Free flow electrophoresis in space shuttle program (Biotex).

In the space shuttle program free flow electrophoresis will be applied for separation of proteins, biopolymers and cells. Proteins are to be separated according to the "Feldsprung-Gradienten" procedure by Prof. H. Wagner, University of Saarbruecken, biopolymers are to be separated by the isotachophoresis technique by Prof. Schmitz, University of Muenster and we intend to separate cells in order to increase the efficiency of recovery of hybrid cells after electrofusion performed under microgravity in collaboration with Prof. U. Zimmermann, University of Wuerzburg. There are supposed two ways for reaching this goal: 1) Enrichment of cells before electrofusion may enhance the probability that the cells of interest are immortalized. 2) Separation of cells after electrofusion may help to clone the hybrid cells of interest. Under microgravity, the combination of improved electrophoresis with higher electrofusion rates may provide new possibilities for immortalization of cells. This may be a new way to obtain cellular products, which are physiologically glycosylated.