The fractionation of high-molecular-weight ribonucleic acid by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis

1. Gels were prepared with recrystallized acrylamide and bisacrylamide. Electrophoresis was in tris-sodium acetate-EDTA buffer for 0.5 to 3hr. Gels were scanned at 280 or 265mmu. Techniques are described for slicing and radioactive counting. 2. The mobility of RNA was inversely related to the sedimentation coefficient and varied with gel concentration. Electrophoresis in 2.2-2.6% gels gives a fractionation similar to density-gradient centrifugation. It shows the two ribosomal RNA components, the 45s precursor, transfer RNA and minor components. In 5% and 7.5% gels, 4s and 5s RNA separated and ribosomal RNA was excluded. 3. The resolution is greater and more detailed than by centrifugation, and many samples can be analysed simultaneously and rapidly.