Statement I: Proteins can be separated by means of isoelectric point separation technique
Statement II: At isoelectric point the solubility of protein in the solvent is minimum
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is option 1. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I
Statement I: Proteins can be separated by means of isoelectric point separation technique.
This statement is correct because the isoelectric point of a protein is the pH at which the protein has no net charge. This means that the protein will not move in an electric field at its isoelectric point. If we create a pH gradient in a gel, the proteins will migrate in the gel until they reach their isoelectric point, where they will stop moving. This allows us to separate proteins based on their isoelectric points.
Statement II: At isoelectric point the solubility of protein in the solvent is minimum.
This statement is also correct because the solubility of a protein is inversely related to its charge. When a protein has a net charge, it is attracted to the oppositely charged end of the solvent, which decreases its solubility. However, at the isoelectric point, the protein has no net charge, so it is not attracted to either end of the solvent, which results in a minimum solubility.
Since the solubility of a protein is inversely related to its charge, and the isoelectric point is the pH at which the protein has no net charge, it follows that the solubility of a protein is minimized at its isoelectric point.
Therefore, Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I. The solubility of a protein is minimized at its isoelectric point, which is why proteins can be separated by the isoelectric point separation technique.