2-D electrophoresis has the ability to resolve complex mixtures of thousands of proteins simultaneously in a single gel. In the first dimension, proteins are separated by isoelectric point (pI), while in the second dimension, they are separated by molecular weight. Following protein separation, gels are stained for protein visualization and analysis.
Depending on the experiment, requirements for resolution, throughput, and speed may vary. For example, when sample preparation conditions are being developed, speed may be more important than resolution or throughput. Whereas resolution may be more important for analyzing complicated proteomes, throughput may be important when many samples must be run. Bio-Rad addresses these varying requirements by offering choices for all components of the 2-D process, including immobilized pH gradient (IPG) strips, precast gels, and electrophoresis systems that accommodate a range of sample loads and separation areas.
