Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
09:20
In situ Subcellular Fractionation of Adherent and Non-adherent Mammalian Cells
Published on: July 24, 2010
Subcellular fractionation of tissue culture cells
Trends in Biochemical Sciences
|February 1, 1989
Abstract:
Subcellular fractionation has two major steps, (1) the homogenization of the cells and (2) the subsequent separation of the organelles. The homogenization step is discussed with reference to the problems encountered using tissue culture cells. Promising techniques for the isolation of specific compartments are illustrated using the isolation of the endosomal compartment as the example.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Overview Of Cell Separation And Isolation
Cell separation was first achieved in 1964 by S. H. Seal, who separated large tumor cells from the smaller blood cells using filtration. Two years later, Pohl and Hawk performed experiments on how cells respond differently to a nonuniform electric field based on the cell type. Such observations were the inception of cell separation methods, which allow isolating a single cell type from a heterogeneous sample.
01:32Subcellular Fractionation
The homogenate obtained after cell lysis contains various membrane-bound organelles that can be further separated into pure fractions by subcellular fractionation. These isolates are used to study specific cellular components, analyze localized protein activity, and are even employed in diagnostics. Fractionation is typically achieved using centrifugation methods, the most common being density-gradient and differential centrifugation.
Differential Centrifugation
Differential centrifugation is...
Differential Centrifugation
Differential centrifugation is...