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Science 13 January 1989:
Vol. 243. no. 4888, pp. 203 - 206
DOI: 10.1126/science.2911733
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Articles

Science, Vol 243, Issue 4888, 203-206
Copyright © 1989 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Observation of individual DNA molecules undergoing gel electrophoresis

SB Smith, PK Aldridge, and JB Callis

Department of Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.

Individual DNA molecules undergoing agarose gel electrophoresis were viewed with the aid of a fluorescence microscope. Molecular shape and orientation were studied in both steady and pulsed electric fields. It was observed that (i) DNA macromolecules advanced lengthwise through the gel in an extended configuration, (ii) the molecules alternately contracted and lengthened as they moved, (iii) the molecules often became hooked around obstacles in a U-shape for extended periods, and (iv) the molecules displayed elasticity as they extended from both ends at once. A computer model has been developed that simulates the migration of the molecules in a rotating-field gel electrophoresis experiment.


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Trapping of megabase-sized DNA molecules during agarose gel electrophoresis.
S. Gurrieri, S. B. Smith, and C. Bustamante (1999)
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Response of Flexible Polymers to a Sudden Elongational Flow.
D. E. Smith and S. Chu (1998)
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Probing individual molecules with confocal fluorescence microscopy.
S Nie, D. Chiu, and R. Zare (1994)
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Alignment and sensitive detection of DNA by a moving interface.
A Bensimon, A Simon, A Chiffaudel, V Croquette, F Heslot, and D Bensimon (1994)
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Direct observation of tube-like motion of a single polymer chain.
T. Perkins, D. Smith, and S Chu (1994)
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Ordered restriction maps of Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosomes constructed by optical mapping.
D. Schwartz, X Li, L. Hernandez, S. Ramnarain, E. Huff, and Y. Wang (1993)
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Influence of Solid Friction on Polymer Relaxation in Gel Electrophoresis.
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Direct mechanical measurements of the elasticity of single DNA molecules by using magnetic beads.
S. Smith, L Finzi, and C Bustamante (1992)
Science 258, 1122-1126
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