Question

Practical: Cation-exchange chromatography to seperate amino acids

Amino acid being examined are glutamic acid(PI=3.22), histidine(PI=7.58) and arginine (PI=10.76)

• Indicate which of the three amino acids has eluted in the citrate buffer (pH=3.75), which amino acid has eluted in the borate buffer (pH=8), and which amino acid has eluted with NaOH (pH=13).
• Describe in your own words and diagrams why the separation has occurred. Explain how the structure of the amino acids (you may need to draw them) contributes to the separation?

Answer 1

Ans - Amino acids are the basic units from which Proteins are made up of. There are 20 different types of amino acid. They vary in size, structure, properties and charges.

To separate charged amino acid ion exchange chromatography is used.