SDS-PAGE
Have you ever played with play-doh and tried to separate different colors? SDS-PAGE works a little bit like that. You see, it's important for scientists to be able to separate and identify different proteins in a solution. The solution is like a big ball of play-doh made up of different colors (proteins). So, they use something called SDS-PAGE.
First, they'll take the solution and put it into a little well (imagine a little pool) at the top of a jello-like slab made out of a material called polyacrylamide. The proteins will sink down into the slab and spread out.
Next, they'll run a tiny electric current through the slab. This will start to pull the different proteins through the slab like they're on a little conveyor belt. But, to help make things easier, the scientists will add something called SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) to the slab. This is like a special soap that sticks to the proteins and helps to arrange them into long, straight lines.
As the proteins move through the slab, they will start to separate based on their size. Imagine if you had play-doh balls of different sizes and were trying to separate them. The smallest ones would be able to move through tiny spaces between two pieces of furniture and the bigger ones would get stuck. Similarly, the smaller proteins will move faster and farther through the slab while the larger ones will move slower and not go as far.
Finally, after the proteins have been separated, the scientists will take the slab and stain it with a special dye that will turn the individual proteins different colors. Then, they can look at the slab and see which proteins are where based on their size and color. This helps them to identify individual proteins and learn more about them.
First, they'll take the solution and put it into a little well (imagine a little pool) at the top of a jello-like slab made out of a material called polyacrylamide. The proteins will sink down into the slab and spread out.
Next, they'll run a tiny electric current through the slab. This will start to pull the different proteins through the slab like they're on a little conveyor belt. But, to help make things easier, the scientists will add something called SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) to the slab. This is like a special soap that sticks to the proteins and helps to arrange them into long, straight lines.
As the proteins move through the slab, they will start to separate based on their size. Imagine if you had play-doh balls of different sizes and were trying to separate them. The smallest ones would be able to move through tiny spaces between two pieces of furniture and the bigger ones would get stuck. Similarly, the smaller proteins will move faster and farther through the slab while the larger ones will move slower and not go as far.
Finally, after the proteins have been separated, the scientists will take the slab and stain it with a special dye that will turn the individual proteins different colors. Then, they can look at the slab and see which proteins are where based on their size and color. This helps them to identify individual proteins and learn more about them.