JP2010054195A - Capillary unit, capillary electrophoretic apparatus and capillary electrophoretic migration method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple capillary electrophoretic apparatus which excels in quantity determination characteristics. <P>SOLUTION: The capillary electrophoretic apparatus includes a first buffer solution holding block 1, having a first electrode 20 and a migration medium holding part 5 for holding an electrophoretic medium; a capillary tube block 3 holding a first capillary tube 14 in its longitudinal direction so that the opening parts thereof are positioned at both ends thereof and having a detection window 15 and a temperature regulating hole 23 both of which permit the exposure of the first capillary tube 14; a second buffer solution holding block 2 equipped with a second electrode 21 and a second capillary tube 22; and a sample injecting block 4, keeping the capillary tube block 3 and the second buffer solution holding block 2 connected from both ends and provided with a gap 17 for holding the sample electrically migrated across the first capillary tube 14 and the second capillary tube 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a capillary unit, a capillary electrophoresis apparatus, and a capillary electrophoresis method for performing electrophoresis of a sample using a capillary tube.

  Analytical techniques for DNA and proteins have made great progress due to the practical application of fluorescence detectors. Conventionally, plate-type gel electrophoresis devices have been used for analysis based on the molecular weight of DNA and proteins, but the demand for high-speed and high-throughput devices such as genome analysis has increased, and gels in capillaries (capillaries) Alternatively, capillary gel electrophoresis apparatuses that are filled with a flowable polymer and used as an analysis tube have become widespread. A fluid gel or fluid polymer is used as a separation medium, and a fully automatic capillary gel electrophoresis apparatus that automatically refills the gel as necessary has been developed and put into practical use.

  Capillaries have glass tubes coated with polyimide, and handling is considered to some extent, but the sample detection part of the capillary tube is broken at that part because the polyimide clothing is peeled off, so the operability of the capillary alone is not good .

In view of this, a technique has been disclosed in which a cassette for holding a capillary tube is provided and the cassette can be attached / detached / replaced to improve the ease of handling of the capillary (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-5-256820

  However, in the conventional configuration, since it is impossible to perform quantification when the capillary is filled with the sample to be electrophoresed, there is a problem that the result of electrophoresis varies.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems. By making the capillaries into units, the capillaries can be easily attached and detached, and the amount of sample to be electrophoresed is always constant so as not to cause measurement variations. It is an object of the present invention to provide a capillary unit, a capillary electrophoresis apparatus, and a capillary electrophoresis method.

  In order to solve the conventional problems, a capillary unit of the present invention opens a first buffer solution holding block having a first electrode and an electrophoresis medium holding unit for holding an electrophoresis medium, and a first capillary tube. A second block comprising a detection block that exposes the first capillary, a capillary block having a temperature adjustment hole, a second electrode, and a second capillary; A buffer holding block, a sample in which the capillary block and the second buffer holding block are connected from both ends, and a gap is provided between the first capillary and the second capillary to hold a sample to be electrophoresed It is characterized by including an injection block.

  Further, in the capillary unit, the first buffer solution holding block is configured such that the electrophoresis medium holding unit and the first electrode are separated by a permeable membrane through which only the ions do not pass through the buffer solution and the electrophoresis medium, The electrophoresis medium is injected into the electrophoresis medium holding unit, the first electrode is immersed in the buffer solution, and the buffer solution and the electrophoresis medium are electrically connected through the permeable membrane. It is what.

  Further, in the capillary unit, the capillary block is characterized in that the electrophoretic medium is filled into the first capillary from a surface coupled to the first buffer solution holding block.

  Further, in the capillary unit, the second buffer solution holding block is characterized in that the second capillary is filled with a buffer solution, and the second electrode is immersed in the buffer solution.

  Further, in the capillary unit, the sample injection block further includes a third electrode, and when the electrophoretic medium is filled in the first capillary, the first electrophoretic medium is in contact with the sample. When the current is passed between the electrode and the third electrode, and the buffer solution is filled between the second capillaries, the second electrode and the third electrode when the buffer solution contacts the sample It is characterized by being energized between.

  Further, in the capillary unit, the first buffer solution holding block and the capillary tube block, the capillary tube block, the second buffer solution holding block, and the sample injection block are detachable.

  Furthermore, in the capillary electrophoresis apparatus of the present invention, a unit holding part for holding at least one capillary unit according to claim 1, a power supply part for applying a predetermined voltage to the capillary unit, and a flow through the power supply part A current detection unit that detects current, a light irradiation unit that emits light in a predetermined wavelength range, a first light receiving unit that detects light in a first wavelength range, and light in a second wavelength range A second light receiving unit, a first photoconductive unit that guides the light emitted from the light irradiating unit to a predetermined position, and an optical path that guides the light guided from the first photoconductive unit to an arbitrary location. A conversion unit; a second photoconductive unit that guides light from at least one position to the first light receiving unit; and a third photoconductive unit that guides light from the optical path conversion unit to the second light receiving unit; Capillary unit held by the unit holder A temperature control unit for temperature management of a part of the capillaries in the base, and obtaining a current value from the current detection unit while adjusting the voltage of the power supply unit, and further switching the optical path of the optical path conversion unit A control unit is provided for acquiring the amount of light detected by the first light receiving unit and the second light receiving unit.

  Furthermore, in the capillary electrophoresis apparatus, the optical path conversion unit guides the light guided from the first photoconductive unit to at least one capillary unit held by the unit holding unit. .

  Further, in the capillary electrophoresis apparatus, the second photoconductive portion guides light from the at least one capillary unit held by the unit holding portion to the first light receiving portion.

  Furthermore, in the capillary electrophoresis method of the present invention, applying pressure to the electrophoresis medium holding part filled with the electrophoresis medium, injecting the electrophoresis medium into the first capillary, and the electrophoresis medium being the first Pressurizing and injecting a buffer solution into a second capillary located on the opposite side to the side injected into the capillary, and electrophoresis in a gap provided between the first capillary and the second capillary Injecting a sample to be performed, applying a voltage to the first capillary and the second capillary, moving a predetermined amount of the sample through the first capillary toward the electrophoresis medium holding unit, and the gap Taking out the sample remaining in the gap, injecting the buffer into the gap, applying voltage to the first capillary and the second capillary, and It is characterized in that comprises a step of, and measuring the first of the light emitted by the sample in the loading medium holding portion of the capillary tube.

  As described above, according to the capillary unit, capillary electrophoresis apparatus, and capillary electrophoresis method of the present invention, the sample can be easily attached to and detached from the apparatus, and the sample can be quantified with a simple mechanism. In addition, when multiple units are arranged in parallel, the temperature control device can be downsized by configuring the part that requires temperature adjustment in a single tunnel shape, and excitation detection that can be configured with multiple channels with one light source and one detection unit By using the unit, a small and high performance capillary electrophoresis apparatus can be realized.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a capillary unit, a capillary electrophoresis apparatus, and a capillary electrophoresis method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
The configuration of each block of the capillary unit of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
1A is a perspective view of the capillary unit, FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the capillary unit, and FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view when all the blocks are coupled.
The capillary unit of the present invention includes a first buffer solution holding block 1 that contains a buffer solution, a second buffer solution holding block 2, a capillary block 3, and a sample injection block 4.

  The first buffer solution holding block 1 and the second buffer solution holding block 2 are provided with buffer solution inlets 6 and 7 and air vent holes 8 and 9 for injecting the buffer solution 111 on the upper surface. When the liquid 111 is injected from the buffer solution inlets 6 and 7, the air in the buffer solution holding block escapes from the air vent holes 8 and 9, so that it can be injected without resistance.

  In addition, a first electrode 20 and a second electrode 21 are provided inside the first buffer solution holding block 1 and the second buffer solution holding block 2 so as to be immersed in the buffer solution 111, respectively. .

  Furthermore, the first buffer solution holding block 1 is provided with a gel injection port 10 and an air vent hole 11 for injecting the electrophoresis medium 113, and a permeable membrane 16 is provided inside, and the portion for holding the buffer solution 111 and the electrophoresis medium 113. Is separated into a gel holding portion 5 for holding the gel.

  The electric field generated by the first electrode 20 in the buffer solution holding block 1 while the buffer solution 111 injected from the buffer solution inlet 6 is not mixed with the electrophoresis medium 113 due to the installation of the osmotic membrane 16 causes the buffer solution 111 to generate an electric field. And can be generated in the capillary block 3 via the migration medium 113.

  Part of the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 21 protrudes from the buffer solution holding block. The protruding portion and the connector connected to the power supply on the apparatus side are in contact with each other, so that a voltage can be applied to the capillary unit.

  Further, a second capillary 22 is embedded on the side of the second buffer holding block 2 to be joined with the sample injection block 4.

  Next, the sample injection block 4 will be described. A sample injection port 12 for injecting a DNA sample 112 and an air vent hole 13 for venting air are provided in the upper part of the sample injection block 4. Further, both the left and right ends are connected by a through-hole and are connected so as to be sandwiched from both ends by the capillary block 3 and the second buffer solution holding block 2, so that the inside of the sample injection block 4 is connected to the capillary tube 14 and the buffer solution block in the capillary block 3 A gap 17 is formed between the second capillaries 22 in the two.

  Next, the capillary block 3 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1 (b), the capillary block 3 is a portion where the sample injected into the sample injection block 4 actually undergoes electrophoresis, and the capillary 14 is sandwiched between resin materials such as acrylic and bonded and bonded. ing.

  The detection window 15 is provided for optically detecting the concentration of the sample that has been electrophoresed in the first capillary 14, and at least the first capillary 14 is optically detected from the outside in the detection window 15 portion. There is no clothing to keep strength as much as possible.

  Further, a temperature adjusting hole 23 penetrating perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the first capillary 14 is provided, and a part of the first capillary 14 is exposed. By configuring in this way, as shown in FIG. 2A, the temperature-controlled air A is fed into the temperature adjusting hole 23, and the temperature inside the first capillary 14 can be controlled. .

  Further, with the above-described configuration, when a plurality of capillary units are arranged in parallel so that the temperature adjustment holes 23 are continuous as shown in FIG. 2B, the temperature adjustment holes 23 of the capillary blocks 3 are tunnel-shaped. Therefore, even in the case of multi-channel analysis (simultaneous measurement of a large number of migration samples at one time), it is possible to cope with one temperature control device.

  Further, as is well known, when it is desired to accurately separate the components contained in the DNA sample 112 by increasing the length of the first capillary tube 14 (to improve the resolution), as shown in FIG. The capillaries 14 in the temperature control holes 23 are formed in a ring shape and housed in a temperature control unit, so that the temperature-controlled electricity can be changed without changing the structure of both ends, the position of the detection window 15, the position of the temperature control holes 23, etc. Electrophoresis can be realized.

  Next, the capillary unit in a state where the above-described blocks are combined will be described with reference to FIG. By connecting the buffer holding blocks 1 and 2 to the sample injection block 4 and the capillary block 3, a capillary unit 101 as shown in FIG. 1C is obtained.

  The first capillary 14 and the second capillary 22 are arranged on the same line, and a gap 17 having a constant width is provided in the sample injection block 4 part. The gap 17 is filled with the DNA sample 112 injected from the sample injection port 12.

  Further, the electrophoresis medium 113 injected into the gel holding unit 5 in the buffer solution holding block 1 is configured to flow into the first capillary 14 when the pressure of the gel holding unit 5 is increased.

  Now, a capillary electrophoresis method from sample injection to electrophoresis will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the capillary electrophoresis method of the present invention. Here, a case where molecular weight separation of DNA using capillary gel electrophoresis is performed will be described as an example.

  The sample injected into the sample inlet 12 is 12 bp and 60 bp DNA, and the electrophoresis medium injected into the gel inlet is an acrylamide linear polymer. Further, the buffer solution injected into the buffer solution inlet 6 and the buffer solution inlet 7 is a TB buffer adjusted to ph 7.4, and the electrophoresis medium is also adjusted to ph 7.4 by the TB buffer.

Step S1: FIG. 3 (a)
First, a buffer solution 111 for energization was injected from the buffer solution inlet 6 and the buffer solution inlet 7, respectively, and the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 21 provided therein were immersed in the buffer solution 111. State.

Step S2: FIG. 3B
Next, the electrophoresis medium 113 is injected from the gel injection port 10 into the gel holding unit 5 in the first buffer solution holding block 1.

Step S3: FIG. 3 (c)
Further, the air vent holes 8 and 11 of the first buffer solution holding block 1 are sealed, and the buffer solution inlet 6 and the gel inlet 10 are pressurized for a predetermined time, so that the electrophoresis medium 113 held in the gel holder 5 is removed. , Moved into the first capillary 14 and filled.

Step S4: FIG. 3 (d)
At the same time, the inside of the second capillary 22 is filled with the buffer solution 111 by sealing the air vent hole 9 of the second buffer solution holding block 2 and pressurizing the buffer solution inlet 7 for a predetermined time.

Step S5: FIG. 3 (e)
Next, a DNA sample 112 to be separated is injected from the sample injection portion 12 of the sample injection block 4, and the gap 17 formed between the first capillary 14 and the second capillary 22 is filled with the DNA sample 112.

Step S6: FIG. 3 (f)
A voltage is applied between the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 21 for a certain period of time in order to introduce a certain amount of the DNA sample 112 into the capillary tube 14. In this example, anion DNA separation is performed here as an example, and the first capillary 14 is also coated with polyacrylamide, so that no electroosmotic flow is generated. Is set. At this time, the amount of the DNA sample 112 introduced into the first capillary 14 is changed by changing the magnitude of the voltage applied to the electrode and the application time. By utilizing this characteristic, the amount of the DNA sample 112 to be subjected to capillary electrophoresis can be adjusted as necessary.

Step S7: FIG. 3 (g)
The DNA sample 112 that is not introduced into the first capillary 14 but remains in the gap 17 is replaced with a new buffer 117 using a liquid pump, a suction pump, or the like. Here, the same buffer solution 111 and buffer solution 117 are used. By doing in this way, the same amount of sample can be introduced into the capillary tube every time unlike various introduction methods such as a drop method and a suction / pressurization method which are affected by the viscosity of the gel and the measurement environment. In the first embodiment, when the DNA sample 112 left in the gap 17 is replaced with the buffer solution 117, the DNA sample 112 introduced into the first capillary 14 is washed away, or the first capillary As a method for preventing bubbles from being included in 14 or the second capillary 22, the flow rate of the buffer solution 117 injected from the sample injection port 12 and the flow rate of the sample sucked from the air vent hole 13 are set to 2: 1. Yes.

Step S8: FIG. 3 (h)
The voltage is applied again to the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 21 to start electrophoresis. Then, the DNA sample 112 filled in the first capillary 14 moves toward the first buffer solution holding block 1 by electrophoresis and is further separated, and when the DNA sample 112 reaches the detection window 15, the DNA sample 112 is sequentially separated. It is detected optically.

  The detection method may be a method of modifying the DNA sample 112 with a fluorescent dye, irradiating excitation light and detecting the fluorescence intensity at that time, or a method of detecting the absorbance using the light absorption characteristics of the sample.

  Finally, the temperature control is performed continuously during the above-described operation, and the temperature of the first capillary 14 is controlled by feeding the temperature-controlled air into the temperature adjustment hole 23.

  As described above, in Embodiment 1, electrophoresis can be performed with a simple configuration by unitizing a capillary tube and its peripheral components. In particular, since a gap for holding a certain amount of sample to be electrophoresed is provided in the unit and only a necessary amount of sample is filled in the capillary, it is possible to always perform stable electrophoresis.

  The step S5 for injecting the DNA sample 112 into the sample injection block 4 is performed immediately after the step S2 for injecting the electrophoresis medium 113 from the gel injection port 10 to the gel holding unit 5 in the first buffer solution holding block 1. Also good.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a capillary unit according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The difference from the configuration of the first embodiment is that the sample electrode 301 is provided on the inner wall surface of the sample injection block 4.

  The sample electrode 301 is for preventing unfilling due to the influence of air bubbles or the hardness of the gel-like migration medium 113 when the first capillary 14 is filled with the migration medium 113. The sample electrode 301 is connected to the power source of the apparatus, and is configured to change the application direction of the electrode with the first electrode 20 or the second electrode 21. First, the filling operation is performed by the method described in Embodiment 1 while applying a voltage to the first electrode 20 and the sample electrode 301 when the electrophoresis medium 113 is filled, so that the electrophoresis medium 113 is in the inflow direction 302 of the buffer solution. The first capillary 14 is sequentially filled. Energization is detected between the first electrode 20 and the sample electrode 301 when the sample 112 and the electrophoresis medium 113 are finally filled, and the filling pump is stopped. Next, filling is performed by the same method until energization is detected between the second electrode 21 and the sample electrode 301. In this way, the first capillary 14 is sufficiently filled with the buffer solution 111 in the electrophoresis medium 113 and the second capillary 22, so that insufficient filling and mixing of bubbles do not occur.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, since it is detected by energization that the capillary is filled with the electrophoresis medium and the buffer solution, insufficient filling of the capillary can be prevented.

  In addition, when the hardness of the electrophoresis medium 113 with which the first capillary 14 is filled is low, filling may be performed by the following method. The first capillary 14 is filled and connected to the DNA sample 112 before filling with a pump due to capillary action. The connected DNA sample 112 spreads to the first capillary 14 while diffusing into the electrophoresis medium 113, and if a capillary electrophoresis experiment is performed in this state, the detection result becomes broad and a sharp waveform cannot be obtained. Therefore, in order to reliably perform the filling operation by the pump, an open space is provided between the first capillary and the DNA sample 112, and the migration medium 113 filled by capillary action is stopped at one end of the first capillary 14 by surface tension. . Thereafter, the electrophoresis medium 113 is pushed from the first capillary 14 by a pump, and the DNA sample 112 and the electrophoresis medium 113 are connected by filling the open space. Therefore, the filling operation into the first capillary 14 by the pump is surely performed. Is possible.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of the capillary electrophoresis apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The holding unit 401 stores the capillary unit 402 described in the first and second embodiments, and in this embodiment, six sets are stored. FIG. 6 shows a state in which only one set of capillary units 402 is accommodated in order to clarify the configuration.

  The connector unit 411 supplies a voltage to an electrode in the capillary unit 402 from a high voltage power source (not shown) when the capillary unit 402 is stored in the holding unit 401.

  The temperature adjustment unit 403 adjusts the temperature of the capillary unit 402 stored in the holding unit 401. Liquid feed pump 404 and suction pump 405 are used in step S7 in the first embodiment, and pressure pump 406 is used in steps S3 and S4 in the first embodiment.

  The light irradiation unit 407 emits light in a specific wavelength range. The optical selector 408 switches the optical path irradiated by the light irradiation unit 407. The light detection unit 409 detects light in a specific wavelength range. The light irradiation unit 407 and the optical selector 408 are connected by an optical fiber, and further, six optical fibers extend from the optical selector 408 to the detection window of each capillary unit 402 accommodated in the holding unit. In other words, the light irradiated from the light irradiation unit 407 can be irradiated to the detection window of any one of the capillary units 402 via the optical selector 408.

  The control unit 410 controls all of the power source, the optical selector 408, the liquid feed pump 404, the suction pump 405, the pressure pump 406, and the like described above.

  Since the steps from sample injection to electrophoresis have been described in Embodiment 1, they are omitted here, and only the detection process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an optical path for detection. In this embodiment, six sets of capillary units can be accommodated, but only three sets are shown for easy understanding.

  A turntable 423 is built in the optical selector 408, and an optical fiber 420 is disposed. A fixed plate 424 is built in the optical selector 408, has the same outer shape as the rotary plate 423, and a total of six optical fibers 421a, 421b, 421c and three others are arranged on the same circumference.

  Although the turntable 423 and the fixed platen 424 are not illustrated, they are connected by a single shaft installed at the center, and the turntable 423 is configured to rotate. The optical fiber 420 and the optical fibers 421a, 421b, and 421c (including the other three) have the same distance from the above-described axis, and the optical axis of the optical fiber 420 and the optical fiber 421a are adjusted by adjusting the rotation angle of the rotating disk 423. , 421b, 421c (including the other three) can be arranged on the same line.

  The capillaries 427a, 427b, and 427c are built in the capillary unit 402, and the detection windows 426a, 426b, and 426c correspond to the capillaries 427a, 427b, and 427c, respectively. The detection windows 426a, 426b, and 426c are optically transparent as described above.

  The optical fibers 422a, 422b, and 422c are configured to guide the light incident from the detection windows 426a, 426b, and 426c to the light receiving unit 409, respectively.

  Now, the process will be described with reference to detection of an electrophoresis sample in which a fluorescent dye present in the detection window 426a is modified.

  First, the rotating disk 423 is rotated, and stops when the optical axis of the optical fiber 420 is collinear with the optical axis of the optical fiber 421a. At this time, in this embodiment, the distance between the end face of the optical fiber 420 and the end face of the optical fiber 421a is provided between 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm.

  Here, when the first light emitted from the irradiation unit 407 is input to one end of the optical fiber 420, the detection window 426a is finally irradiated with light through the optical fiber 421a.

  When the sample is present in the detection window 426a, the sample excited by the first light emits the second light which is fluorescence, and the second light is detected through the optical fiber 422a. It is guided to the part 409 and detected. At this time, since no light (excitation light) is irradiated to the other detection windows, fluorescence is not emitted, and the value detected by the light detection unit 409 moves inside the capillary tube 427a and reaches the detection window 426a. It will be proportional to the concentration of the sample reached.

  Similarly, when a sample existing in the detection window 426b is detected, the sample can be detected by rotating the turntable 423 so that the optical axis of the optical fiber 420 and the optical axis of the optical fiber 421b are on the same line.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, when a plurality of capillary units are set, an optical fiber can be selected, so that one light irradiation unit and one light detection unit for exciting a sample are provided. However, it is possible to detect samples at a plurality of detection sites.

  The capillary unit, capillary electrophoresis apparatus, and capillary electrophoresis method according to the present invention can be easily attached to and detached from the apparatus, and the sample can be quantified with a simple mechanism. Useful as such.

The figure which shows the structure of the capillary unit in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The perspective view which shows the state which arranged the capillary unit in Embodiment 1 of this invention in parallel Sectional drawing of a capillary unit in each step of capillary electrophoresis in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Flowchart of capillary electrophoresis method in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The figure which shows the capillary unit in Embodiment 2 of this invention Configuration diagram of capillary electrophoresis apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention Schematic configuration diagram showing an optical path of a capillary electrophoresis apparatus in Embodiment 3 of the present invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st buffer solution holding block 2 2nd buffer solution holding block 3 Capillary block 4 Sample injection block 5 Gel holding part 6, 7 Buffer solution inlet 8, 9 Air vent hole 10 Gel inlet 11 Air vent hole 12 Sample inlet DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 Air vent hole 14 1st capillary 15 Detection window 16 Osmosis membrane 17 Gap 20 1st electrode 21 2nd electrode 22 2nd capillary 23 Temperature control hole 101 Capillary unit 111 Buffer 112 DNA sample 113 Electrophoresis medium 117 Buffer 301 Sample electrode 401 Holding unit 402 Capillary unit 403 Temperature adjusting unit 404 Liquid feed pump 405 Suction pump 406 Pressure pump 407 Light irradiation unit 408 Optical selector 409 Photodetection unit 410 Control unit 420 Optical fiber 421a, b, c Optical fiber 42 a, b, c optical fiber 423 turntable 424 fixed platen 426a, b, c detection window 427a, b, c capillary

Claims (10)

A first buffer holding block having a first electrode and an electrophoresis medium holding part for holding an electrophoresis medium;
A capillary block that holds the first capillary in the longitudinal direction so that the openings are located at both ends, and that has a detection window and a temperature control hole that expose the first capillary;
A second buffer holding block comprising a second electrode and a second capillary;
The capillary block and the second buffer holding block are connected from both ends, and includes a sample injection block provided with a gap for holding a sample to be electrophoresed between the first capillary and the second capillary.
Capillary unit characterized by that. The first buffer solution holding block includes:
The electrophoresis medium holding part and the first electrode are separated by a permeation membrane through which only the ions do not pass through the buffer solution and the electrophoresis medium, and the electrophoresis medium is injected into the electrophoresis medium holding part, The first electrode is immersed in the buffer solution, and the buffer solution and the electrophoresis medium are electrically connected through the permeable membrane.
The capillary unit according to claim 1. The capillary block is
The electrophoretic medium is filled into the first capillary from the surface coupled to the first buffer holding block.
The capillary unit according to claim 1. The second buffer holding block is
The second capillary is filled with a buffer solution, and the second electrode is immersed in the buffer solution;
The capillary unit according to claim 1. The sample injection block further comprises a third electrode;
When the electrophoretic medium is filled in the first capillary, when the electrophoretic medium is in contact with the sample, energization is performed between the first electrode and the third electrode,
When the buffer solution is filled between the second capillaries, energization is performed between the second electrode and the third electrode when the buffer solution contacts the sample.
The capillary unit according to claim 1. The first buffer holding block and the capillary block;
The capillary block, the second buffer solution holding block, and the sample injection block are detachable, respectively.
The capillary unit according to claim 1. A unit holder for holding at least one capillary unit according to claim 1;
A power supply unit for applying a predetermined voltage to the capillary unit;
A current detection unit for detecting a current flowing in the power supply unit;
A light irradiation unit for irradiating light in a predetermined wavelength range;
A first light receiving unit for detecting light in a first wavelength range;
A second light receiving unit for detecting light in the second wavelength range;
A first photoconductive portion that guides light emitted from the light irradiation portion to a predetermined position;
An optical path changing unit for further guiding the light guided from the first photoconductive unit to an arbitrary place;
A second photoconductive portion for guiding light from at least one position to the first light receiving portion;
A third photoconductive unit for guiding light from the optical path changing unit to the second light receiving unit;
A temperature control unit for managing the temperature of a part of the capillary tube in the capillary unit held by the unit holding unit;
The current value is acquired from the current detection unit while adjusting the voltage of the power supply unit, and further, the amount of light detected by the first light receiving unit and the second light receiving unit is acquired while switching the optical path of the optical path conversion unit. Equipped with a control unit,
A capillary electrophoresis apparatus characterized by that. The capillary electrophoresis apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the optical path conversion unit guides the light guided from the first photoconductive unit to at least one capillary unit held by the unit holding unit. . The capillary electrophoresis apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second photoconductive unit guides light from the at least one capillary unit held by the unit holding unit to the first light receiving unit. Applying pressure to the electrophoresis medium holding part filled with the electrophoresis medium, and injecting the electrophoresis medium into the first capillary;
Pressurizing and injecting a buffer solution into a second capillary located on the opposite side to the side on which the electrophoresis medium is injected into the first capillary;
Injecting a sample to be electrophoresed into a gap provided between the first capillary and the second capillary;
Applying a voltage to the first capillary and the second capillary to move a certain amount of sample in the first capillary toward the electrophoresis medium holding unit;
Removing the sample remaining in the gap and injecting the buffer into the gap;
Applying a voltage to the first capillary and the second capillary to cause the sample to be electrophoresed;
Measuring the light emitted by the sample on the side of the electrophoresis medium holding part of the first capillary,
A capillary electrophoresis method characterized by the above.

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