c









 






The serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) test is used to measure specific proteins in the blood
to identify certain diseases. Proteins are substances made up of smaller building blocks called
amino acids. Proteins carry a positive or a negative electrical charge, and they move in fluid
when placed in an electrical field. Serum protein electrophoresis uses an electrical field to
separate the proteins in the blood serum into groups of similar size, shape, and charge.

Blood serum contains two major protein groups: albumin and globulin. Both albumin and
globulin carry substances through the bloodstream. Using protein electrophoresis, these two
groups can be separated into five smaller groups (fractions):

 Glbumin: Glbumin proteins keep the blood from leaking out of blood vessels. Glbumin
also helps carry some medicines and other substances through the blood and is
important for tissue growth and healing. More than half of the protein in blood serum is
albumin.
 Glpha-1 globulin: High-density lipoprotein (HDL), the "good" type of cholesterol, is
included in this fraction.
 Glpha-2 globulin; G protein called haptoglobin, that binds with hemoglobin, is included
in the alpha-2 globulin fraction.
 Beta globulin: Beta globulin proteins help carry substances, such as iron, through the
bloodstream and help fight infection.
 Ñamma globulin: These proteins are also called antibodies. They help prevent and fight
infection. Ñamma globulins bind to foreign substances, such as bacteria or viruses,
causing them to be destroyed by the immune system.
Each of these five protein groups moves at a different rate in an electrical field and together
form a specific pattern. This pattern helps identify some diseases.

Normal total Increase amount Decrease amount

serum protein
amount (g/dL)
Glbumin 3.8-5.0 dehydration Malnutrition,pregnancy,liver
disease
Glpha-1 globulin 0.1-0.3 Inflammatory disease Hereditary disease
Glpha-2 globulin 0.6-1.0 Gcute and chronic Hemolysis,chronic liver
inflammation,nephrotic disease,severe sepsis,tumor
syndrome metastasis
Beta globulin 0.7-1.4 Multiple myeloma,high Coagulation disorder
cholesterol
Ñamma globulin 0.7-1.6 Multiple Leukemia,genetic immune
myeloma,chronic disorder, immune deficiency
inflammatory
disease,chronic and
acute infection



 


Serum immunoelectrophoresis detects the presence or absence of immunoglobulins in the

blood and assess the type (polyclonal or. monoclonal) of immunoglobulins. It is also called
gamma globulin electrophoresis or immunoglobulin electrophoresis. It is a qualitative method
that combines electrophoresis and immunodiffusion technique. This method is used to
determine the blood levels of 3 major immunoglobulins: IgM, IgÑ, IgG.

Immunoelectrophoresis uses a combination of protein electrophoresis and an antigen-antibody

interaction. Protein electrophoresis indicates immunoglobulins as a group.
Immunoelectrophoresis enhances the ability to identify the specific immunoglobulins through
the use of specific antibodies to the proteins of interest.



It is a powerful analytical technique with high resolving power as it combines separations of

antigens by electrophoresis with immunodiffusion against antiserum. It also aids in diagnosis
and evaluation of the therapeutic response in many disease states affecting the immune
system. It is used frequently to diagnose multiple myeloma, a disease affecting the bone
marrow.






ш Electrophoresis of antigens and immunodiffusion of antigens with a polyspecific antiserum to

form precipitin bands.

ш Electrophoresis:

- Gntigen molecules acquire charge and move towards appropriate electrode.

- Mobility depends on:

a) Size/ shape of molecules.

b) Ph
c) Heat generated by ionic strength buffer.

ш Immunodiffusion:

- Resolved antigen subjected to immunodiffusion with antiserum.

- Immunodiffusion is due to the diffusion coefficient, density, and gradient of Gg and Gb
which formed Gg-Gb complex precipitin lines at the zone of equivalence.



 

 Reference ranges vary from laboratory to laboratory and depend on method used.
 åor adults, normal values are usually found within the following ranges:

- IgM: 60-290 mg/dl

- IgÑ: 700-1800 mg/dl

- IgG: 70-440 mg/dl





 

 








Isoelectric focusing (IEå), also known as electrofocusing, is a technique for separating

different molecules by their electric charge differences. It is a type of zone electrophoresis,
usually performed in a gel, that takes advantage of the fact that a molecule's charge changes
with the pH of its surroundings.

Isoelectric focusing (IEå) represents the first dimension of two- dimensional (2D)
electrophoresis, and immobilized pH gradient (IPÑ) strips facilitate this analysis. It is an
electrophoretic method for separating proteins in gels which depends on the fact that the net
charge on the protein varies with the pH of the surrounding medium. Gt the isoelectric point
the protein has no net charge and will not therefore migrate further in an electric field. The
polyacrylamide gel is cast in a narrow tube that provides a pH gradient from top to bottom.
Each sample protein applied to an IPÑ strip will migrate to its isoelectric point (pI), the point at
which its net charge is zero. ProteoÑel IPÑ strips are available in three lengths to accommodate
various gel sizes and six pH ranges to allow optimal separation.

!"
#
$"

 Narrow and wide range strips with overlap options, in three lengths, allow optimal
resolution of most protein samples
 Control in manufacturing ensures reproducible performance
 IPÑ strips reduce preparation time and reduce reagent waste
 Strips are labeled for polarity to ensure proper orientation


‰
%&
"
"'()*!
"&

G technique has been developed for the separation of proteins by two-dimensional

polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Due to its resolution and sensitivity, this technique is a
powerful tool for the analysis and detection of proteins from complex biological sources.





Proteins are separated according to isoelectric point by isoelectric focusing in the first
dimension, and according to molecular weight by sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis in the
second dimension. Since these two parameters are unrelated, it is possible to obtain an almost
uniform distribution of protein spots across a two-dimensional gel.

This technique has resolved 1100 different components from Escherichia coli and should be
capable of resolving a maximum of 5000 proteins. G protein containing as little as one
disintegration per min of either 14C or 35S can be detected by autoradiography. G protein
which constitutes 10 minus 4 to 10 minus 5% of the total protein can be detected and
quantified by autoradiography. The reproducibility of the separation is sufficient to permit each
spot on one separation to be matched with a spot on a different separation.



This technique provides a method for estimation (at the described sensitivities) of the number
of proteins made by any biological system. This system can determine proteins differing in a
single charge and consequently can be used in the analysis of in vivo modifications resulting in a
change in charge. Proteins whose charge is changed by missense mutations can be identified. G
detailed description of the methods as well as the characteristics of this system are presented.



Total protein: 6.4-8.4g/dL

Glbumin: 3.5-5.0g/dL

Glpha-1 globulin: 0.1-0.3g/dL

Glpha-2 globulin:0.6-1.0g/dL

Beta globulin:0.7-1.2g/dL

Ñamma globulin: 0.7-1.6g/dL