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A system and method for capillary electrophoresis are provided for analyzing a macromolecule prepared from a complex liquid mixture. In particular applications, methods and apparatus are provided for separating and analyzing a solution containing a denatured macromolecule by employing a stationary c

A system and method for capillary electrophoresis are provided for analyzing a macromolecule prepared from a complex liquid mixture. In particular applications, methods and apparatus are provided for separating and analyzing a solution containing a denatured macromolecule by employing a stationary capillary electrophoresis apparatus. An apparatus for capillary electrophoresis includes an inlet chamber and a capillary electrophoresis column. One end of the column is fixed at the interior of the inlet chamber. The column has a length of at least about 20 centimeters. Also included is a liquid source adapted for automatic control. The liquid source supplies a liquid sample through an input valve into the inlet chamber so that the sample is in fluid communication with the end of the column. A method for capillary electrophoresis includes automatically supplying the liquid sample to the apparatus.

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The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus for capillary electrophoresis, comprising: an inlet chamber; a capillary electrophoresis column, having a length of at least about 20 centimeters, one end of the column being fixed at the interior at the inlet chamber; and a sample liquid source adapted for

The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus for capillary electrophoresis, comprising: an inlet chamber; a capillary electrophoresis column, having a length of at least about 20 centimeters, one end of the column being fixed at the interior at the inlet chamber; and a sample liquid source adapted for automatic control, that supplies a liquid sample through a sample input valve into the inlet chamber, the sample supplied to be in fluid communication with the end of the column; a waste site in communication with the inlet chamber, the waste site having a waste valve that is closed as the liquid sample is transferred to the column; a buffer liquid source adapted for automatic control, that supplies a buffered liquid through a buffer input valve into the inlet chamber, the buffer supplied to be in fluid communication with the end of the column; a cleaning liquid source adapted for automatic control, that supplies a cleaning fluid through a cleaning input valve through the inlet chamber and the capillary electrophoresis column; and an automated controller adapted to control the sample input valve, the buffer input valve, and the cleaning input valve to direct the sample, buffer, and cleaning fluid into the inlet chamber. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an outlet valve located at the inlet chamber. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid sample source pressurizes the inlet chamber to create a pulsed pressure differential across the length of the column. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an outlet chamber, wherein the other end of the column is fixed at the interior of the outlet chamber. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sample liquid source pressurizes one chamber compared to the other chamber to create a pressure differential across the length of the column. 6. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising an output valve at each chamber that is controlled to independently remove liquid from each chamber. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising at least one reservoir supplying a buffer, the buffer liquid source independently supplying the buffer to the chambers. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a fluid level sensor at each chamber. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a filter to separate at least a portion of insoluble components from the liquid sample, the liquid sample source applying the liquid to the filter with a pressure differential across the filter. 10. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising electrophoresis electrodes coupled to an automatically controlled power supply. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, thither comprising a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the column. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a degas unit that removes at least a portion of gas dissolved in the liquid. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising an automated detector that detects a molecular analyte in the liquid. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the detector is located at the column. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising an automated controller. 16. The apparatus of claim 1 the sample liquid source further comprising a mechanical pump. 17. An apparatus for capillary electrophoresis, comprising: a hydraulic system adapted for control by an automated controller, comprising at least one pump and one or more valves; a rough filter selected to separate from a macromolecule in a liquid mixture, at least a portion of one or more rough components in the mixture that are larger than the macromolecule; a fine filter selected to separate from the macromolecule, at least a portion of one or more fine components in the mixture that are smaller than the macromolecule; an inlet chamber that receives a liquid sample filtered by the rough and fine filters, the sample comprising the macromolecule; a capillary electrophoresis column, having a length of at least about 20 centimeters, one end of the column being fixed at the interior of the inlet chamber; the hydraulic system being controlled to create the liquid sample, the sample comprising the macromolecule, by applying the liquid mixture to each filter, with a pressure differential across each filter, and to supply the liquid sample to the inlet chamber; a sample liquid source adapted for automatic control, that supplies a liquid sample through a sample input valve into the inlet chamber, the sample supplied to be in fluid communication with the end of the column; a waste site in communication with the inlet chamber, the waste site having a waste valve that is closed as the liquid sample is transferred from the inlet chamber to the column; a buffer liquid source adapted for automatic control, that supplies a buffered liquid through a buffer input valve into the inlet chamber, the buffer supplied to be in fluid communication with the end of the column; a cleaning liquid source adapted for automatic control, that supplies a cleaning fluid through a cleaning input valve through the inlet chamber and the capillary electrophoresis column; and the automated controller adapted to control the sample input valve, the buffer input valve, and the cleaning input valve to direct the sample, buffer, and cleaning fluid into the inlet chamber. 18. An apparatus for capillary electrophoresis, comprising: a hydraulic system adapted for control by on automated controller, comprising a pump and one or more valves; a filter selected to separate, at least in part, a macromolecule in a liquid mixture from one or more salt components in the mixture; an inlet chamber that receives a liquid sample, the sample comprising the macromolecule separated from the salt components; a capillary electrophoresis column, having a length of at least about 20 centimeters, one end of the column being fixed at the interior of the inlet chamber; a sample liquid source adapted for automatic control, that supplies the liquid sample through a sample input valve into the inlet chamber, the sample supplied to be in fluid communication with the end of the column; a waste site in communication with the inlet chamber, the waste site having a waste valve that is closed as the liquid sample is transferred from the inlet chamber to the column; a buffer liquid source adapted for automatic control, that supplies a buffered liquid through a buffer input valve into the inlet chamber, the buffer supplied to be in fluid communication with the end of the column; a cleaning liquid source adapted for automatic control, that supplies a cleaning fluid through a cleaning input valve through the inlet chamber and the capillary electrophoresis column; and an automated controller that controls the hydraulic system to create the liquid sample, the sample comprising the macromolecule, by applying the liquid mixture to the filter, with a pressure differential across the tiller, to supply the sample to the inlet chamber, and to control the sample inlet valve, the buffer inlet valve, and the cleaning input valve to direct the sample, buffer, and cleaning fluid into the inlet chamber. 19. An apparatus for capillary electrophoresis, comprising: a hydraulic system adapted for control by an automated controller, comprising a pump and one or more valves; a lysis unit that lyses cells in a liquid mixture comprising cells and a macromolecule; a filter selected to separate from the macromolecule, at least a portion of components in the mixture that are larger than the macromolecule, the components comprising insoluble lysed cell components; an inlet chamber that receives a liquid sample, the sample comprising a macromolecule separated from the insoluble lysed cell components; a capillary electrophoresis column, having a length of at least about 20 centimeters, one end of the column being fixed at the interior of the inlet chamber; a sample liquid source adapted for automatic control, that supplies a liquid sample through a sample input valve into the inlet chamber, the sample supplied to be in fluid communication with The end of the column; a waste site in communication with the inlet chamber, the waste site having a waste valve that is closed as the liquid sample is transferred from the inlet chamber to the column; a buffer liquid source adapted for automatic control, that supplies a buffered liquid through a buffer input valve into the inlet chamber, the buffer supplied to be in fluid communication with the end of the column; a cleaning liquid source adapted for automatic control, that supplies a cleaning fluid through a cleaning input valve through the inlet chamber and the capillary electrophoresis column; and an automated controller that controls the hydraulic system to create the liquid sample, the sample comprising the macromolecule, by applying the liquid mixture to the filter, with a pressure differential across the filter, to supply the sample to the inlet chamber, and to control the sample input valve, the buffer input valve, and the cleaning input valve to direct the sample, buffer, and cleaning fluid into the inlet chamber. 20. An apparatus for capillary electrophoresis, comprising: an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, the chambers each comprising an inlet valve, an output valve, a fluid level sensor, and an electrode, the electrodes coupled to a power supply; a capillary electrophoresis column, having a length of at least about 20 centimeters, the opposite ends of the column being fixed at the interior of the respective chambers; a sample liquid source adapted for automatic control, that supplies a liquid sample through a sample input valve into the inlet chamber, the sample supplied to be in fluid communication with the end of the column; a waste site in communication with the inlet chamber, the waste site-having a waste valve that is closed as the liquid sample is transferred from the inlet chamber to the column; a buffer liquid source comprising a pump, the buffer liquid source adapted for automatic control, that supplies a buffered liquid through a buffer input valve into the inlet chamber, the buffer supplied to be in fluid communication with the end of the column; a cleaning liquid source adapted for automatic control, that supplies a cleaning fluid through a cleaning input valve through the inlet chamber and the capillary electrophoresis column; an automated controller that controls: the liquid source and at least one valve to create a pressure differential across the length of the column by pressurizing or depressurizing at least one chamber; the liquid source, the output valves, the valved reservoir, and the level sensors to independently: drain the chambers; supply the chambers with liquid to place the liquid in fluid communication with the end of the column in each chamber, including supplying: the buffer to the outlet chamber; and independently to the inlet chamber; the buffer and a liquid sample, the liquid sample comprising a macromolecule; a power supply to apply a voltage differential across the column to cause electrophoresis of the macromolecule in the column; and the sample input valve, the buffer input valve, and the cleaning input valve to direct the sample, buffer, and cleaning fluid into the inlet chamber. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising an automated detector that detects the macromolecule. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, the liquid source further comprising: a hydraulic system adapted for control by an automated controller, comprising a pump and one or more valves; a rough filter selected to separate from the macromolecule in a liquid mixture comprising the macromolecule, at least a portion of one or more rough components in the mixture that are larger than the macromolecule; a fine filter selected to separate from the macromolecule in a liquid mixture comprising the macromolecule, at least a portion of one or more fine components in the mixture that are smaller than the macromolecule; and the hydraulic system being controlled to create the liquid sample, the liquid sample comprising the macromolecule, by applying the liquid mixture to each filter, with a pressure differential across each filter. 23. A method for capillary electrophoresis, comprising; automatically supplying a liquid sample from a sample liquid source through a sample input valve to an inlet chamber to place the sample in fluid communication with a capillary electrophoresis column, the chamber having one end of the column fixed at the interior of the chamber, and the column having a length of at least about 20 centimeters; closing a waste valve connected to a waste site as the liquid sample is transferred to the capillary electrophoresis column, the waste site being in communication with the inlet chamber; automatically supplying a buffered liquid from a buffer liquid source through a buffer input valve into the inlet chamber to place the buffered liquid in fluid communication with the capillary electrophoresis column; automatically supplying a cleaning fluid from a cleaning liquid source through a cleaning input valve into the inlet chamber, to place the cleaning fluid in communication with the capillary electrophoresis column; and controlling, with an automated controller, the sample inlet valve, the buffer inlet valve, and the cleaning input valve w direct the sample, buffer, and cleaning fluid into the inlet chamber. 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising pressurizing the inlet chamber to create a pressure differential across the length of the column. 25. The method of claim 23, the other end of the column being fixed at the interior of an outlet chamber, further comprising directing fluid through the column by creating a pressure differential between the chambers. 26. The method of claim 25, further comprising causing fluid flow by electro-kinetic pumping. 27. The method of claim 25, further comprising creating a pressure differential by mechanical pumping. 28. The method of claim 25, further comprising independently directing liquid from each chamber to the waste site, there being a valve between each chamber and the waste site. 29. The method of claim 28, further comprising independently supplying a buffer to each chamber. 30. The method of claim 29, further independently sensing the fluid level in at least one chamber. 31. The method of claim 30, further comprising separating at least a portion of insoluble components from the liquid sample by applying the liquid to a filter with a pressure differential across the filter. 32. The method of claim 25, further comprising applying a voltage differential across the column to create electrophoretic flow in the column. 33. The method of claim 32, further comprising cooling the column. 34. The method of claim 33, further comprising degassing at least a portion of gas dissolved in the liquid sample and the buffer. 35. The method of claim 25, further comprising detecting a molecular analyte in the liquid sample. 36. The method of claim 35, the molecular analyte being a macromolecule. 37. A method for capillary electrophoresis comprising automatically: acquiring a liquid mixture, the mixture comprising a macromolecule, one or more rough components that are larger than the macromolecule, and one or more fine components that are smaller than the macromolecule; creating a liquid sample, the sample comprising the macromolecule, by separating from the macromolecule at least a portion of the components by applying the mixture to each of a plurality of filters, with a pressure differential across each filter, the filters comprising a rough filter selected to separate at least a portion of the rough components and a fine filter selected to separate at least a portion of the fine components; supplying the liquid sample from a sample liquid source through a sample input valve to an inlet chamber to place the sample in fluid communication with a capillary electrophoresis column, the chamber having one end of the column fixed at the interior of the chamber, and the column having a length of at least about 20 centimeters; closing a waste valve connected to a waste site as the liquid sample is transferred to the capillary electrophoresis column, the waste site being in communication with the inlet chamber; automatically supplying a buffered liquid from a buffer liquid source through a buffer input valve into the inlet chamber to place the buffered liquid in fluid communication with the capillary electrophoresis column; automatically supplying a cleaning fluid from a cleaning liquid source through a cleaning input valve into the inlet chamber, to place the cleaning fluid in communication with the capillary electrophoresis column; and controlling, with an automated controller, the sample input valve, the buffer input valve, and the cleaning input valve to direct the sample, buffer, and cleaning fluid into the inlet chamber. 38. A method for capillary electrophoresis, comprising automatically: acquiring from a liquid sample source, a liquid mixture, the mixture comprising a macromolecule and one or more salt components; creating a liquid sample, the sample comprising the macromolecule, by separating the macromolecule from at least a portion of the salt components, by applying the mixture to a filter with a pressure differential across the filter and supplying the liquid sample through a sample input valve to an inter chamber to place the sample in fluid communication with a capillary electrophoresis column, the chamber having one end of the column fixed at the interior of the chamber, and the column having a length of at least about 20 centimeters; closing a waste valve connected to a waste site as the liquid sample is transferred to the capillary electrophoresis column, the waste site being in communication with the inlet chamber; automatically supplying a buffered liquid from a buffer liquid source through a buffer input valve into the inlet chamber to place the buffered liquid in fluid communication with the capillary electrophoresis column; automatically supplying a cleaning fluid from a cleaning liquid source through a cleaning input valve into the inlet chamber, to place the cleaning fluid in communication with the capillary electrophoresis column; and controlling, with an automated controller, the sample input valve, the buffer input valve, and the cleaning input valve to direct the sample, buffer, and cleaning fluid into the inlet chamber. 39. A method for capillary electrophoresis comprising automatically: acquiring a liquid mixture from a liquid sample source, the mixture comprising a macromolecule and one or more cells; lysing at least a portion of the cells; and creating a liquid sample, the sample comprising the macromolecule, by separating from the macromolecule at least a portion of components larger than the macromolecule, the components comprising insoluble lysed cell components, by applying the mixture to a filter with a pressure differential across the filter; supplying the liquid sample through a sample input valve to an inlet chamber to place the sample in fluid communication with a capillary electrophoresis column, the chamber having one end of the column fixed at the interior of the chamber, and the column having a length of at least about 20 centimeters; closing a waste valve connected to a waste site as the liquid sample is transferred to the capillary electrophoresis column, the waste site being in communication with the inlet chamber; automatically supplying a buffered liquid from a buffer liquid source through a buffer input valve into the inlet chamber to place the buffered liquid in fluid communication with the capillary electrophoresis column; automatically supplying a cleaning fluid from a cleaning liquid source through a cleaning input valve into the inlet chamber, to place the cleaning fluid in communication with the capillary electrophoresis column; and controlling with an automated controller, the sample input valve, the buffer input valve, and the cleaning input valve to direct the sample, buffer, and cleaning fluid into the inlet chamber. 40. A method for capillary electrophoresis, comprising automatically: supplying a liquid sample from a sample liquid source through a sample input valve to an inlet chamber to place the sample in fluid communication with a capillary electrophoresis column: the chamber having one end of the column fixed at the interior of the chamber; the column having a length of at least about 20 centimeters; and the sample comprising a macromolecule; directing fluid through the column by creating a pressure differential between the inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, the other end of the column being fixed at the interior of the outlet chamber; closing a waste valve connected to a waste site as the liquid sample is transferred to the capillary electrophoresis column, the waste site being in communication with the inlet chamber; independently controlling the fluid level-in each chamber by: sensing the fluid level in each chamber; supplying a buffer to each chamber; and directing liquid from each chamber to the waste site; and electrophoretically separating the macromolecule in the column by applying a voltage differential across the column; and automatically supplying a cleaning fluid from a cleaning liquid source through a cleaning input valve into the inlet chamber, to place the cleaning fluid in communication with the capillary electrophoresis column. 41. The method of claim 40, further comprising detecting the macromolecule. 42. The method of claim 41, further comprising: acquiring a liquid mixture, the mixture comprising the macromolecule, one or more rough components that are larger than the macromolecule, and one or more fine components that are smaller than the macromolecule; creating the liquid sample, by separating from the macromolecule at least a portion of the components by applying the mixture to each of a plurality of filters, with a pressure differential across each filter, the filters comprising a rough filter selected to separate at least a portion of the rough components and a fine filter selected to separate at least a portion of the fine components. 43. An apparatus for capillary electrophoresis, comprising: means for automatically supplying a liquid sample through a sample input valve to an inlet chamber to place the sample in fluid communication with a capillary electrophoresis column, the chamber having one end of the column fixed at the interior of the chamber, and the column having a length of at least about 20 centimeters; means for closing a waste valve connected to a waste site in communication with the inlet chamber as the liquid sample is transferred to the capillary electrophoresis column; means for automatically directing a buffered liquid from a buffer liquid source through a buffer input valve into the inlet chamber to place the buffered liquid in fluid communication with the capillary electrophoresis column; means for automatically directing a cleaning fluid from a cleaning liquid source through a cleaning input valve into the inlet chamber, to place the cleaning fluid in communication with the capillary electrophoresis column; means for automatically controlling the sample input valve, the buffer input valve, and the cleaning input valve to direct the sample, buffer, and cleaning fluid into the inlet chamber; and means for causing electrophoresis in the column. 44. An apparatus for electrophoretic separation of a macromolecule, comprising: a plurality of valves; a rough separation circuit comprising a rough pump, a first stage rough filter selected to separate rough components, and a second stage rough filter selected to separate rough components that pass through the first stage rough filter; a fine/desalination circuit comprising a fine pump, a reservoir that supplies a desalination buffer, and a fine filter selected to separate fine components from the macromolecule; a denaturation circuit comprising a denaturation pump, a denaturing vessel comprising a heating element and a cooling element, a precipitation pump, a reservoir supplying a denaturation buffer, a reservoir supplying a pH buffer, a pH sensor and a precipitation filter selected to separate insoluble denaturation precipitate components; a capillary electrophoresis circuit comprising an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, the chambers each comprising an inlet valve, an output valve, a fluid level sensor, and an electrode, the electrodes coupled to a power supply, the inlet chamber receiving a liquid mixture from a liquid sample source; a capillary electrophoresis column, having a length of at least about 20 centimeters, the opposite ends of the column being fixed a the interior of the respective chambers; a waste site in communication with the inlet chamber, the waste site having a waste valve that is closed as the liquid sample is transferred the column; a buffer liquid source adapted for automatic control, that supplies a buffered liquid through a buffer input valve into the inlet chamber, the buffer supplied to be in fluid communication with the end of the column; a cleaning liquid source adapted for automatic control, that supplies a cleaning fluid through a cleaning input valve through the inlet chamber and the capillary electrophoresis column; an automated controller in electronic communication with the pumps, the elements, the valves, the sensors and the power supply That controls the apparatus to: acquire the liquid mixture from the liquid sample source, the mixture comprising a macromolecule, rough components, and fine components; separate at least a portion of rough components from the macromolecule in the rough separation circuit; separate at least a portion of fine components from the macromolecule in the fine/desalination separation circuit, the fine components comprising salt components; denature the macromolecule in the denaturation circuit; and electrophoretically separate the denatured macromolecule from other components by employing the capillary electrophoresis circuit; direct the sample, buffer, and cleaning fluid into the inlet chamber.