Microstructure apparatus and method for separating differently charged molecules using an applied electric field
First Claim
1. A system for separating molecules having different charges and capturing a molecule of interest for detection, comprising:
- a) a microstructure plate comprising;
at least one microstructure, each microstructure comprising a series of microstructure sections and channels, wherein each microstructure section is directly interconnected to at least one other microstructure section by at least one channel, the series comprising;
at least one sample accepting microstructure section for introducing sample into the microstructure plate, wherein the sample accepting microstructure section does not have an electrode and is fluidly connected to the exterior of the microstructure plate;
at least one first electrode microstructure section;
at least one second electrode microstructure section;
at least one capture microstructure section containing a capture matrix, wherein the capture microstructure section is between the first and second electrode microstructure sections in the series;
wherein the microstructures in the microstructure plate are formed by at least two layers of material, wherein at least one layer is a sealing plate layer which seals at least one channel or microstructure section in the microstructure plate; and
b) an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly having at least one first and at least one second electrode, wherein each first electrode microstructure section is in electrical contact with at least one first electrode, and wherein each second electrode microstructure section is in electrical contact with at least one second electrode.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The field of the present invention relates generally to a microstructure apparatus which may be used in a high-throughput screening context to monitor the rate of reaction of an enzyme with its substrate in cases where the product of the reaction has an altered net charge. For example, the systems and methods disclosed herein may be used to detect the activity of phosphatase enzymes, proteases and kinases on charged peptide substrates. The microstructure devices of the present invention comprise a plurality of microstructures, wherein each microstructure comprises a capture matrix located between two electrodes.
43 Citations
50 Claims
-
1. A system for separating molecules having different charges and capturing a molecule of interest for detection, comprising:
-
a) a microstructure plate comprising; at least one microstructure, each microstructure comprising a series of microstructure sections and channels, wherein each microstructure section is directly interconnected to at least one other microstructure section by at least one channel, the series comprising; at least one sample accepting microstructure section for introducing sample into the microstructure plate, wherein the sample accepting microstructure section does not have an electrode and is fluidly connected to the exterior of the microstructure plate; at least one first electrode microstructure section; at least one second electrode microstructure section; at least one capture microstructure section containing a capture matrix, wherein the capture microstructure section is between the first and second electrode microstructure sections in the series; wherein the microstructures in the microstructure plate are formed by at least two layers of material, wherein at least one layer is a sealing plate layer which seals at least one channel or microstructure section in the microstructure plate; and b) an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly having at least one first and at least one second electrode, wherein each first electrode microstructure section is in electrical contact with at least one first electrode, and wherein each second electrode microstructure section is in electrical contact with at least one second electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
-
Specification