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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Organic Solvent-Based Protein Precipitation for Robust Proteome Purification Ahead of Mass Spectrometry

Organic Solvent-Based Protein Precipitation for Robust Proteome Purification Ahead of Mass Spectrometry

Published on: February 7, 2022

Protein precipitation techniques.

Richard R Burgess¹

¹McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

Methods in Enzymology

|November 7, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Protein purification often uses bulk precipitation after cell lysis. This chapter details ammonium sulfate and polyethyleneimine precipitation methods for significant target protein enrichment.

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Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Molecular Biology
Protein Chemistry

Background:

Cell lysis releases numerous proteins and macromolecules.
Protein purification requires separating target proteins from contaminants.
Bulk precipitation is a common initial step post-lysis.

Purpose of the Study:

To review widely used protein precipitation methods.
To explain the principles of ammonium sulfate and PEI precipitation.
To guide optimization for effective target protein enrichment.

Main Methods:

Focus on ammonium sulfate precipitation.
Focus on polyethyleneimine (PEI) precipitation.
Discuss altering solvent conditions to exploit solubility differences.

Main Results:

Both methods can achieve significant target protein enrichment.
Optimization and careful application are crucial for success.
Methods rely on differential solubility of proteins and macromolecules.

Conclusions:

Ammonium sulfate and PEI precipitation are effective bulk methods.
Understanding precipitation principles enhances purification efficiency.
These techniques offer valuable tools for protein enrichment.