Question

Explain how you could use a column containing carboxymethyl groups to separate serum albumin and ribonuclease A(see Table 5-3).

Short answer

Albumin has a pI of 4.9 while ribonuclease A has a pI of 9.4. While serum albumin runs through the column, carboxymethyl groups will react with ribonuclease A.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of isoelectric point

The pH of a solution at which the net charge of a protein becomes zero is known as the isoelectric point.

Explain the separation of serum albumin and ribonuclease A

Ribonuclease A has a pI of 9.4 and albumin has a pI of 4.9. Due to ribonuclease A having high pl value the Carboxymethyl groups will react with ribonuclease A while serum albumin flows through the column at the same time.

This helps in a column containing carboxymethyl groups to separate serum albumin and ribonuclease A.