Fehérjetisztítás

Fehérjetisztítás, often translated as protein purification, is a series of processes used to isolate a specific protein from a complex mixture, such as a cell lysate or tissue extract. The goal is to obtain a homogeneous sample of the target protein with high purity and biological activity. This is a fundamental technique in biochemistry and molecular biology, essential for studying protein structure, function, and interactions.

The purification process typically begins with cell lysis or extraction to release the proteins from their cellular environment. Subsequently, various separation techniques are employed, often in a stepwise manner. Common methods include differential centrifugation to separate cellular components, chromatography which exploits differences in protein properties like size, charge, or affinity, and electrophoresis to analyze and separate proteins based on size and charge. Specific affinity purification methods, such as using antibodies or ligands that bind specifically to the target protein, are highly effective for achieving high purity.

The purity and yield of the protein are monitored throughout the process using analytical techniques like SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) and spectrophotometry. Maintaining the protein's native structure and activity is crucial, so purification is often performed under controlled conditions, such as at low temperatures and in appropriate buffer solutions. Fehérjetisztítás is indispensable for applications like enzyme characterization, drug development, and the production of recombinant proteins for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes.