Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the top to create the sample wells. After the gel is polymerized the comb can be removed and the gel is ready for electrophoresis. Various buffer systems are used in PAGE depending on the nature of the sample and the experimental objective. The buffers used at the anode and cathode may be the same or different. An electric field is applied across the gel, causing the negatively charged proteins or nucleic acids to migrate across the gel away from the negative electrode (which is the cathode being that this is an electrolytic rather than galvanic cell) and towards the positive
Auxiliary electrode species which exhibits reversible redox behavior. Auxiliary electrodes are often fabricated from electrochemically inert materials such as gold, platinum, or carbon. Auxiliary electrode The auxiliary electrode, often also called the counter electrode, is an electrode used in a three electrode electrochemical cell for voltammetric analysis or other reactions in which an electric current is expected to flow. The auxiliary electrode is distinct from the reference electrode, which establishes the electrical potential against which other potentials may be measured, and the working electrode, at which the cell reaction takes place. In a two-electrode system, either a known current or potential is