ABSTRACT
Protein purification is a technique by which a single protein type is isolated from a complex mixture such as a cell lysate or plant tissue. It can refer to purification of a native protein from a biological sample or of a recombinant protein using one of a variety of chemical, physical, or biological methods. Protein purification is vital for the characterization of the function, structure, and interactions of proteins. The various steps in the purification process may include cell lysis, separating the soluble protein components from cell debris, and finally separating the protein of interest from product-and process-related impurities. Separation of the protein of interest, in its desired form, from all impurities, is typically the most challenging aspect of protein purification. Extraction and purification are vital components of almost any protein-specific research effort. The methods used during these processes depend on the nature of both the protein and the solution. Sometimes the specific protein is caught in a matrix of other protein molecules, and sometimes it’s surrounded by non-protein biological elements. In either case, a small sample of the protein may be need for research and analytical purposes, or a large quantity of the purified protein may be necessary for industrial or commercial reasons. In this chapter, the different methods of protein isolation and purification are discussed in depth which would be useful for the readers to understand the science and technology behind protein purification.
