Date of Graduation

5-2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Chemical Engineering

Advisor/Mentor

Beitle, Robert R.

Abstract

Recombinant DNA technology is used to produce therapeutics in host organisms and undergoes several purification steps before it can be used by the end user. Escherichia coli which has been widely studied has been the microorganism of choice mainly because of its low production costs. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the optimal conditions to purify a protein of interest with antifungal properties. Varying the loading pH alters the overall charge of both the target protein and host cell proteins (HCPs). Identifying genomic proteins that remain bound regardless of loading pH on DEAE columns will guide future genetic manipulation to enhance purification without sacrificing product yield. The identity of the proteins which bind strongly to the DEAE resin even at low pH are important which if non-essential for the growth of E.coli can possibly be deleted to improve column efficiency.

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