Modifications of Apparatus Used for Electrophoresis-Convection DAVID nr. TENNENT AND MICHAEL KNIAZUK Mer& Institute for Therapeutic Research, Rahrwy. N. J .
LECTROPHORESIS-convection (4,6,8) is an elegant tech-
E nique for the separation of polyelectrolytes. It has been used for fractionating the proteins in blood Sera and plasma
piece so that it stretches smoothly ovw the opening and extends a t each end. The smltller piece is placed on top of it and bolted
(1-3,
6) and for purifying enzymes (7). This communication presents modifications in the equipment whioh are simple t o construct and easy to operate. CELL DESIGN
held i6 blace with a suitablz device such a6 rubber band. I n a similar cell for smaller volumes, the rectangular opening and the sausage casing are narrower, m d the supporting struts ~ I ' Pomitted.
The cell designed by Csnn,Kirkwood, Brown, and Plescia ( 4 ) consists of a plastic block which contain3 upper and lower compartments for the solut,ion to be fractionated. These are connected by a thin channel with walls of semipermeable membrane. The channel is formed by seating oellophane sheets into windows in the block, using Lucite frames to form a gasketed sed. In the design illustrated in Figure 1, the upper and lower compartments and the connecting channel are d l formed of a single cellophane sack rather than being integral parts of the plastic construction. The sack is supported in proper shape and position by means of t n o pieces of 0.25-inch Lucite (Figure 1, b and c), 18 X 5 inches and 10.5 X 4 inohes. The larger piece, illustrated in Figure 2, has in it a 9 x 3 inch rectangular opening, into which are set two vertical struts of Lucite, 9 X L/2 X '/a inches, flush with the front face of the piece. These serve as supports for the membrane in a fashion similar to that of t.he original design. On either side of the rectangular opening are four equally spaced bolt holes which are countersunk on the rear side of the piece to contain the heads of '/
