Module 3: Lecture 1 - Protein Purification

Protein Assay

Way of detecting your protein. Unique to the protein being studied.

Detergents

Can help stabilize various molecular interactions in a protein, and this in the end, can increase the solubility of insoluble protein in solutions

Protein stabilization

Effort to maintain the native structure of the protein (optimally folded and functional form of the protein) and to prevent it from being degraded

Fractionation

The term used to describe this process of separating proteins into different groups or fraction

Differential centrifugation

Common technique to begin protein isolation. Separates components in an extract based upon mass and density.

Chromatography

Technique in which an aqueous extract is poured into a column containing a matrix or a slurry of tiny beads that help sort proteins based on different properties

Ras

A protein involved in many cell signalling and cell cycle pathways. It is a small, globular, monomeric GTP-binding protein that has GTPase activity

Gel filtration/ Gel exclusion Chromatography

Can be used to separate proteins based on size.

Affinity Chromatography

Technique that separates proteins based upon the specificity of binding to another molecules. Can be performed using a target other than an antibody.

SDS-PAGE Electrophoresis

Intentionally denature protein by giving proteins a negative charge which eliminates the effect of shape and charge density.