Test 2 Flashcards
What are the principle steps of affinity chromatography?
- Sample introduction/injection
- Adsorption of target molecules
- Wash impurities
- Elution of target molecules
What is the affinity resin comprised of?
- biospecific ligand
- support matrix
- biochemically inert spacer
What are the targets for affinity chromatography and the possible ligands for the targets?
Enzyme- substrate, inhibitor, cofactor
Antibody- Antigen
Antigen- Antibody
DNA-complementary base sequence, DNA binding protein
RNA-complementary base sequence, RNA binding protein
Look at the chart of the TYPES of fusion Tags
…
What are some features of the matrix in affinity chromatography?
- the material that ligand or spacer is bound to
- it should be rigid, stable, and have a high surface area
- agarose is the most popular cellulose, dextran, and polyacrylamide have been used
- sepharose is a bead-formed of agarose gel
What are some features of the spacer in affinity chromatography?
-carbon chain interposed between ligand and matrix
-used when active site is located deep within a sample molecule
-if too long, it can interact with sample species on its own (hydrophobic interactions)
if to short, ligand can’t reach active site on sample molecule
-commercial phases have spacers that are optimized of specific seperations
What is the purpose of the Matrix?
to act as a solid support for the ligand so that it does not just go into solution
and exit the column.
What is the purpose of the spacer?
to present the ligand so that its important sites are displayed to the
molecule of interest in the sample
What is the purpose of the ligand?
to bind the molecule of interest in the sample
What is the purpose of preparation of homogenate (lysate) before the column.
in affinity chromatography the purpose in preparing the homogenate before the column is to lyse cells and release cellular components.
what are the steps used in preparation of homogenate (lysate)?
- Incubate with lysozyme (in the presence of protease inhibitor)
- Freeze Thaw
- Sonication: high frequency sound waves (ear guards)
In the preparation of the homogenate what can be used in place of sanitation?
French press
-for large samples
What is the purpose of the first step in the prep of the homogenate (lysate)?
Incubate with lysozyme (in the presence of protease inhibitor
-lysozyme hydrolyzes bond in bacterial cell wall
What is the purpose of the second step in the prep of the homogenate (lysate)?
Freeze thaw
-disrupts cell membrane and allows for release of cellular components.
What is the purpose of the third step in the prep of the homogenate (lysate)?
Sonication
- further disrupts cells and separates proteins from lipids
- shears DNA
In affinity chromatography what are the characteristics of the Introduction/injection of sample?
the sample generally contains the target molecule along with cellular impurities (other proteins, lipids, DNA, etc.)
-Used a crude homogenate of our clones that were induced for expression of the GST::EGFP fusion protein.
-MUST ensure adequate column capacity
In affinity chromatography what are the characteristics of the adsorption of molecules?
- use a slow flow (gravity) to drive target molecules toward fresh ligand sites
- The GST (glutathione-S-transferase)::EGFP fusion protein will adsorb to the glutathione present in the affinity matrix
**EGFP is along for the ride, GST has the affinity for the column
In affinity chromatography what are the characteristics to wash impurities from the column?
- Molecules with no affinity for the ligand are washed from the column.
- Cellular molecules other than the GST::EGFP fusion protein will wash through the column, and the GST::EGFP fusion protein will remain bound in the column.
In affinity chromatography, your molecule of interest remains in the column while other molecules are washed out because your molecule of interest….
binds specifically to the ligand in the resin while other molecules do not
In affinity chromatography what are the characteristics of the elution of target molecules from the column?
Elution releases bound protein and also serves to regenerate your column
-The GST::EGFP fusion protein will be eluted from the column using a solution of reduced glutathione
What are the Elution methods and what are characteristics of each?
Biospecific
- an inhibitor is added to the mobile phase (free ligand)
- the free ligand will compete for the solute
- this approach is often used when low molecular weigh inhibitor is available
Nonspecific
- a reagent is added that denatures the solute (pH, KSCN, urea, ionic strength)
- once denatured, the solute is released from the ligand
- If the solute is to be further used, it must not be irreversibly altered.
What if the fusion tag will affect later experiments?
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What are the options for cleavage of the fusion tag?
- Cleave off target protein while tag remains bound to resin
- Rather than elute fusion protein, you would wash int buffer compatible for your protease (eg. some proteases need low salt, or no metal ions to work.)
- Flow on buffer containing protease, cap and let sit, eg. room temp 1 hour or 4 Degrees C overnight (be careful of over digestion; there could be a secondary site that is “close enough” to recognition sequence)
- To recover your protein, wash with same buffer lacking protease (do not use “elution” buffer since we want the tag to remain bound to column” - Elute from column and then cleave off tag
- Elute with excess ligand (e.g.. gluathione of GST tag) in an appropriate buffer for protease
- Add protease and incubate (time course experiment would be good)
- Need buffer exchange to remove free ligand in order to bind tag back to column (you want your protein to flow through), or could use a different type of column to separate tag from the target protein.
How do you asses the protein purity after affinity chromatography?
- Run SDS-PAGE of crude homogenate and fractions
- Stain gel, with GelCode blue or Coomassie (we want to sell all protein so don’t use antibodies)
- For increased clarity use the optional water wash enhancement step (1 hour)