Cellulose Acetate Membrane Electrophoresis Research Articles

Examining the association between malaria infection and the occurrence of ABO/Rhesus and hemoglobin variants in patients at a tertiary hospital in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

The spread of the ABO-Rh blood group and the haemoglobin genotype differs widely between racial and ethnic groupings. Patterns could fluctuate over time within the same community in various regions of the globe, which might indicate that a specific blood type gave resistance to an infectious illness. Therefore, it is crucial to have accurate and current information on how these blood types are distributed across human demographics. A total of 451 individuals were chosen at random, ranging in age from 1 to 15 years. The sample size was selected utilising Cochran sample size calculation as well as a rate of plasmodium in youngsters in Port Harcourt of 60.6%. Using a normal phlebotomy method, 2 ml of venous blood was extracted with little immobility within sterile circumstances from the dorsum of the hand or ante-cubital vein, as the occasion may indeed be. Employing thick and thin Giemsa-stained blood smears, malaria density was evaluated microscopically. The genotype of haemoglobin was determined using cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis in Tris-EDTA borate buffer (PH 8.9). Atlas Medical ABO reagent was used to identify ABO blood type qualitatively. Data management and statistical analyses were carried out using the Statistical Analyses System SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina, USA), with p values less than.05 deemed statistically significant. Four hundred fifty-one (451) people took part in this study. The amount of research participants (394) tested rhesus positive (87.4%). Amongst ABO variations, blood type B+ 8 (32%), A+ 7 (28%), and O+ 6 (24%), were shown to be higher common with complex plasmodium. Blood type O+ 198 (46.48) was by far the most common of simple ABO/Rhesus + blood groups, followed by B+ 97(22.77%) and A+ 72 (22.77%). (16.90). Similarly, among ABO/Rhesus negative blood groups with uncomplicated falciparum malaria, blood group O- predominated with 41 (9.62%). A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, O+, and O- blood types of class for uncomplicated plasmodium species load revealed a mean of 18114.03/l, 52760.10/l, 20021.47/l, 3428.33/l, 11084.33/l, 12460.34/l, and 4445.59/l in the identical sequence, with O- exhibiting the least susceptibility to malaria. In addition, for uncomplicated malaria parasite density, the haemoglobin genotype status indicated a mean of 113073.44/l, 111435.65/l, and 107250.3/1l for AA, AS, and SS in the same order, with AA indicating the highest sensitivity to plasmodium. The prevalence of haemoglobin genotypes AA, AS, and SS in the study participants was 72.5%, 20.6%, and 6.9%, respectively. Men made up 54.5% (246/451), although females made up 45.5% (205/451). The haemoglobin genotype AA predominated, with men (178) outnumbering girls (149), followed by AS (56 vs 37) and SS (12 against 31), correspondingly. The most frequent ABO blood type was O (54.3%), second by B (24.6%), A (19.7%), and AB (1.3%). The bulk of Rh+ blood cells (87.4%) were found in the Rh bloodstream. The bulk of Rh bloodstream (87.4%) were Rh+, whereas 12.6% comprised Rh. O+ (45.2%), B+ (23.3%), A+ (17.5%), O- (9.1%), A- (2.2%), AB+ (1.3%), B- (1.3%), and AB (0%) were always the mixed ABO and Rh blood types. Men’s blood groups B+ (60), B- (4), AB+ (4), and O+ (112) were significantly higher than female blood groups B+ (45), B- (2), AB+ (2), and O+ (94), whereas female blood groups A- (7) and O- (23) were higher than male blood types A- (2) and O- (23) (16).

Investigation of Practical Conditions for the Absorption and Transport of Soybean Oil (Rich in Long-Chain Triglycerides) and Medium-Chain Triglycerides Using Cellulose-Acetate Membrane Electrophoresis

Investigation of Practical Conditions for the Absorption and Transport of Soybean Oil (Rich in Long-Chain Triglycerides) and Medium-Chain Triglycerides Using Cellulose-Acetate Membrane Electrophoresis

Prevalence and Genetic Analysis of β-Thalassemia in the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture of the Yunnan Province, China.

Background: β-Thalassemia is the most common monogenetic hemolytic hemoglobin-associated disease in the south of China; the distribution of genetic mutations associated with this condition varies according to geographic regions. This study investigated the prevalence and distribution of β-thalassemia-associated mutations across different ethnic groups in the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture of the Yunnan Province, China. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 4723 participants (15-45 years old) who volunteered for thalassaemia screening from the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture from May 2017 to October 2020. Cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis was used to screen for β-thalassemia carriers. Genotypic analyses was performed using polymerase chain reaction-based reverse dot blotting and DNA sequencing. Results: The overall prevalence of β-thalassemia in the study population was 2.01%. The genotypic analyses showed the presence of four types of mutations in the β-globin gene: CD26 (GAG→AAG), CD56 (GGC→GAC), IVS-II-81 (C→T), and CD121 (GAA→CAA). In contrast to previous studies from other regions of Yunnan Province, our results showed that the prevalence of CD26 mutations was significantly higher than that of the other mutations. Conclusion: Our data suggests that the Dali Autonomous Prefecture is an area with a high prevalence of β-thalassemia. Moreover, CD26 was the only β-thalassemia mutation that we have detected. Moreover, the vast majority of the β-thalassemia mutations observed were CD26.

Cellulose Acetate Electrophoresis of Hemoglobin.

The electrophoresis on cellulose acetate membrane is most widely used because of its simplicity, and iswithout the use of any sophisticated instrument other than electrophoresis apparatus and the cellulose acetate strip. Here we describe a modified version of cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis for hemoglobin separation from blood sample. Sharp, clear bands without tailing effects can be obtained with this method. The method and apparatus described here would be appropriate to separate protein fractions under 1h at voltages up to 60V/cm measured between the electrodes.

Human albumin purification: a modified and concise method

ABSTRACTBackground: Among different proteins of blood, albumin is considered a unique protein due to having special properties. Now, various protocols are used for the albumin purification worldwide, each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Meanwhile, a common method which is often used for the production of albumin is a combination of Cohn along with different types of chromatography. The aim of the present study was to create a concise and cost-effective albumin purification method by employing a conventional method with some modifications.Methods: In this research, the albumin was purified from human serum using chilled ethanol, followed by chromatographic methods. The purity of harvested albumin was evaluated by cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis (CAME) and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Western blotting (WB) analysis and thermostability were used for functional and stability measurement assessment, respectively.Results: SDS-PAGE and CAME showed that the purity of purified human albumin was about 99%. Purified human albumin showed a single band with a molecular weight of 66 kDa. The results were validated by WB analysis .Also, the thermostability of purified albumin was same as the commercial albumin.Conclusion: This method can be a robust technique for purification of albumin in order to use clinical and research approaches.

One-pot analysis of sulfated glycosaminoglycans.

Routine isolation, estimation, and characterization of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) is quite challenging. This is compounded by the fact that the analysis is technique-intensive and more often there will be a limitation on the quantity of GAGs available for various structural, functional and biological studies. In such a scenario, the sample which can be made available for estimation and elucidation of disaccharide composition and species composition as well remains a challenge. In the present study, we have determined the feasibility where isolated sulfated GAGs (sGAG) that is estimated by metachromasia is recovered for further analysis. sGAG-DMMB complex formed after estimation of sGAG by DMMB dye-binding assay was decomplexed and sGAGs were recovered. Recovered sGAGs were analysed by cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis and taken up for disaccharide composition analysis by HPLC after fluorescent labelling. Good recovery of sGAGs after metachromasia was observed in all samples of varying levels of purity by this protocol. Further analysis using cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis showed good separation between species of sGAGs namely chondroitin/dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate, with comparatively lesser interference from hyaluronic acid, a non-sulfated GAG. Analysis of recovered sGAGs, specifically heparan sulfate by HPLC showed characteristic disaccharide composition akin to that of GAG obtained by the conventional protocol. Thus, in the present paper, we show that sGAG can be recovered in comparatively purer form after routine estimation and can be used for further analysis thus saving up on the precious sample.

Screening for the sickle cell gene in Yavatmal District, Maharashtra, India: an approach to a major public health problem

Aim of the present study was to determine the feasibility of large-scale population screening for the sickle cell gene in different areas of Yavatmal District. A program designed to detect the sickle cell trait and sickle cell disease has screened 7568 subjects among several villages and in Yavatmal District of Maharashtra State. The subjects were screened by solubility test and positive samples were subjected to cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis, used for the diagnosis of sickle cell disease under the sickle cell disease control program held on Jan 2010 to Dec 2014 by SVNGMC Yavatmal. Among total (7568) samples were screened, 1621 (21.41%) were detected with the sickle cell trait and 978 (12.92%) with heterozygous (Hb AS) and 593 (7.89%) with homozygous (Hb SS) sickle cell disease as well as 259 (3.4%) cases were found with other Hb. Out of total positive cases, 53.30% were female and 46.69% were male. The prevalence was found to be more in age group (1 month to 20 years) compared to other age groups. The caste wise distribution of solubility test confirmed samples were SC-52.06%, ST-20.17%, NT -16.34%, OBC-8.45%, SBC-1.97%, Open-0.98%. The study concludes that the prevalence of sickle cell disease among backward classes in Yavatmal district is more especially in schedule caste (SC) in comparison to general or open category with higher prevalence among female subjects.

Purification of Regucalcin from the Seminal Vesicular Fluid: A Calcium Binding Multi-Functional Protein.

Regucalcin is a multi-functional protein having roles in calcium homeostasis as well as in anti-apoptotic, anti-prolific and anti-oxidative functions. Recently, it has been reported from the male reproductive tract, but its role in male reproduction needs further investigation; for which the native regucalcin of reproductive origin will be more appropriate. The gel exclusion chromatography followed by diethyl aminoethane cellulose chromatography and two-dimentional cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis used for its purification are time consuming and less specific. Here, the regucalcin gene from buffalo testis has been cloned, expressed and purified in recombinant form, and subsequently used for raising hyper-immune serum. The Western blot of seminal vesicular fluid probed with anti-regucalcin polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies showed the presence of 28 and 34kDa bands specific to regucalcin. Further, an affinity matrix has been prepared using anti-regucalcin polyclonal antibodies. An immuno-affinity chromatography method has been standardized to isolate regucalcin from seminal vesicular fluid. The initial complexity of the protein mixture in the seminal vesicular fluid has been reduced by a heat coagulation step. The purified protein on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed a single band at 68kDa that has been further confirmed as regucalcin by Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry. The RGN purified from seminal vesicular fluid will be more appropriate for studying its possible role in male reproduction, especially sperm cell capacitation, hyperactivation, acrosome reaction and cryopreservation. The study can be applied in purifying regucalcin from different tissues or species with minor modifications in the methodology.

Analysis of Cut-off Value in Screening of Thalassemia by Capillary Hemoglobin Electrophoresis for Pregnant Women from Shenzhen Region of China

To investigate the cut-off value in screening of thalassemia in pregnant women from Shenzhen region by capillary hemoglobin electrophoresis. The data of capillary hemoglobin electrophoresis and genetic diagnosis of thalassemia from 2122 examined prenatal women were retrospectively analyzed. Capillary hemoglobin electrophoresis and α-, β- genetic diagnosis of thalassemia were carried out for every woman. Hemoglobin electrophoresis was performed using Capillarys 2 full-automated electrophoresis instrument. Gap polymerase chain reaction and reverse dot blot were used for genetic diagnosis of thalassemia genotyping test. The cut-off value in screening of thalassemia was determined by receiver operating characteristic curve and next to analyze the value of HbA2 and HbF in screening of thalassemia using the decided cut-off value. The areas under the curve (AUC(Roc)) of HbA2 for diagnosis of α-, β- thalassemia were 0.75 and 0.981 respectively, and the AUC(Roc) of HbF for diagnosis of β-thalassemia was 0.787. When HbA2 ≤ 2.55 was taken as the cut-off value of HbA2 for diagnosis of α-thalassemia, the sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (LR(+)) and negative likelihood ratio (LR(-)) were 89.5%, 54.8%, 1.98, 0.19 respectively. When HbA2 ≥3.9 was taken as the cut off value of HbA2 for diagnosis of β-thalassemia, the sensitivity, specificity, LR(+) and LR(-) were 96.1%, 99.8% 480.5, 0.04 respectively. When HbF ≥0.75 was taken as the cut off value of HbF for diagnosis of β-thalassemia, the sensitivity, specificity, LR(+) and LR(-) were 83.6%, 61.8% respectively. The cut-off value in screening of thalassemia by capillarys 2 full automated electrophoresis instrument is different from that of the traditional method of hemoglobin electrophoresis, such as cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis and agarose gel electrophoresis. Each laboratory should establish their own respective cut off value.

Hemoglobinopathies in the Çukurova Region and Neighboring Provinces

To contribute to the creation of a mutation map of the region, we aimed to determine the mutation spectrum of thalassemias and abnormal hemoglobins (Hbs) in the Çukurova region and surrounding provinces. In this study, a total of 8135 samples from Adana, Hatay, Mersin, Konya and Kayseri provinces between 1993 and 2014 were analyzed. Complete blood cell (CBC) counts and Hb typing were carried out using automatic cell counters, cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), respectively. For the molecular analyses, genomic DNA was extracted using both manual and automated DNA extraction devices. Determination of Hb mutations were done by microarray, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) and gap-polymerase chain reaction (gap-PCR) methodologies. Samples were analyzed for abnormal Hb and thalassemia mutations. Out of 8135 samples, 1382 were observed to be carrying Hb mutations. It was identified that 826 mutation carriers included abnormal Hbs with a frequency of 59.7%, 416 carriers included β-thalassemia (β-thal) mutations with a frequency of 30.7% and 136 carriers included α-thalassemia (α-thal) mutations with a frequency of 9.9%. In this study, the most frequently observed abnormal Hb in the region was Hb S [β6(A3)Glu→Val (GTG > GAG), HBB: c.20T > A], whereas the most commonly observed mutations were the IVS-I-110 (G > A) (HBB: c.93–21G > A) point mutation in β-thal and the 3.7 kb deletion in α-thal.

Variation of Abnormal Hemoglobins Concentrated in Durg, Chhattisgarh: A Brief Note Based on Cross-Sectional Study

Prevalence of different abnormal hemoglobins (Hb) in Indian tribal and nontribal population groups is well established. Sickle cell hemoglobin (HbS) is mostly concentrated in Central and South Indian states, whereas HbD and Hb E is mostly found in North-North-West and North-North-East states respectively. HbJ, an alpha globin gene variant, is earlier reported in North India whereas; its presence in the tribal Chhattisgarh state is not well understood. HbE, a beta-globin gene variant was earlier reported in North Eastern states of India. Prevalence of both these abnormal hemoglobins in the Central India specifically in Durg, Chattisgarh is incompletely understood. In this study attempts were made to analyze the presence of abnormal hemoglobins during screening for sickle cell anemia. Briefly, blood samples (N=44) were analyzed for sickle cell anemia screening and confirmatory tests by solubility tests and cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis at alkaline pH. Two samples showed an abnormal pattern of separation on cellulose acetate membrane other than HbS. Out of total 44 tested samples, five were sickle cell carriers (HbAS), one was heterozygous HbAJ and the another one was homozygous for HbE while remaining other were normal genotypes i.e. HbAA. In brief, a case of homozygous Hemoglobin E from Kurmi caste of other backward community (OBC) and a different heterozygote pattern, i.e. Hb AJ from Brahmin community is reported from Durg, Chattisgarh, Central India. This study provides possible indication of variation of different abnormal hemoglobins, other than HbS, present in the tribal state of Chhattisgarh.

Cellulose Acetate Membrane Electrophoresis Based Urinary Proteomics for the Identification of Characteristic Proteins.

Analysis of urinary proteins using cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis (CAME) is a useful and challenging method for the recognition of damaged sites in the kidney. However, protein content of each CAME fraction is still not completely understood. In this study, an effective method of protein extraction from each band fractionated by CAME was established, which enabled us to examine the extracted proteins by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Proteins were extracted from the gel and analyzed by mass spectrometry. In all, 31 proteins were identified, including 20 urinary proteins that were newly identified in the CAME-based analysis. This methodology was useful for identifying the proteins responsible for creating unique bands on CAME in a urine sample of a patient with drug-induced interstitial nephritis. These findings provide in-depth characterization of urinary protein contents in each CAME fraction.

Characterization of Sulfate Groups and Assessment of Anti-Coagulant Activity of Glucomannan Sulfate Prepared from Konjac Glucomannan

Purpose: To determine the structure of Konjac glucomannan sulfate (KOGMS) including homogeneity, sulfate group composition as well as its anti-coagulant activity in vitro.Methods: KOGMS was prepared using chlorosulfonic acid and N, N-dicyclohexyl carbodiimide (DCC) from konjac oligo-glucomannan (KOGM). Homogeneity analysis was confirmed by cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis. Fourier transform infrared FT-IR spectra, Laser Raman spectra and 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance NMR spectra were obtained and used to analyze the sulfate groups. The anti-coagulant activity of KOGM and KOGMS was evaluated in vitro using activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) and thrombin time (TT) as indicators.Results: KOGMS was shown to be a homogenous carbohydrate with a relative molecular mass ranging from 5.8 × 103 to 6.2 × 103 Da and various degrees of substitution (DS) ranging from 1.28 to 1.81. The sulfate groups were inserted at C-2, C-6 and C-3 positions of KOGM. The APTT of human platelet-poor plasma containing KOGMS was 47.2 s which was close to that of heparin at a concentration of 0.5mg/mL. Furthermore, the APTT of human platelet-poor plasma containing KOGM was only 15.6 s whichis close to that of the negative control group. For KOGMS, the values obtained in all three tests were significantly higher than those of KOGM and the negative control group (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Hydroxyl groups can be substituted efficiently by sulfated groups at C-2, C-6 and C-3 positions of KOGM with little degree of degradation. In vitro anti-coagulant activity data indicates that KOGMS has a significantly stronger anti-coagulant activity than KOGM due probably to the sulfated groups in the main chain of its molecule.Keywords: Konjac, Oligo-glucomannan Sulfate, Laser Raman Spectra, Anticoagulant Activity

セルロースアセテート膜電気泳動法を用いた尿タンパク解析で腎障害を診る

セルロースアセテート膜電気泳動法を用いた尿タンパク解析で腎障害を診る

Supported Molecular Matrix Electrophoresis.

Mucins are difficult to separate using conventional gel electrophoresis methods such as SDS-PAGE and agarose gel electrophoresis, owing to their large size and heterogeneity. On the other hand, cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis can separate these molecules, but is not compatible with glycan analysis. Here, we describe a novel membrane electrophoresis technique, termed "supported molecular matrix electrophoresis" (SMME), in which a porous polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane filter is used to achieve separation. This description includes the separation, visualization, and glycan analysis of mucins with the SMME technique.

Sickle Cell Anemia and Morbidity in Tribal Population of Pombhurna, District Chandrapur, Maharashtra, India

The present study was carried out to assess the sickle cell anemia and morbidity pattern among tribal population in Pombhurna Tahsil of  Chandrapur district in  Maharashtra, India.  The subjects were screened by solubility test and positive samples were subjected to cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis. The study showed that 5.54% subjects were having sickle cell anemia. The common morbidity forms were joint pain (56%) and attacks of abdominal pain (24 %).

Electrophoretic separation of alginic sodium diester and sodium hexametaphosphate in chondroitin sulfate that interfere with the cetylpyridinium chloride titration assay.

The most commonly used chondroitin sulfate (CS) assay method is cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) titration. Cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis (CAME) is the technique used for detection of impurities in the U.S. Pharmacopeia's CS monograph. Because CPC titration is a relatively nonspecific quantitative technique, the apparent amount of CS as determined by CPC titration alone may not reflect the true amount of CS due to possible interference with the CPC assay by impurities that contain CPC titratable functional groups. When CAME is used in conjunction with CPC titration, certain non-CS and adulterants can be visualized and estimated, and a true value for CS can be assigned once the presence of these non-CS impurities has been ruled out. This study examines conjunct application of CPC and CAME in ascertaining CS assay and purity in the presence of certain adulterants. These include propylene glycol alginate sulfate sodium, known in commerce as alginic sodium diester (ASD), and Zero One (Z1), a water-soluble agent newly reported in the CS marketplace and subsequently identified as sodium hexametaphosphate. ASD, Z1, and CS are similar in physical appearance and solubility in water and ethanol. They are also titratable anions and form ionic pairs with CPC, therefore interfering with the CPC titration assay for CS CAME separates these adulterants from each other and from CS by differences in their electrophoretic mobility. CAME is able to detect these impurities in CS at levels as low as 0.66% by weight. Although it is recommended that a method for detecting impurities (e.g., CAME) be used in cormbination with relatively nonspecific assay methods such as CPC titration, this is seldom done in practice. Assay results for CS derived fromn CPC titration may, therefore, be misleading, leaving the CS supply chain vulnerable to adulteration. In this study, the authors investigated ASD and Z1 adulteration of CS and developed an electrophoretic separation of these adulterants in CS and procedures to isolate ASD from CS matrixes containing these adulterants. The authors describe in this paper utilization of an orthogonal approach to establish the identity of Z1 as sodium hexametaphosphate and to confirm the identity of ASD, including ethanol fractionation, FTIR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and NMR spectroscopy. The authors suggest that CAME is a cost-effective and easy to use methodfor detecting certain impurities in CS raw ingredients and recommend that CPC and CAME be used in combination by QC laboratories as a means of effectively deterring the practice of adulterating CS raw materials with the known adulterants ASD and Z1 and/or other non-chondroitin substances that can be separated from CSby CAME and that exhibit CPC titration behavior similar to CS.

Arabinoxylan from finger millet (Eleusine coracana, v. Indaf 15) bran: Purification and characterization

Water unextractable portion from finger millet bran was sequentially extracted with saturated barium hydroxide (BE) and 1M potassium hydroxide (KE) solutions. They consisted preponderantly of arabinose and xylose in different ratios. Ferulic, caffeic, coumaric and vanillic acids were identified as major bound phenolic acids. BE and KE were purified on DEAE-cellulose column by eluting successively with different eluants. The major fractions (0.1M ammonium carbonate) were resolved into one (BE) and two subfractions (KE1 and KE2) respectively on Sephacryl S-400 gel filtration chromatography and their homogeneity was ascertained by gel filtration, cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis and capillary electrophoresis. The average molecular weight of BE, KE1 and KE2 were found to be 430, 1028 and 40kDa respectively. The structural elucidation of the purified polysaccharides by 1H and 13C NMR analysis indicated the backbone to be 1,4-β-d-linked xylan with substitution mainly at O-2 or O-3 and/or both by α-l-arabinose residues.

Serum protein fractionation using supported molecular matrix electrophoresis

Supported molecular matrix electrophoresis (SMME), in which a hydrophilic polymer such as PVA serves as a support within a porous PVDF membrane, was recently developed. This method is similar to cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis but differs in the compatibility to glycan analysis of the separated bands. In this report, we describe the first instance of the application of SMME to human serum fractionation, and demonstrate the differences with serum fractionation by cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis. The SMME membrane exhibited almost no EOF during electrophoresis, unlike the cellulose acetate membrane, but afforded comparative results for serum fractionation. The visualization of each fraction was achieved by conventional staining with dye such as Direct Blue-71, and objective quantification was obtained by densitometry after inducing membrane transparency with 1-nonene. Immunostaining was also achieved. Moreover, mass spectrometric analysis of both N-linked and O-linked glycans from the separated bands was demonstrated. Serum fractionation and glycan profiling of each fraction using SMME will enable novel insights into the relationships between various glycosylation profiles and disease states.

Improvement of continuous‐wave terahertz imaging system for cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis

AbstractWe have successfully achieved terahertz imaging of cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis of egg albumin using continuous‐wave imaging at 0.189 THz. A sample holder has been devised that can eliminate the membrane crook generated in the drying process after electrophoresis. A probe has been also fabricated, which was assembled with a Schottky barrier diode detector to detect the terahertz signal. A higher spatial resolution of 0.3 mm was achieved, which is 6.83 times the 2.05‐mm resolution without using the probe. Terahertz images of cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis of egg albumin of 2 µl was obtained, in which the positions of protein were perfectly in accordance with the stained images. The technology can be used instead of the staining method for cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis. © 2012 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.