Separation of Large Quantities of Ribosomal Subunits by Zonal Ultracentrifugation

Abstract

The maximum capacity of the B‐XV zonal rotor for the separation of Escherichia coli ribosomal subunits has been investigated. These experiments were performed using a class of sucrose density gradients (hyperbolic gradients) which present certain theoretical advantages. 2 g of subunits could be utilised in single centrifugations with a final yield of 0.5 g of 30 S and 1.0 g of 50 S subunits of greater than 99° purity.