Most common reasons for protein inactivation
- Too extensive dilution, if possible keep protein concentration > 1 mg/ml
- Exposure to degradative enzymes
- Bacterial and fungal growth
- Presence of oxygen, heavy metals
- Change in physical conditions, like freezing/thawing
- Vigorous stirring or vortexing
- Extreme pH or temperature
- Organic solvents
Good reference about protein aggregation:
Anal Biochem. 2003 May 15;316(2):223-31.
Detection and prevention of protein aggregation before, during, and after purification.
Bondos SE, Bicknell A.