What is a common application of affinity chromatography?

Affinity chromatography is a powerful and widely used technique in biochemistry, particularly for the purification of biomolecules. It relies on the specific interaction between a target molecule (such as a protein or antibody) and a binding partner that is immobilized on a solid support, typically a column.

The purification of antibodies exemplifies one of the most common applications of affinity chromatography. In this process, a solid support may be coated with antigen, allowing antibodies that specifically recognize and bind to that antigen to be captured while other proteins and impurities are washed away. After the non-specific components are removed, the bound antibodies can be eluted using a solution that disrupts the interaction, enabling high-purity antibody recovery.

This method is particularly favored in the context of antibody purification because it achieves a high specificity and yield, minimizing the need for subsequent purification steps. By utilizing the unique binding characteristics of antibodies, affinity chromatography enables researchers to efficiently isolate these important proteins for various applications, including therapeutic uses and research purposes.