Considerations for farm animal proteomic experiments: An introductory view gel-based versus non-gel-based approaches

Abstract

Preparing for a proteomic experiment will require a number of important decisions. Because of the complexity of most samples, one of the first important decisions is how to separate proteins prior to analysis by the mass spectrometer. There are two basic approaches; the first approach is gel-based electrophoresis that typically separate proteins based on molecular weight and/or isoelectric point. The second approach is non-gel-based or liquid chromatography that typically separates peptides based on hydrophobicity. We discuss some of the pros and cons of each separation method to allow the proper alignment of research objectives and scientific methodologies.