Applications of Centrifugation in Cellular Components

Centrifugation

• A modern and easy technique of separation that allows for the separation of cellular and subcellular components
• Used to study the effects of centrifugal forces on cells
• Applications:
  • Separate two miscible substances
  • Analyze the hydrodynamic properties of macromolecules
  • Purify mammalian cells
  • Fractionate subcellular organelles (including membranes/membrane fractions) and membrane vesicles
  • Separate chalk powder from water
  • Remove fat from milk to produce skimmed milk
  • Separate particles from an air-flow using cyclonic separation
  • Clarify and stabilize wine
  • Separate urine components and blood components in forensic and research laboratories
  • Aid in the separation of proteins using purification techniques such as salting out (e.g. Ammonium sulfate precipitation)

Dialysis

• An operation to separate dissolved molecules based on molecular weight
• Uses a dialysis bag with a semi-permeable membrane to separate small molecules from macromolecules
• Process:
  • A biological sample is placed inside a tube of semi-permeable membrane
  • The tube is placed inside a much bigger container with a concentrated solution
  • Small molecules diffuse through the membrane, while macromolecules remain in the bag
  • At equilibrium, the concentration of small molecules is the same inside and outside the membrane

Advantages of Dialysis

• Simple and effective for large-volume samples
• Useful for characterization of a candidate drug in serum binding assays or detailed study of antigen-antibody interactions
• Most accurate method available
• Inexpensive and easy to perform

Centrifugation

• A modern and easy technique of separation that allows for the separation of cellular and subcellular components
• Used to study the effects of centrifugal forces on cells
• Applications:
  • Separate two miscible substances
  • Analyze the hydrodynamic properties of macromolecules
  • Purify mammalian cells
  • Fractionate subcellular organelles (including membranes/membrane fractions) and membrane vesicles
  • Separate chalk powder from water
  • Remove fat from milk to produce skimmed milk
  • Separate particles from an air-flow using cyclonic separation
  • Clarify and stabilize wine
  • Separate urine components and blood components in forensic and research laboratories
  • Aid in the separation of proteins using purification techniques such as salting out (e.g. Ammonium sulfate precipitation)

Dialysis

• An operation to separate dissolved molecules based on molecular weight
• Uses a dialysis bag with a semi-permeable membrane to separate small molecules from macromolecules
• Process:
  • A biological sample is placed inside a tube of semi-permeable membrane
  • The tube is placed inside a much bigger container with a concentrated solution
  • Small molecules diffuse through the membrane, while macromolecules remain in the bag
  • At equilibrium, the concentration of small molecules is the same inside and outside the membrane

Advantages of Dialysis

• Simple and effective for large-volume samples
• Useful for characterization of a candidate drug in serum binding assays or detailed study of antigen-antibody interactions
• Most accurate method available
• Inexpensive and easy to perform

Centrifugation is a modern technique used to separate cellular and subcellular components, study effects of centrifugal forces on cells, and more. This quiz covers its various applications.