Improved resolution of myofibrillar proteins with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Standard experimental procedures for continuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate were modified to give more effective separation and improved resolution of myofibrillar proteins. The system utilizes a running gel consisting of 10% acrylamide with 0.1% bisacrylamide crosslinker (100:1) incorporating 400 mM Tris/glycine (pH 8.80), 0.1 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetate, 5% glycerol and 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate. Electrophoresis was performed at 1 mA per gel with corresponding running times of 4-6 h. The myosin heavy chain enters and migrates as a narrow symmetrical band while the smaller regulatory proteins of the myofibril are resolved. The utility of the procedure in relation to the study of protein structure is detailed.