Abstract
DNA is bound by many proteins in a sequence specific manner. Electrophoretic mobility-shift assays (EMSAs), also known as gel shift assays, are designed to determine the amount and identity of proteins from a particular sample that bind to a specific DNA sequence, usually an enhancer element. The defined DNA sequence is presented as a radiolabeled, synthetic oligonucleotide to a protein extract, which contains DNA-binding proteins. These proteins can then bind to the oligonucleotide. The sample is electrophoresed through a nondenaturing acrylamide gel in a vertical electrophoresis system; the gel is dried and exposed to X-ray film. Whereas the oligonucleotide will move quickly through the gel, oligonucleotides that are bound by protein will move slower and thus be shifted. The more DNA-binding proteins bind to oligonucleotides, the stronger the radioactive signal of the shifted band.
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Ā© 2003 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ
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Konradi, C.L. (2003). Analysis of DNA-Binding Activity in Neuronal Tissue with the Electrophoretic Mobility-Shift Assay. In: Wang, J.Q. (eds) Drugs of Abuse. Methods In Molecular Medicineā¢, vol 79. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-358-5:315
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-358-5:315
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-057-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-358-3
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