CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS OF SEED ALBUMINS FROM VICIA SPECIES USING UNCOATED AND SURFACE-MODIFIED FUSED-SILICA CAPILLARIES

Capillary zone electrophoresis has been developed for the separation of seed albumins from Vicia faba using both uncoated and polyoxyethylene ether (Brij-35) coated octadecylsilane derivatized capillaries. Optimal separation conditions were found by studying the effect of pH, buffer composition and applied voltage. The nonionic surfactant/C-18 coated capillary significantly reduced albumin adsorption and electroosmotic flow (EOF). A gradual washing out of the surfactant from the coated capillary during use altered not only the magnitude of the EOF but also its reproducibility. The introduction of hydrophilic polymer solutions between analyses for dynamic modification of the Brij/C-18 coated capillary surface prevented desorption of coating material, allowed optimization of resolution and ensured stability of the EOF CE with surface-modified capillaries was then used to compare seed albumin profiles of several Vicia species. This technique appears to provide a powerful tool for use in taxonomic investigations.