Protein Purification Methods Based on Surface Features

What is protein purification methods based on surface features of proteins: Surface features include charge distribution and accessibility, surface distribution of hydrophobic amino acid side chains, and, to a lesser extent, net charge at a given pH (see discussion of net charge). Methods exploiting surface features mainly depend on solubility properties. Differences in solubility result in precipitation by various manipulations of the solvent in which the proteins are solubilized. Methods for obtaining an extract containing the desired protein in soluble form are given in another chapter. The solvent, nearly always water containing a low concentration of buffer salts, can be treated to alter properties such as ionic strength, dielectric constant, pH, temperature, and detergent content, any of which may selectively precipitate some of the proteins present. Conversely, proteins may be selectively solubilized from an insoluble state by manipulation of the solvent composition. The surface distribution of hydrophobic residues is an important determinant of solubility properties; it is also exploited in hydrophobic chromatography, both in the reversed phase mode and in aqueousphase hydrophobic-interaction chromatography.

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