Immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography.

This article describes the technique of immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC). The IMAC stationary phases are designed to chelate certain metal ions that have selectivity for specific groups in peptides and on protein surfaces. The number of stationary phases that can be synthesized for efficient chelation of metal ions is unlimited, but the critical consideration is that there is enough exposure of the metal ion to interact with the proteins, preferably in a biospecific manner. The versatility of IMAC is one of its greatest assets. An important contribution to the correct use of IMAC for protein purification is a simplified presentation of the various sample elution procedures.