Partitioning of host and recombinant cells in aqueous two-phase polymer systems

The separation of host and recombinant Escherichia coli bacterial cells has been studied using the surface-sensitive technique of partitioning in aqueous two-phase polymer systems. Experiments were designed to probe charge-and hydrophobicity-related property differences of antibiotic-resistant recombinant cells and their antibiotic-sensitive hosts. Differential partitioning was observed in both charge-sensitive and non-charge-sensitive phase systems for three host-recombinant cell systems, but the non-charge-related effects appear to have a greater impact on partitioning behavior. This result suggests that plasmid-encoded products related to antibiotic resistance modify the surface hydrophobicity of the E. coli bacterial cell and that these differences can be exploited for cell separation.