Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA)

Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) is a laboratory technique used to study how proteins interact with specific DNA or RNA sequences. In this method, a labeled nucleic acid fragment is mixed with a protein; if the protein binds to the DNA, it creates a larger complex that moves more slowly through an electric field in a gel. By comparing the movement of the free DNA to the protein-bound complex, scientists can determine if binding occurs, analyze the strength of interaction, and identify specific binding sequences. EMSA is a valuable tool for understanding gene regulation and protein-DNA interactions.