Protein separation by continuous‐flow electrophoresis in microgravity

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Abstract
During the IML‐2 space shuttle mission, the RAMSES instrument was operated in the Spacelab module. This continuous‐flow electrophoresis device performs separation and purification of protein solutions on a preparative scale. Samples containing artificial mixtures of pure proteins were used to test the capabilities of the device, and useful separations were obtained for proteins having a mobility difference of only 3 × 10−9 m2·V−1·s−1. Operating conditions that cannot be applied on earth were explored for two different sample concentrations, one of which is too high to allow treatment on earth. It agrees well with a previously published numerical model in that the main cause of loss in resolution in this process is the electrohydrodynamic spreading of the protein filaments.