What is the primary purpose of size exclusion chromatography?

The primary purpose of size exclusion chromatography is to separate proteins based on their size. In this technique, a mixture of proteins is passed through a column that contains porous beads. Smaller molecules can enter the pores of the beads while larger molecules cannot. As a result, larger proteins elute from the column first, followed by smaller proteins. This method is particularly useful for purifying proteins or other macromolecules without altering their structure or functionality, as it does not rely on chemical interactions but rather on the physical size of the molecules.

By applying size exclusion chromatography, researchers can effectively resolve complex mixtures of proteins and obtain fractions that can be further analyzed or used in experiments, making it a fundamental tool in protein purification processes.