Paper Chromatography of Cell Fragments

Abstract

THE observation and analysis of isolated cell fragments gives much information on the way in which the more complex structures are put together. The usual method used for separating cell fragments is differential centrifugation, in which the difference in size and particle density is the determining factor. Albertsson¹ has studied the separation of cells and cell fragments using column chromatography. This is a method of interest since it separates the cell fragments on the basis of the physical and chemical properties of the surface of the particles. This communication points out that the well-known technique of paper chromatography can be extended from the separation of molecules to the separation of cell fragments of very large molecular weight.