SEPARATION OF COLLAGEN TYPE-I CHAIN POLYMERS BY ELECTROPHORESIS IN NON-CROSS-LINKED POLYACRYLAMIDE-FILLED CAPILLARIES

Gel electrophoresis in 4% non-cross-linked polyacrylamide and 35 cm (to the detector) x75 mu m I.D. capillaries was demonstrated to be suitable for separating collagen type I alpha-chains, chain polymers of the beta- and gamma-size (dimers and trimers of alpha-chains) as well as chain polymers larger than gamma. Separations were run in 50 mM Tris-glycine buffer pH 8.8 with the sampling port at the anodic end of the capillary. Detection was done routinely by UV at 220 nm. By this method it was possible to demonstrate the differences in alpha-chain polymer profiles after incubation of the samples with glucose.