What type of electrophoresis is used to separate proteins in a gel format?

Vertical gel electrophoresis is a technique commonly used to separate proteins based on their size and charge. This method utilizes a vertical setup where the gel is oriented in a vertical position, allowing for the separation of proteins through polyacrylamide gels. The vertical design facilitates the analysis of larger proteins and is often used for techniques such as SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis), which denatures proteins and separates them according to their molecular weight.

The gel's vertical orientation aids in achieving better resolution for the separation of proteins, especially in applications where high sensitivity and accuracy in the size determination of complex mixtures are required. The ability to separate proteins effectively is essential in many biochemical and molecular biology applications, including protein characterization and purification.