NCIt definition : Analytical and separative procedures in which molecules, particularly proteins or
nucleic acids, are separated by their different electrophoretic mobilities in a hydrated
gel. The gel suppresses convective mixing of the fluid phase through which the electrophoresis
takes place and contributes molecular sieving. For proteins, commonly carried out
in the presence of the anionic detergent sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS). SDS denatures
proteins so that noncovalently associating sub unit polypeptides migrate independently
and by binding to the proteins confers a net negative charge roughly proportional
to the chain weight.;