PAPER ELECTROPHORESIS OF SERUM PROTEINS: PHOTOMETRIC QUANTITATION AND COMPARISON WITH FREE ELECTROPHORESIS 1

Abstract

Optimal technical conditions for paper electrophoretic resolution of human proteins are evaluated, using the Grassmann-Hannig apparatus and a slight modification of the Durrum apparatus, with photometric quantitation of the dyed paper strip. Duplicate analyses (55 normal and abnormal sera) by paper and Tiselius electrophoresis compare well except in certain pathologic states. With sera of high lipid content, paper electrophoresis measures protein portions alone of lipoprotein complexes, in contrast to free electrophoresis. Dye-stained protein bands of high optical density are not accurately measured by the photometer used. Albumin may have a slightly greater dye binding capacity than gamma globulin. Adsorption of albumin on the paper is an important source of error. The use of an arbitrary globulin correction factor is not recommended. Paper electrophoretic analyses of a wide variety of abnormal sera are presented, and the diagnostic applications of the technique discussed.