Electrophoretic Mobilities of the Charge Variants of DNA and Other Polyelectrolytes: Similarities, Differences, and Comparison with Theory.

Free solution electrophoretic mobilities of polyelectrolytes with different charge densities have been analyzed using data taken from the literature. The polyions include single- and double-stranded DNA oligomers, small aromatic molecules, peptides, proteins, and synthetic copolymers. Mobility variations due to differences in the background electrolytes were minimized by calculating mobility ratios, dividing the mobility of each charge variant in each data set by the mobility of the most highly charged polyion in that data set. In all cases, the mobility ratios increase linearly with the logarithm of the fractional charge, not the first power of the charge as usually assumed. In addition, the mobility ratios observed for all polyelectrolytes, except for the synthetic copolymers, exhibit a common dependence on the logarithm of fractional charge. The unique results observed for the synthetic copolymers may be due to the flexibility of their hydrocarbon backbones, in contrast to the relatively rigid hydrophilic backbones of the other polyelectrolytes. The mobilities observed for the DNA charge variants are well predicted by the Manning electrophoresis equation, whereas the mobilities predicted by zeta potential theories are higher. However, mobility ratios calculated from both theories agree with the observed results.