What are the Steps Involved in Cell Fractionation?
The process of cell fractionation involves several key steps:
Cell Disruption: The first step is to disrupt the cell membrane to release the cellular contents. This can be done using physical methods like sonication, or chemical methods like using detergents. Homogenization: The cell contents are then homogenized to form a uniform mixture. This step ensures that all cellular components are evenly distributed in the solution. Centrifugation: The homogenate is subjected to centrifugation at different speeds and durations to separate the cellular components based on their size and density. This process can be repeated multiple times to achieve finer separation of organelles.
