Abstract
We consider the motion and the deformation of Gaussian polyampholytes
in free flow electrophoresis, i.e., in an applied external electric
field. The electrophoretic mobility and the deformation of the chains
are calculated in the linear regime, as Functions of the charge distribution
along the backbone and of the salt concentration. The results in
salt-fret: solutions differ from those in solutions with a high concentration
of salt even at the level of scaling laws. It is shown that in solutions
with a high salt concentration, the electrophoretic mobility of a
given polyampholyte strongly depends not only on its total charge
but also on the details of the charge distribution along the chain.
The very direction of motion can also depend on it. Indeed, even
"neutral" polyampholytes, i.e., chains with equal number of positive
and negative charges can move in an applied electric field. To demonstrate
further these effects, we systematically compare the behavior of
the linear and circular chains. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.
S0021-9606(98)50703-9.
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