Methods and Compositions for Capillary Electrophoresis

Abstract

This invention relates to improved methods and compositions for conducting Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) to separate molecules on the basis of their respective size or charge.

1 .- 36 . (canceled) 
   
   
       37 . A capillary tube comprising an aqueous gel separation medium, said aqueous gel separation medium comprising components:
 (A) non-crosslinked hydrophilic polymer;   (B) tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-borate buffer;   (C) detergent; and   (D) an organic additive;   wherein said capillary tube has an uncoated inner surface.   
   
   
       38 . The capillary tube of  claim 37 , further comprising a reducing agent selected from the group of 2-mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol (DTT), dithioerythreitol (DTE), tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). 
   
   
       39 . The capillary tube of  claim 37 , wherein said non-crosslinked hydrophilic polymer is dextran, polyacrylamide, cellulose derivatives or polyethylene oxide. 
   
   
       40 . The capillary tube of  claim 37 , wherein said organic additive is an alcohol. 
   
   
       41 . The capillary tube of  claim 40 , wherein said alcohol is methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol or glycerol. 
   
   
       42 . The capillary tube of  claim 37 , wherein said detergent is sodium dodecyl sulfate. 
   
   
       43 . The capillary tube of  claim 37 , wherein said tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-borate buffer has a pH above 8.0 and below 8.3. 
   
   
       44 . The capillary tube of  claim 37 , wherein said capillary tube forms part of a capillary electrophoresis system. 
   
   
       45 . The capillary tube of  claim 37 , wherein said capillary tube forms part of a microfluidic or microfabricated device. 
   
   
       46 . A method of separating analytes in a sample comprising contacting the analytes with the aqueous gel separation medium of the capillary tube of  claim 37  and conducting capillary electrophoresis to separate the analytes. 
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the aqueous gel separation medium further comprises a reducing agent selected from the group of 2-mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol (DTT), dithioerythreitol (DTE), tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). 
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said non-crosslinked hydrophilic polymer is dextran, polyacrylamide, cellulose derivatives or polyethylene oxide. 
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said organic additive is an alcohol. 
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said alcohol is selected from the group consisting of: methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol and glycerol. 
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said detergent is sodium dodecyl sulfate. 
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-borate buffer has a pH above 8.0 and below 8.3. 
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the analytes are biomolecules selected from the group of polysaccharides, proteins, polypeptides, peptides, and nucleic acid molecules.