Extraction, Purification & Concentration of Proteins & Nucleic Acids

Protein Extraction

Disrupt the cells or tissue sample and extract the relevant protein fraction.

When purifying proteins for functional or structural studies, the first step is to disrupt the cells or tissue sample and extract the relevant protein fraction. This step is critical because processing methods that require harsh mechanical, chemical, or enzymatic treatments can affect the target protein’s integrity and activity, or otherwise expose it to degradative conditions. Merck Millipore’s complete range of reagents and enzymes for cell lysis and protein extraction provide you with an array of options so that you can put together the perfect extraction protocol for your particular cells and protein.

Protein Purification

Reduce background by removing interfering sample components and nonspecifically-binding proteins.

Affinity purification is based on the specific interaction of a target molecule with an immobilized ligand. Merck Millipore offers a broad portfolio of tools for affinity purifying tagged recombinant proteins, antibody purification, nucleic acid purification, protein-protein interaction studies, and albumin/IgG depletion from serum or plasma. For extremely fast and easy protein purification, trust our PureProteome™ magnetic bead protein purification systems, which feature low nonspecific binding and minimal sample loss. Conventional protein purification methods require centrifugation to pellet, followed by careful aspiration to avoid losing sample. Magnetic beads are isolated using a magnetic stand, enabling total removal of buffers and complete recovery of beads with no sample loss.

Dialysis

Fast and gentle protein buffer exchange, sample desalting and dialysis.

Each protein preparation is unique. Give it the special treatment it deserves with a perfectly designed device for dialyzing and buffer exchange. Select between fast and gentle dialysis using the D-Tube™ Dialyzers or diafiltration using the Amicon® Ultra Centrifugal Filters.

D-Tube Dialysis

Gently dialyze intractable or sensitive samples and prevent them from precipitation or over-concentration. Providing maximum efficiency, D-Tubes are designed with a double membrane to spread the sample over a large surface area enabling complete dialysis in just two to five hours.

Amicon Ultra Diafiltration

Amicon Ultra centrifugal devices are ideal for removal or exchange of salts, sugars, nucleotides, and non-aqueous solvents, as well as other materials of low molecular weight. They can also separate free from bound species.

Protein Concentration

Ensure that the protein is in its native, soluble form, dissolved in the buffer of choice, and at an appropriate concentration.

When downstream quality matters, make sure your upstream tools are the best. The last steps of preparing a protein sample for downstream analyses, such as activity assays or structural studies, involve ensuring that the protein is in its native, soluble form, dissolved in the buffer of choice, and at an appropriate concentration. Merck Millipore’s membrane-based technologies, including tangential flow filtration (TFF)-based separation, enable fast, easy concentration, desalting and buffer exchange

Protein Concentration

For reproducible protein assay results, you need to purify your protein of interest without denaturing it, losing its enzymatic activity or binding functions. Concentrate it without compromising yield, even if it’s labile or low in abundance. We offer several fast, gentle, membrane-based options for concentrating and fractionating your protein.

Nucleic Acid Concentration

Given the ever-increasing complexity of your genetic manipulations, purification and concentration of nucleic acids shouldn’t be a rate-limiting step. With our membrane-based technologies, you can eliminate time-consuming precipitation steps for clean, high yields of DNA or RNA. For higher throughput molecular biology, use our MultiScreen® plate-based tools that allow you to process up to 384 samples at once, either manually or using automation.

Virus Purification and Concentration

You’ve spent weeks optimizing the growth of your delicate target cells for viral infection. Now you need reliable, concentrated virus for efficient transduction and minimal toxicity. Merck Millipore’s Fast-Trap® Virus Purification and Concentration kits let you purify and concentrate your virus in as little as two hours with excellent yield and purity. Achieve reproducibility at last by using Fast-Trap® kits for lentivirus, adenovirus or adeno-associated virus.