SDS PAGE for viruses

[Chinmay1988]

I was wondering if it is possible to run purified viruses in SDS PAGE gels? I am thinking of an experiment using hepatitis A virus and wanted to know its size in kDA. I do know that its ORF codes for a polyprotein which is 250 kDA in size, however if I load the virus onto the gel, will I get a similar size?

 

Cheers

[CharonY]

Under non-denaturing conditions (i.e. not SDS) the capsid will not be of the same size as a the unprocessed polyprotein (electrophoretic mobility is quite different). Under denaturing conditions you will see the subunits.

Edited September 7, 2011 by CharonY

[Chinmay1988]

Thank you so much