Agarose gel is a specialized chemical that used for scientific processes like size exclusion chromatography and gel electrophoresis. These procedures involve the usage of Agarose gel to divide proteins and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The procedure also facilitates the analysis of these proteins. These highly advanced processes employ a medium that is made of purified Agarose powder which is then boiled in a buffer solution and on cooling, forms gel. This buffer solution typically consists of Tris-Acetate-EDTA or TAE.
Nowhere is Agarose gel used as commonly as in gel electrophoresis. In electrophoresis, scientists make the application of an electrical charge to transport deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Also involved in this procedure is ribonucleic acid abbreviated as RNA. Both these substances are taken through a gel matrix and towards a positive pole. Agarose gel has lattice bonds that have very little space for the molecules of the acids to pass through. Therefore, molecules which are smaller pass through far more quickly and easily. Ultraviolet imaging of the motion of the molecules is used here to conclude a formula that links the momentum of the molecules to the molecular weight. With this formula, the size of molecules can be determined.
Agarose itself is extracted as Agar. This Agar is found in different varieties of seaweed also known as red marine algae. Their genus is Gelidium. This type of algae is especially found in eastern Asia and California, United States.
The Malay word agar-agar gives Agar its present form. Translated, it means jelly. It contains both agaropectin and agarose molecules. These molecules are meant to hold up cell walls that are present within the marine algae. When these substances are taken out from the plant, they have their own usages. Agarcan be used as a thickener in food, very similar to gelatin. It also serves as a base for growing bacteria, fungus, or other microorganisms. But for this purpose, it must be purified.
The separation of agarose from agaropectin is quite simple. This is because the molecules that unite agarose are more strongly bound to each other when compared to agaropectin. One of the major ways in which agarose gel can be extracted is by means of using carrageenan. This molecule is also found in red seaweed. Carrageenan and a type of salt are combined with the agar. The agaropectin then dries to give a solid mass that can be removed from the agar solution.
Yet another method is to add the enzyme pectinase to the agar. This enzyme has the ability to disintegrate agaropectin, leading it to dissolve in the liquid. It can then be separated and dried off.
Agarose can also be obtained by scientific laboratories. They sell agarose in its powdered form and it is rather expensive. When creating agarose gel from this powder, the size and the quality of image of the DNA parts used for the electrophoresis decides the quality of the gel. The gel is made in different concentrations, and these usually are 1.2%, 1%, 0.8%, and 0.7%.