Which serum protein migrates the fastest in electrophoresis?

Which serum protein migrates the fastest in electrophoresis?

• A. Gamma globulins
• B. Beta globulins
• C. Albumin
• D. Alpha-1 globulins

Answer: (C)

In electrophoresis, molecules separate by how easily they move in an electric field, which depends on their charge-to-mass ratio and size. Albumin has the smallest size among the serum proteins and carries a strong net negative charge in the typical alkaline buffer used for this test, giving it the highest mobility toward the positively charged electrode. That combination—smallest particle and high negative charge per mass—lets albumin travel the farthest, so it migrates the fastest. The other proteins (alpha-1, alpha-2, beta, gamma globulins) are larger and/or have lower charge density, so they move more slowly and appear as successive bands after albumin.

In electrophoresis, molecules separate by how easily they move in an electric field, which depends on their charge-to-mass ratio and size. Albumin has the smallest size among the serum proteins and carries a strong net negative charge in the typical alkaline buffer used for this test, giving it the highest mobility toward the positively charged electrode. That combination—smallest particle and high negative charge per mass—lets albumin travel the farthest, so it migrates the fastest. The other proteins (alpha-1, alpha-2, beta, gamma globulins) are larger and/or have lower charge density, so they move more slowly and appear as successive bands after albumin.