IMPROVED CAPILLARY ZONE ELECTROPHORETIC SEPARATION OF BASIC-PROTEINS, USING A FLUOROSURFACTANT BUFFER ADDITIVE

In this paper, a new method to reduce the adsorption of basic proteins in capillary zone electrophoresis is described. Small amounts of a cationic fluorosurfactant are added to the running buffer. This leads to a surface charge reversal. Consequently, proteins at a pH below their pI are repelled from the wall. High efficiencies and symmetrical peaks were obtained for a number of model proteins, even when running buffer solutions with a low ionic strength were employed. Reproducibility was excellent. It is believed that the extreme hydrophobic nature of the fluorocarbon chain of the surfactant is a significant factor for the improved performance.