Protein behavior at surfaces: Orientation, conformational transitions and transport

•Recent studies on protein behavior at chromatographic surfaces were reviewed.•Protein orientation at chromatographic surfaces and its implications were discussed.•Factors affecting protein unfolding/refolding at surfaces were summarized.•Surface transport of bound protein was elaborated with four mechanisms.•Discussion on the protein behavior offered insight into novel surface design.

Chromatography is the key technology in protein purification as well as in protein refolding. Taking the scientific development and technological innovation of protein chromatography as the objective, this article is devoted to an overview of protein behavior at chromatographic surfaces, including protein orientation, conformational transitions (unfolding and refolding), and protein transport. Recent advances achieved by using molecular simulations as well as theoretical and experimental investigations are elaborated and discussed with emphasis on their implications to the rational design of novel chromatographic surfaces or materials and mobile phase conditions for the development of high-performance protein chromatography.