Polyethylene glycol interferes with protein molecular weight determinations by gel filtration

✍ Scribed by Sau-chi B. Yan; Deborah Anne Tuason; V.B. Tuason; William H. Frey II

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1984
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 309 KB
• Volume: 138
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0003-2697
• DOI: 10.1016/0003-2697(84)90781-4

✦ Synopsis

Gel filtration studies on Sephadex G-75 demonstrate markedly increased elution volumes for proteins chromatographed with polyethylene glycol. As little as 5% (w/v) polyethylene glycol in the applied protein sample can reduce apparent molecular weight estimates by gel filtration as much as 55%. Furthermore, gel filtration columns equilibrated with polyethylene glycol are not size-separating columns. Consequently, caution must be exercised when performing and interpreting gel filtration studies of proteins previously treated or precipitated with polyethylene glycol.