CENTRIFUGATION
Presenter : Dr Anurag Yadav.
Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore
Contents:
Basic
principle
Operation Types
Application
Definition:
Biological centrifugation is a process that uses
centrifugal forces to separate and purify mixture of
biological particle in a liquid medium.
It is key technique for isolating and analysing the cells,
subcellular fractions, supramolecule complexes and isolated
macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids.
History:
The first analytical ultracentrifuge was developed by
Svedberg in 1920
Basic principle
The basic physics on which the centrifuge works is gravity
and generation of the centrifugal force to sediment
different fractions.
Rate of sedimentation depends on ------ applied
centrifugal field (G) being directed radially outwards
G depends on
1. Angular velocity (ω in radians / sec) .
2. Radial distance (r in cms)of particle from axis of
rotation
G = ω2r
Rate of sedimentation
Depends on factors other than CF
Mass of particle ---Density & Volume
Density of medium
Shape of particle
Friction
Sedimentation time
Depends on ,
1. Size of particle
2. Density difference b/w particle and medium
3. Radial distance from the axis of rotation to liquid meniscus (rt)
4. Radial distance from the axis of rotation to the bottom of the tube(rb)
THE FACTORS ON WHICH THESE WORKS ARE
More dense a biological structure, faster it sediments in centrifugal
force.
More massive biological particle, faster it moves in centrifugal field.
Dense the buffer system, slower particle moves.
Greater the frictional coefficient, slower a particle will move
Greater the centrifugal force, faster particle sediments
Sedimentation rate of a given particle will be zero when density of
particle and the surrounding medium are equal.
Common feature of all centrifuges is the central
motor that spins a rotor containing the samples to
be separated.
Types of centrifuge
Desk top High speed
Ultracentrifuges
centrifuges centrifuges
Analytical
Preparative
Types of rotor
Fixed Vertical
angle tube
rotors rotors
Swinging-
bucket rotors
Types of rotor
Fixed angle rotors Vertical tube rotors
Tubes are held at angle of Held vertical parallel to rotor
14 to 400 to the vertical. axis.
Particles move radially Particles move short
outwards, travel a short distance.
distance. Time of separation is
Useful for differential shorter.
centrifugation Disadvantage: pellet may
Reorientation of the tube fall back into solution at end
occurs during acceleration of centrifugation.
and deceleration of the
rotor.
Types of rotor
Swinging-bucket rotors
Sing out to horizontal position when
rotor accelerates.
Longer distance of travel may allow
better separation, such as in
density gradient centrifugation.
Easier to withdraw supernatant
without disturbing pellet.
Normally used for density-gradient
centrifugation.
Separation
Small microfuges
work with speed- 8000-
13000 rpm & RCF 10000g
for rapid sedimentation of
small volumes (1-2 min)
Eg : Blood , Synaptosomes
( effect of drugs on
biogenic amines) 2
Desk top centrifuge
Very simple and small.
Maximum speed of 3000rpm
Do not have any temperature
regulatory system.
Used normally to collect rapidly
sedimenting substances such as
blood cells, yeast cells or bulky
precipitates of chemical reactions.
High speed centrifuges
Maximum speed of 25000rpm,
providing 90000g centrifugal forces.
Equipped with refrigeration to
remove heat generated.
Temperature maintained at 0-40C by
means of thermocouple.
Used to collect microorganism, cell
debris, cells, large cellular
organelles, precipitates of chemical
reactions.
Also useful in isolating the sub-
cellular organelles(nuclei,
mitochondria, lysosomes)
Ultracentrifuges
Operate at speed of 75,000rpm,
providing the centrifugal force of
500,000g.
Rotor chamber is sealed and evacuated
by pump to attain vacuum.
Refrigeration system (temp 0-40C).
Rotor chamber is always enclosed in a
heavy armor plate.
Centrifugation for isolation and
purification of components is known as
preparatory centrifugation, while that
carried out with a desire for
characterization is known as analytical
centrifugation.
Preparative centrifugation
Is concerned with the actual isolation of biological
material for subsequent biochemical investigations.
Divided into two main techniques depending on
suspension medium in which separation occur.
Homogenous medium – differential centrifugation
Density gradient medium – density gradient
centrifugation
1. Differential centrifugation
Separation is achieved based in the size of particles in
differential centrifugation.
Commonly used in simple pelleting and obtaining the partially
pure separation of subcellular organelles and
macromolecules.
Used for study of subcellular organelle, tissues or cells (first
disrupted to study internal content)
During centrifugation, larger
particles sediment faster than the
smaller ones.
At a series of progressive higher
g-force generate partially purified
organelles.
Inspite of its reduced yield differential centrifugation remains
probably the most commonly used method for isolation of
intracellular organelle from tissue homogenates because of
its;
relative ease
Convenience
Time economy
Drawback is its poor yield and fact that preparation obtained
never pure.
2. Density gradient centrifugation
It is the preferred method to purify subcellular organelles
and macromolecules.
Density gradient can be generated by placing layer after
layer of gradient media such as sucrose in tube, with
heaviest layer at the bottom and lightest at the top in
either.
Classified into two categories:
Rate-zonal Isopycnic
(size) (density)
separation separation
Gradient material used are:
Sucrose (66%, 50C)
Silica sols
Glycerol
CsCl
Cs Acetate
Ficol (high molecular wgt sucrose polymer & epichlorhydrin)
Sorbitol
Polyvinylpyrrolidone
2.1 Rate zonal centrifugation
Gradient centrifugation.
Take advantage of particle size and
mass instead of particle density for
sedimentation.
Ex: for common application include
separation of cellular organelle such as
endosomes or proteins ( such as
antibodies)
2.1 Rate zonal centrifugation
Criteria for successful rate-zonal
centrifugation:
Density of sample solution must be less than
that of the lowest density portion of the
gradient.
Density of sample particle must be greater
than that of highest density portion of the
gradient.
Path length of gradient must be sufficient for
the separation to occur.
Time is important, if you perform too long
runs, particles may all pellet at the bottom of
the tube.
2.2 Isopycnic centrifugation
Particle of a particular density will sink during
centrifugation until a position is reaches where
the density of the surrounding solution is
exactly the same as the density of the particle.
‘
Once quasi-equilibrium is reached, the length
of centrifugation doesnot have any influence
on the migration of particle.
Ex: separation of Nucleic acid in CsCl
(Caseium chloride) gradient.
Rate-Zonal Isopycnic
Synonym S-zonal, sedimentation velocity Density equilibrium, sedimentation
equilibrium
Gradient •Shallow, •Steep,
•Maximum gradient density less •Maximum gradient density greater
than the least dense sedimenting than that of the most dense
specie, sedimenting specie,
•Gradient continuous. •Continuous or discontinuous
gradients.
Centrifuga- •Incomplete sedimentation, •Complete sedimentation till
tion
•Low speed, equilibrium is achieved,
•Short time •High speed,
• Long time.
Separation RNA- DNA hybrids, ribosomal DNA, plasma lipoproteins,
subunits, etc., lysosomes, mitochondria,
peroxisomes, etc.,
Analytical centrifugation
Speed – 70000 rpm, RCF – 5 lakh g
Motor, rotor ,chamber that is
refrigerated and evacuated and
optical system
Optical system has light absorption
system ,schleiren system & Rayleigh
inferometric system
2 cells – analytical cell and
counterpoise cell
Optics used – schlieren optics or Rayleigh interference optics
At beginning , peak of refractive index will be at meniscus.
With progress of sedimentation, macromolecules move down
– peak shifts giving direct information about the
sedimentation characteristics.
Analytical centrifugation
Purity of macromole
Relative molecular mass of solute (within 5% SD)
Change in relative molecular mass of
supermolecular
complexes
Conformational change of protein structure
Ligand-binding study
Types of Centrifuges & applications
Types of centrifuge
Characteristic Low Speed High Speed Ultracentrifuge
Range of Speed (rpm) 1-6000 1000-25,000 20-80,000
Maximum RCF (g) 6000 50,000 6,00,000
Refrigeration some Yes Yes
Applications
Pelleting of cells Yes Yes Yes
Pelleting of nuclei Yes Yes Yes
Pelleting of organelles No Yes Yes
Pelleting of ribosomes No No Yes
Pelleting of Macromolecules No No Yes
Operation
Tubes recommended by their manufacturer should be used.
Top of tube should not protrude so far above the bucket.
Properly balanced- weight of racks, tubes, and content on opposite side of a rotor
should not differ by more than 1%. (Centrifuges auto balance are available).
Should centrifuge before unstopper the tubes.
Cleanliness –minimizing the possible of spread of infection (hep Virus).
Spillage and break of tube should be considered as the bloodborne pathogen
hazard.
Speed of centrifuge should be checked once 3m.
Centrifuge timer to be checked per week.
Application
In clinical laboratory, centrifugation is used to;
Remove cellular elements from blood to provide cell free
plasma or serum for analysis.
Remove chemically precipitated protein from an analytical
specimen.
Separate protein bound from free ligand in immunochemical
and other assay.
Separation of the subcellular organelle, DNA, RNA.
Extract solutes in biological fluids from aqueous to organic
solvents.
Separate lipid components.
References :
Tietz – Clinical Chemistry And Molecular Diagnostic
Keith Wilson and John Walker – Principle And Technique In
Biochemistry And Molecular Biology.
Avinash Upadhyay – Biophysical Chemistry.
Internet sources.
