Numerical Simulation of SDS-PAGE Using COMSOL

A 1D numerical simulation of Laemmli's protocol for SDS Page was prepared using COMSOL. This simulation included separate regions for the loading well, stacking and resolving gels as well as anodic and cathodic reservoirs; and used the correlation by Rodbard and Chrambach (1971) to account for retardation in the resolving gel. The numerical results show very good agreement with protein locations and peak widths in marker experiments and clearly demonstrate the mechanisms underpinning protein stacking, dispersion and separation. In addition to this, the simulations illustrate the evolution of pH and concentration excursions in the tris-glycine-chloride buffer system.