The IMPACT (Intein Mediated Purification with an Affinity Chitin-binding Tag) system is a novel protein purification system which utilizes the inducible self-cleavage activity of protein splicing elements (termed inteins) to separate the target protein from the affinity tag.

It distinguishes itself from all other purification systems by its ability to purify, in a single chromatographic step, a native recombinant protein without the use of a protease. Each intein tag contains a chitin binding domain (CBD) for the affinity purification of the fusion protein on a chitin resin. Induction of on-column cleavage, using thiol reagents such as dithiothreitol (DTT), releases the target protein from the intein tag. The vectors included in this kit allow for the fusion of the target protein at its C-terminus (pTXB1) or at its N-terminus (pTYB21) to the intein tag.