Why is an Affinity Tag Fusion Protein Produced

Question

Why is an affinity tag fusion protein produced?
A)To increase the biological activity of the protein.
B)To increase overall expression of the cloned gene.
C)To facilitate the purification of the recombinant protein.
D)To ensure correct transcription termination.
E)To ensure that translation starts correctly.

Accepted Answer

An affinity tag fusion protein is usually produced to facilitate the purification of the recombinant protein. The tag, usually a small peptide sequence, allows for the selective purification of the fusion protein from a crude mixture using a specific chromatographic technique. This greatly simplifies the purification process and improves the purity, yield, and overall quality of the final protein product.