Electrophoretic analysis of multiple protein-DNA interactions

Under favorable conditions, native gel electrophoresis allows the resolution of protein-DNA complexes that differ in stoichiometry, identities of occupied DNA sequences (configuration), and macromolecular conformation. This technique provides a unique opportunity to analyze, in thermodynamic terms, the molecular interactions that govern the equilibrium distributions of species in protein-DNA mixtures. Here we describe a general theoretical approach to the analysis of electrophoretic band intensities, and provide examples of its application to the analysis of several interacting systems.