Cell Lysis and Chromatography Techniques

The process of breaking down cells and releasing their internal components like organelles, cytosol, and dissolved salts into a liquid mixture.

A fluid containing lysed cells, essentially a mixture of cellular components.

Enzymes that break down proteins into smaller pieces.

A technique used to separate molecules based on their size, with larger molecules moving slower through a porous gel matrix.

A technique used to separate molecules based on their charge, using an electric field to attract or repel charged molecules.

A technique for separating molecules based on their size and charge, using an electric field to move them through a gel matrix.

A type of gel electrophoresis commonly used for separating DNA and RNA fragments based on their size.

A technique for purifying DNA and RNA by selectively degrading and removing non-nucleic acid components.

A solution used in cell lysis that contains detergents (like SDS) and a strong base (like NaOH) to break down the cell membrane and disrupt proteins.

A solution that neutralizes the strong base in the lysis solution, allowing DNA to re-form its double helix structure.

A technique used to separate components based on their density, with denser components settling at the bottom.

A small, circular piece of DNA found in bacteria, often used for genetic engineering.

A method used to evaluate the purity of a protein preparation by separating proteins based on their size using an electric field and a porous gel.

The ratio of enzyme activity to the amount of protein in a sample. Higher specific activity indicates a purer enzyme preparation.

Small, circular, non-genomic DNA molecules found in many bacteria. They can carry genes that provide benefits to the host, such as antibiotic resistance, and can transfer between bacteria.

A chemical that helps maintain the correct pH of a solution, preventing unwanted changes in the pH during experiments.

A chemical that binds to and chelates (removes) metal ions, often used to prevent DNA degradation by enzymes that require metal ions for activity.

A chemical that maintains the osmotic pressure of a solution, preventing cell damage due to changes in water concentration.

An enzyme that breaks down RNA molecules. Used in plasmid purification to remove any RNA contamination.