Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
In a Kohlrausch-regulated electrophoresis method wherein a mixture containing at least two macromolecular components to be separated is placed in a layer between a pair of physically distinct separate layers respectively including a leading ion and a trailing ion, the mobility of said leading ion being greater than that of said components, the mobility of said trailing ion being less than that of said components, and a direct current passed through said layers to effect separation of said components with said components being adjacent one another, the improvement which comprises employing as said trailing ion a non-aromatic, acyclic, substantially linear, at least partially water dispersible polymer which is compatible with said components, contains recurring ethylene oxide groups and at least one terminal group which is charge-bearing during said current passage, the mobility of said polymer being substantially independent of pH over a range of at least about 4 pH units, and with the mobility of the entirety of said trailing ion being less than the mobility of all of said components being separated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a Kohlrausch-regulated electrophoresis method wherein a mixture containing at least two macromolecular components to be separated is placed in a layer between a pair of physically distinct separate layers respectively including a leading ion and a trailing ion, the mobility of said leading ion being greater than that of said components, the mobility of said trailing ion being less than that of said components, and a direct current passed through said layers to effect separation of said components with said components being adjacent one another, the improvement which comprises employing as said trailing ion a non-aromatic, acyclic, substantially linear, at least partially water dispersible polymer which is compatible with said components, contains recurring ethylene oxide groups and at least one terminal group which is charge-bearing during said current passage, the mobility of said polymer being substantially independent of pH over a range of at least about 4 pH units, and with the mobility of the entirety of said trailing ion being less than the mobility of all of said components being separated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
227 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, said polymer having the formula: X--O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --O--.sub.n.sbsb.1 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --O--Y wherein X and Y are respectively selected from the group consisting of: (a) organic substituents having up to six carbon atoms and terminating in a carboxyl group; (b) loweralkyl substituents having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; (c) substituents of the formula ##STR6## wherein R is an α amino acid side chain, R 1 is hydrogen or a loweralkyl having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, and R 2 is hydrogen, an amino acid or peptide; (d) substituents of the formula ##STR7## wherein n 2 is from 0 to 4, inclusive, and R 3 and R 4 are respectively taken from the group consisting of hydrogen and loweralkyl groups having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive; (e) substituents of the formula ##STR8## wherein n 3 is from 1 to 4, inclusive, R 5 , R 6 and R 7 are respectively taken from the group consisting of hydrogen and loweralkyl groups having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive; ##STR9## at least one of said X and Y being charge-bearing during said current passage, and wherein n 1 is sufficiently large to give the polymer a mass to charge ratio when fully ionized which is greater than that of said components to be separated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, at least one of said X and Y being of the formula ##STR10##
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein n 1 ranges from about 100 to 150.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, said polymer having a mobility of up to about -1.3×10 -5 cm. 2 /volt/sec. when fully ionized.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, said components comprising proteins.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as set forth in claim 6, said mass to charge ratio of said polymer being at least about 3000 to 1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, including the step of recovering said components after said separation thereof.