Isoelectric focusing (IEF) systems are used for: the fractionation of complex biological samples in pathway and systems analysis; quantitation of protein effector molecules; elucidation of protein modifications; and sample clean-up for ongoing analysis.
It is used in conjunction with immobilised pH gradients of length 7cm, 13cm, or 18cm for broad range pH3-10, mid-range pH4-7, 6-11, or narrow range with 0.01 pH unit separating power. This can be the first step of 2D electrophoresis and is typically followed by a 2nd dimension using molecular mass to fractionate further (see SDS-PAGE).
Illustrative publications (with DOI Links) involving the GE IPGphor at BMSF:
- Trist BG; Davies KM; Cottam V; Genoud S; Ortega R; Roudeau S; Carmona A; De Silva K; Wasinger V; Lewis SJG; Sachdev PS; Smith B; Troakes C; Vance C; Shaw C; Al-Sarraj S; Ball HJ; Halliday GM; Hare DJ; Double KL, 2017, 'Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-like superoxide dismutase 1 proteinopathy is associated with neuronal loss in Parkinson's disease brain', Acta Neuropathologica, vol. 134, pp. 113 - 127, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00401-017-1726-6
