CAPILLARY GEL-ELECTROPHORESIS FOR DNA SEQUENCING - LASER-INDUCED FLUORESCENCE DETECTION WITH THE SHEATH FLOW CUVETTE

Capillary polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis separation of dideoxycytidine chain-terminated DNA fragments is reported. A post-column laser-induced fluorescence detector based on the sheath flow cuvette was used to minimize background signals due to light scatter from the gel and capillary. A preliminary mass detection limit of 10 -20 mol of fluorescein-labeled DNA fragments was obtained. The system was used to analyze an actual DNA sequencing sample. Theoretical plate counts of 2 · 106 were produced. Gel stability limits the performance of the current system. © 1990.