gel densities. A purified fluorescently
labeled two-component protein standard was used: TI (magenta signal)
and BSA (blue signal). PAGE was halted when the fastest standard species
reached the separation axis terminus (21 s, 7%T; 20 s, 8%T; 23 s,
9%T; 26 s 10%T). Highlighted circular features indicate 30 μm
diameter microwells. (B) SR improves as gel pore size is reduced.
Box ends indicate 25th and 75th quantiles; line at box middle indicates
median value; whiskers extend to 95% confidence limits; and outliers
marked with “×”. SR in the 10%T PA gel was significantly
higher than that at 9%T PA gel (t test, two tailed, p-value = 2.72 × 10–20). E = 40 V cm–1.