What is the importance of using protein standards in gel electrophoresis?

Using protein standards in gel electrophoresis is crucial for accurately determining the molecular weight of proteins. Protein standards, also known as molecular weight markers or ladder, consist of proteins of known sizes that are run alongside the sample proteins in the gel. By comparing the migration distance of the sample proteins to that of the standards, researchers can estimate the molecular weight of the unknown proteins based on their positions relative to the standards. This process provides valuable information about the composition and identity of the proteins being studied.

Identifying cellular activities, enhancing protein binding, and assessing enzyme activity are important aspects of biochemical analyses, but they are not directly relevant to the fundamental purpose of using protein standards in gel electrophoresis. The primary goal is to enable accurate size estimation, which is essential for understanding protein characteristics and functions in various experimental contexts.