affinity chromatography n chromatography in which a macromolecule (as a protein) is isolated and purified by passing it in solution through a column that has been treated with a substance having a ligand for which the macromolecule has an affinity that causes it to be retained on the column
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chromatography based on a highly specific biologic interaction such as that between antigen and antibody, enzyme and substrate, or receptor and ligand. Any of these substances, covalently linked to an insoluble support or immobilized in a gel, may serve as the sorbent allowing the interacting substance to be isolated from relatively impure samples; often a 1000-fold purification can be achieved in one step.Medical dictionary. 2011.