Scientists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed an innovative protein purification technique that uses physics instead of conventional chemistry. This new method, which employs short-wave UV light, offers a more efficient and gentler approach to isolating proteins from cell extracts or cultures.
The technique, developed by a team led by Arne Skerra, utilizes a chromatography column surrounded by LED lights. The key to this method is a small molecular appendix called the "Azo-tag," which is attached to the target protein. This tag, based on the light-sensitive chemical group azo-benzene, acts as a molecular anchor.
In daylight or darkness, the target protein binds to the carrier material in the column via the Azo-tag, while contaminants are washed out. When exposed to mild UV light at 355 nanometers, the tag changes shape, causing the protein to be released from the column in a pure, concentrated, and undamaged form.
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"We use a physical mechanism instead of chemical reagents. Our technology is fundamentally different from the conventional method, being both more gentle and more efficient," explains Professor Skerra, senior author of the paper published in Nature Communications.
The team has successfully used this method to purify antibodies against breast cancer. While currently using a small-scale apparatus, they believe it could be scaled up for larger applications.
Future plans include automating the process to enhance efficiency, particularly for high-throughput drug development in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.