Bio-Chemical Engineering

CHE-422
Date: 15/02/2018
Today’s topic

Cell fractionation
Important Cell types
Protist Kingdom
Taxonomy
Cell Fractionation
Analyzing characteristics of particular organelle from
a given type of cell.
We need to obtain sufficient quantity of the organelle
for biochemical analysis.
This is done by obtaining large number of organelles
from large number of cells or cell population.
Def:
“Cell fractionation is the process used to
separate cellular components while preserving
individual functions of each component”
Procedure
Step 1:
The cell suspension is homogenized in a special solution
using either a rotating pestle within a tube or ultrasonic
sound.
Effect:
Cells are broken without disturbing and disrupting the
organelles within.
Step 2:
Fractionation of the resulting suspension which contains
a variety of isolated intact organelles.
Separation process
As process engineers we know that any separation
process is based on exploitation of difference in physical
and/or chemical properties of components to be
isolated.
Here we use standard centrifugation techniques for
fractionating cell organelles.
The product are separated on the basis of physical
characteristics such as size, shape and density.
Cell fractionation
Important tips for successful fractionation
Population (Large number of individual objects)
Homogeneous (that all members are alike)
Heterogenous (all members are not alike)

Growing cell population contains mixture of old,

young, bigger and smaller cells.
They have different biochemical compositions and
activities.
The final properties are based on the average of the
cell population.
Basis of classification
Energy and nutritional requirements
Growth and product release rates
Method of reproduction
Capable and means of motion
Difference in morphology (Physical form and
structure)
Morphology has great role as it influences rate of
nutrient mass transfer and also effect the fluid
mechanics of the suspension.
Taxonomy
It’s the art of biological classification.
The basic unit of this classification scheme is species
that are characterized by high degree of similarity in physical
and biochemical properties together with significant
differences from the properties of related organisms.
Example: Escherichia coli
An extensively studied bacterium found in the human
intestine.
Represented by Genus (generic name) and species (specific
name).
Also represented as E.coli