Question

Which of the following statements is true about size-exclusion chromatography?

(a) During the separation of a mixture of proteins, protein with smallest molecular weight is eluted first

(b) During the separation of a mixture of proteins, protein with largest molecular weight is eluted first

(c) During the separation of a mixture of proteins, protein with largest molecular weight is eluted last

(d) During the separation of a mixture of proteins, protein with largest molecular weight flow around the beads

I got this question during a job interview.

My doubt is from Working with Proteins in chapter Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins of Biochemistry

Answer 1

Correct choice is (b) During the separation of a mixture of proteins, protein with largest molecular weight is eluted first

For explanation I would say: Larger proteins migrate faster than the smaller ones because they are too large to enter the pores in the beads.