Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Enzymatic digestion (e.g., lysozyme)
Explanation:
Introduction:
Cell disruption liberates intracellular products before purification. Methods fall into physical (mechanical) and non-physical (chemical/enzymatic) categories. Selecting an approach depends on scalability, cost, product stability, and downstream compatibility.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Physical methods apply shear, impact, or cavitation: bead mills grind cells between beads; homogenizers force slurries through narrow orifices, generating extreme shear and pressure drop; ultrasonication creates microjets and shock waves from bubble collapse. Enzymatic digestion uses biochemical reactions (e.g., lysozyme on peptidoglycan) and is not a physical method.
Step-by-Step Solution:
List physical mechanisms: shear/impact (bead mill), pressure-induced shear (homogenizer), cavitation (ultrasound).Contrast with enzymatic hydrolysis of cell walls which relies on catalysis, not mechanics.Therefore, enzymatic digestion is not a physical method.
Verification / Alternative check:
Pilot-scale runs often compare bead milling or homogenization to enzyme-assisted lysis; documentation consistently categorizes enzymes as chemical/biochemical disruption aids, not physical techniques.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Milling, homogenization, and ultrasonication all rely on mechanical energy input and are classic physical methods.
Common Pitfalls:
Final Answer:
Enzymatic digestion (e.g., lysozyme)
Discussion & Comments