Virus removal capacity at varying ionic strength during nanofiltration of AlphaNine® SD

Nanofiltration is incorporated into the manufacturing processes of many protein biopharmaceuticals to enhance safety by providing the capacity to retain pathogens while allowing protein drugs to pass through the filter. Retention is mainly a function of size; however, the shape of the pathogen may also influence retention. The ability of the Viresolve^® Pro nanofilter to remove different sized viruses during the manufacture of a Coagulation Factor IX (Alphanine^® SD) was studied at varying ionic strength, a process condition with the potential to affect virus shape and, hence, virus retention. Eight viruses were tested in a scale-down of the nanofiltration process. Five of the viruses (EMCV, Reo, BVDV, HIV, PRV) were nanofiltered at normal sodium processing conditions and three (PPV, HAV and WNV) were nanofiltered at higher and lower sodium. Representative Reduction Factors for all viruses were ≥4.50 logs and removal was consistent over a wide range of ionic strength.     

Robustness of nanofiltration for increasing the viral safety margin of biological products

In this study, the virus-removal capacity of nanofiltration was assessed using validated laboratory scale models on a wide range of viruses (pseudorabies virus; human immunodeficiency virus; bovine viral diarrhea virus; West Nile virus; hepatitis A virus; murine encephalomyocarditis virus; and porcine parvovirus) with sizes from 18 nm to 200 nm and applying the different process conditions existing in a number of Grifols' plasma-derived manufacturing processes (thrombin, α1-proteinase inhibitor, Factor IX, antithrombin, plasmin, intravenous immunoglobulin, and fibrinogen). Spiking experiments (n = 133) were performed in process intermediate products, and removal was subsequently determined by infectivity titration. Reduction Factor (RF) was calculated by comparing the virus load before and after nanofiltration under each product purification condition. In all experiments, the RFs were close to or greater than 4 log₁₀ (>99.99% of virus elimination). RF values were not significantly affected by the process conditions within the limits assayed (pH, ionic strength, temperature, filtration ratio, and protein concentration). The virus-removal capacity of nanofiltration correlated only with the size of the removed agent. In conclusion, nanofiltration, as used in the manufacturing of several Grifols' products, is consistent, robust, and not significantly affected by process conditions.     

Inactivation and clearance of viruses during the manufacture of high purity factor IX.

Haemophilia is a bleeding disorder characterised by a deficiency in Factor IX. Replacement therapy in the form of a Factor IX concentrate is a widely accepted practice. In this paper we describe a double virus inactivated chromatographic process for producing a high purity Factor IX product, MonoFIX((R))-VF. The process involves separation of the prothrombin complex by cryoprecipitation, fraction I precipitation and DEAE-cellulose adsorption, further ion-exchange chromatography of crude Factor IX, followed by solvent/detergent treatment. Heparin affinity chromatography is then used to further purify Factor IX. Final nanofiltration is sequential through 35 nm then 15 nm membrane filters. The principal virus inactivation/removal steps are solvent/detergent treatment and nanofiltration and the partitioning of relevant and model viruses provides further reduction in virus load through the production process.Solvent/detergent treatment was shown to achieve log reduction factors of 4.5 for HIV-1, 5.1 for Sindbis virus, 6.1 for vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), 5.1 for bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) and 5.3 for pseudorabies virus (PRV). BVDV is a model for hepatitis C virus (HCV), and pseudorabies virus (PRV), like hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an enveloped DNA virus. Using scaled down models of the production process, we have also demonstrated the neutralization/partitioning of at least 6 logs of hepatitis A virus (HAV) during cryoprecipitation, Fraction I precipitation, and the DEAE adsorption and elution step, and a further 1.6 log reduction in HAV load as a result of heparin affinity chromatography. The log reduction factors for HAV as a result of the second ion-exchange chromatography step and as a result of enhanced neutralisation associated with solvent/detergent treatment were not significant. Nanofiltration was shown to contribute a further log reduction factor of 6.7 for HAV and 5.8 for BVDV indicating that log reduction factors of this order would be obtained with other viruses of a similar or larger size, such as HIV, HBV and HCV.Overall, these studies indicate that MonoFIX-VF is a product with an extremely high level of viral safety.     

The complement regulator C4b-binding protein (C4BP) interacts with both the C4c and C4dg subfragments of the parent C4b ligand: evidence for synergy in C4BP subsite binding

C4b-binding protein (C4BP) is a multimeric serum protein that is a potent regulator of the classical and lectin complement pathways. The binding site for C4b has been localized to complement control protein (CCP) domains 1-3 of the C4BP alpha-chain and, in particular, to a cluster of positively charged amino acids predicted to be at the interface between CCP 1 and CCP 2. To determine the regions of C4b contributing to C4BP binding, we have examined via surface plasmon resonance technology the binding of the C4c and C4dg subfragments of C4b to C4BP. At half-physiologic ionic strength, specific and saturable binding was observed for both C4c and C4dg. C4c exhibited much greater ionic strength sensitivity in its binding than did C4dg. Analysis of the effect on binding of the subfragments to various C4b-binding-defective C4BP mutants, together with cross-competition experiments, suggests that the subsites in C4BP for C4c and C4dg are adjacent, but distinct. Additionally, we observed synergy in subsite filling such that the presence of C4dg enhanced the extent of C4c binding over its basal level, and vice versa. The enhanced binding of C4c in the presence of C4dg was not due to an increase in affinity but rather reflected a 2-3-fold increase in the number of sites capable of binding C4c. This suggests the existence of a conformational equilibrium between high- and low-affinity states in the C4c binding subsite within each C4BP subunit, an equilibrium which is shifted in favor of the high-affinity state by the filling of the C4dg subsite.     

C1 binding by murine IgM. The effect of a Pro-to-Ser exchange at residue 436 of the mu-chain

We have examined a defect in complement activation in a mutant trinitrophenyl-binding pentameric murine monoclonal IgM which has serine replacing the proline normally found at position 436 in the protein. The mutant protein showed equivalent hapten binding but a 100-fold decreased ability to initiate complement-dependent lysis of trinitrophenyl-coupled erythrocytes at physiological ionic strength (mu = 0.15). C4b deposition mediated by the mutant protein was impaired to a similar degree. C1 bound by the mutant protein showed C1s to C1-s conversion, suggesting normal activation. When measured at reduced ionic strength (mu = 0.06), the C1 and C1q binding affinity of the mutant protein was approximately one-half that of the wild type. However, the C1 binding affinity of the mutant protein showed a greater dependence upon ionic strength such that at physiological ionic strength we estimate a 50-fold lower C1 binding affinity for the mutant molecule. Kinetic studies suggested that this difference in affinity was largely attributable to differences in association rates. In addition, a fixed proportion of the mutant molecules showed no C1 binding. We conclude that the defect in complement activation occurs at the level of C1 binding. Our data support a role for the C mu 3 domain (residues 340-440) in C1 binding by IgM.     

Effects of temperature, flow rate and composition of binding buffer on adsorption of mouse monoclonal IgG1 antibodies to protein A Sepharose 4 Fast Flow.

The binding capacity of protein A Sepharose 4 Fast Flow for mouse IgG1 monoclonal antibodies (mabs) appears to be highly dependent on the buffer composition with respect to both concentration and ion type. Depending on the particular mab dynamic binding capacities up to 20 mg mab per ml gel could be obtained, when these mabs were isolated from supernatants of protein free hollow fibre cell culture systems. Variation of linear flow rate from 10 up to 300 cm/h and temperature (4 degrees C versus 25 degrees C) had a slight effect on the dynamic binding capacity, when a high ionic strength buffer was used during adsorption. Applying optimum binding conditions, final IgG fractions with a purity of more than 95% monomeric IgG were obtained. However, as side effect of the use of binding buffers with high ionic strength, the binding of acid proteases was also promoted.     

Characterization of Thrombate III®, a pasteurized and nanofiltered therapeutic human antithrombin concentrate

Thrombate III^® is a highly purified antithrombin concentrate that has been used by clinicians worldwide for more than two decades for the treatment of hereditary antithrombin deficiency. The manufacturing process is based on heparin-affinity chromatography and pasteurization. To modernize the process and to further enhance the pathogen safety profile of the final product, despite the absence of infectious disease transmission, a nanofiltration step was added. The biochemical characterization and pathogen safety evaluation of Thrombate III^® manufactured using the modernized process are presented. Bioanalytical data demonstrate that the incorporation of nanofiltration has no impact on the antithrombin content, potency, and purity of the product.Scaledown models of the manufacturing process were used to assess virus and prion clearance under manufacturing setpoint conditions. Additionally, robustness of virus clearance was evaluated at or slightly outside the manufacturing operating limits. The results demonstrate that pasteurization inactivated both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. The addition of nanofiltration substantially increased clearance capacities for both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses by approximately 4–6 log₁₀. In addition, the process achieves 6.0 log₁₀ ID₅₀ prion infectivity clearance. Thus, the introduction of nanofiltration increased the pathogen safety margin of the manufacturing process without impacting the key biochemical characteristics of the product.     

A novel interaction between type IV pili of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and the human complement regulator C4B-binding protein

C4b-binding protein (C4BP) is an important plasma inhibitor of the classical pathway of complement activation. Several bacterial pathogens bind C4BP, which may contribute to their virulence. In the present report we demonstrate that isolated type IV pili from Neisseria gonorrhoeae bind human C4BP in a dose-dependent and saturable manner. C4BP consists of seven identical alpha-chains and one beta-chain linked together with disulfide bridges. We found that pili bind to the alpha-chain of C4BP, which is composed of eight homologous complement control protein (CCP) domains. From the results of an inhibition assay with C4b and a competition assay in which we tested mutants of C4BP lacking individual CCPs, we concluded that the binding area for pili is localized to CCP1 and CCP2 of the alpha-chain. The binding between pili and C4BP was abolished at 0.25 M NaCl, implying that it is based mostly on ionic interactions, similarly to what have been observed for C4b-C4BP binding. Furthermore, the N-terminal part of PilC, a structural component of pili, appeared to be responsible for binding of C4BP. Membrane cofactor protein, previously shown to be a receptor for pathogenic N. gonorrhoeae on the surface of epithelial cells, competed with C4BP for binding to pili only at high concentrations, suggesting that different parts of pili are involved in these two interactions. Accordingly, high concentrations of C4BP were required to inhibit binding of N. gonorrhoeae to Chang conjunctiva cells, and no inhibition of binding was observed with cervical epithelial cells.     

The pH-regulated antigen 1 of Candida albicans binds the human complement inhibitor C4b-binding protein and mediates fungal complement evasion

Candida albicans binds and utilizes human complement inhibitors, such as C4b-binding protein (C4BP), Factor H, and FHL-1 for immune evasion. Here, we identify Candida pH-regulated antigen 1 (Pra1) as the first fungal C4BP-binding protein. Recombinant Pra1 binds C4BP, as shown by ELISA and isothermal titration calorimetry, and the Pra1-C4BP interaction is ionic in nature. The Pra1 binding domains within C4BP were localized to the complement control protein domain 4 (CCP4), CCP7, and CCP8. C4BP bound to Pra1 maintains complement-inhibitory activity. C4BP and Factor H bind simultaneously to Candida Pra1 and do not compete for binding at physiological levels. A Pra1-overexpressing C. albicans strain, which had about 2-fold Pra1 levels at the surface acquired also about 2-fold C4BP to the surface, compared with the wild type strain CAI4. A Pra1 knock-out strain showed ～22% reduced C4BP binding. C4BP captured by C. albicans from human serum inhibits C4b and C3b surface deposition and also maintains cofactor activity. In summary, Candida Pra1 represents the first fungal C4BP-binding surface protein. Pra1, via binding to C4BP, mediates human complement control, thereby favoring the immune and complement evasion of C. albicans.     

Regulation of complement activation by C-reactive protein: targeting of the inhibitory activity of C4b-binding protein

C-reactive protein (CRP) is the major acute phase protein in humans. It has been shown that CRP interacts with factor H, an inhibitor of the alternative pathway of complement, and now we demonstrate binding of CRP to the fluid-phase inhibitor of the classical pathway, C4b-binding protein (C4BP). C4BP bound to directly immobilized recombinant CRP as well as CRP attached to phosphorylcholine. The binding was sensitive to ionic strength and was enhanced in the presence of calcium. C4BP lacking beta-chain and protein S, which is a form of C4BP increasing upon inflammation, bound CRP with higher affinity than the C4BP-protein S complex. The binding could not be blocked with mAbs directed against peripheral parts of the alpha-chains of C4BP while the isolated central core of C4BP obtained by partial proteolytic digestion bound CRP, indicating that the binding site for CRP is localized in the central core of the C4BP molecule. Furthermore, we found complexes in serum from a patient with an elevated CRP level and trace amounts of CRP were also identified in a plasma-derived C4BP preparation. We were also able to detect C4BP-CRP complexes in solution and established that C4BP retains full complement regulatory activity in the presence of CRP. In addition, we found that C4BP can compete with C1q for binding to immobilized CRP and that it inhibits complement activation locally. We hypothesize that CRP limits excessive complement activation on targets via its interactions with both factor H and C4BP.     

Blood protein technological industrial developments as a mirror of fundamental studies bgy the Institute of Biochemistry of the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences

We have examined the technology for an industrial chromatographic production highly purified factor VIII concentrate intended for therapy of the hemophilia A and characterized this factor VIII. The final product has been prepared from cryoprecipitate of pooled human plasma using a large-scale procedure combining three conventional chromatographic steps based on AEM and CEM ion exchange and SPG or SHR gel filtration chromatography. The specific activity of the product was 459 +/- 19 IU factor VIII/mg protein (n = 10), corresponding to a purification factor of about 15,000. The concentrate was free of the fibrinogen, alpha-2-macroglobulin, alpha-1-acidglycoprotein, haptoglobin. Only three contaminants could be detected: fibronectin, immunoglobulins A and G (about 0.020, 0.004 and 0.034 microgram/IU factor VIII, respectively). The purity of the final product was confirmed by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, cellulose acetate electrophoresis, Grabar-Williams immunoelectrophoresis, and bidimensional immunoelectrophoresis. Another examination was concern to the technology for an industrial chromatographic production highly purified factor IX concentrate intended for therapy of the hemophilia B and characterized this factor IX. The final product has been prepared from pooled human plasma using a large-scale procedure combining four conventional chromatographic steps based on AEM ion exchange, AFM affinity and SGS gel filtration chromatography. The specific activity of the product was 149 +/- 10 IU factor IX/mg protein (n = 10), corresponding to a purification factor of about 9000. The concentrate was free of the vitamin K-dependent clotting factors II, VII and X and of proteins C and S. Most of possible contaminants were absent in this new product. High-molecular-weight kininogen, factor VIII, XI, XII or prekallikrein were not detected. There were no activated factors, such as factors IXa and Xa, no thrombin and no phospholipids. Only two contaminants could be detected: C4 and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (about 0.8 and 1.2 mg/IU factor IX, respectively). The purity of the final product was confirmed by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, cellulose acetate electrophoresis, Grabar-Williams immunoelectrophoresis, and bidimensional immunoelectrophoresis. Thrombogenicity tests in rabbits revealed that the high purified factor IX by Institute of Biochemistry technology tested had a lower thrombogenic power than the commercial factors IX tested. The concentrate has been subjected to a special solvent--detergent treatment for definite time and temperature during its production to virus inactivation (it will be describe in following special examination). These data demonstrate that a highly purified therapeutic clotting factor VIII and IX concentrates can be prepared from human plasma by conventional chromatographic methods developed by Institute of Biochemistry of NAS of Ukraine and Combio Ltd.     

Manufacturing process of anti-thrombin III concentrate: viral safety validation studies and effect of column re-use on viral clearance.

A manufacturing process for the production of Anti-thrombin IIII concentrate is described, which is based primarily on Heparin Sepharose affinity chromatography. The process includes two sequential viral inactivation/removal procedures, applied to the fraction eluted from the column, the first by heating in aqueous solution at 60 degrees C for 10 h and the second by nanofiltration. Using viral validation on a scaled-down process both treatments proved to be effective steps; able to inactivate or remove more than 4 logs of virus, and their combined effect (>8 logs) assured the safety of the final product. Viral validation studies of the Heparin Sepharose chromatographic step demonstrated a consistency of the affinity of the resin for viruses over repeated use (16 runs), thus providing evidence of absence of cross-contamination from one batch to the next. It was concluded that the process of ATIII manufacturing provides a high level of confidence that the product will not transmit viruses.     

Transient electric birefringence of human erythroid spectrin dimers and tetramers at ionic strengths of 4 mm and 53 mm

In conventional electrooptic studies the sample ionic strength must for technical reasons be kept below about 3 mm, which is only 2% of the ionic strength at physiological conditions. In particular for flexible polyelectrolytic macromolecules it can in general not be ruled out that both the conformational average and dynamics at ionic strength 3 mm and below may differ significantly from what it is at physiological conditions. Here we report on the first electrooptic study of human erythroid spectrin dimers and tetramers at ionic strengths higher than 3 mm. All measurements in this study were carried out at both ionic strength 4 mm (2.5 mm HEPES + 1 mm NaCl) and 53 mm (2.5 mm HEPES + 50 mm NaCl). Spectrin tetramers were studied only at 4°C whereas the dimers were studied at both 4 °C and 37°C. At 4°C there is a striking quantitative similarity between the transient electric birefringence (TEB) of spectrin dimers and tetramers. Also, the TEB of spectrin dimers at 37°C was very similar to the results at 4°C. The contour length and the molecular weight of spectrin dimers and tetramers are known. The dominating TEB relaxation time is in all cases only a fraction of what is predicted theoretically if the spectrin dimers and tetramers are assumed to be stiff and extended molecules. In sum, the new TEB data constitute strong electrooptic evidence confirming that spectrin dimers and tetramers have a highly flexible structure, and demonstrate for the first time that a major part of the intrachain dynamics of the spectrin is quite insensitive to an increase of the ionic strength from 4 mm to 53 mm. Use of the reversing electric field pulse technique for all conditions studied yields TEB data suggesting that the orientation of both spectrin dimers and tetramers in an electric field is dominated by a permanent rather than an induced electric dipole moment. Received: 26 August 1998 / Revised version: 8 February 1999 / Accepted: 11 February 1999     

Application of high performance liquid chromatography to the analysis of cytoplasmic and nuclear oestrogen receptors

Soluble and nuclear preparations of fresh human endometrium have been analysed by HPLC on a gel permeation column. With high ionic strength eluants recoveries of receptor binding were less than 40% while low ionic strength eluants gave recoveries of 70% or greater. Non-specific binding by endometrial and plasma proteins was largely lost at both high and low ionic strength. Soluble binding components saturable by diethylstilboestrol (DES) were resolved into two components differing in heat lability and response to variations in ionic strength. Molybdate appears to alter the receptor protein rather than the activity of inactivating enzymes. At low ionic strength nuclear binding components saturable by DES could be resolved into two components.     

CJD PrPsc removal by nanofiltration process: application to a therapeutic immunoglobulin solution (Lymphoglobuline).

The characteristic of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) is an accumulation of partially protease resistant (PrP(res)) abnormal prion protein (PrP(sc)). This pathological prion protein is very resistant to conventional inactivation methods. The risk of transmission of TSE, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), by biopharmaceutical products prepared from human cells must be taken into account. The nanofiltration process has been proved to be effective in removing viruses and scrapie agent. The major advantages of this technique are flexibility and efficacy in removing infectious particles without altering biopharmaceutical characteristics and properties. This study focused on the removal of human PrP(sc) by means of a nanofiltration method after spiking a Lymphoglobuline solution with a CJD brain homogenate. Lymphoglobuline equine anti-human thymocyte immunoglobulin is a selective immunosuppressive agent acting mainly on human T lymphocytes. The therapeutic indications are: immunosuppression for transplantation: prevention and treatment of graft rejection; treatment of aplastic anemia. In our study, CJD homogenate was spiked at three different dilutions (low, moderate and high) in the Lymphoglobuline product. The nanofiltration process was performed on each sample. Using the western blot technique, the PrP(res) signal detected in nanofiltrates was compared to that obtained with a reference scale (dilution series of CJD brain homogenate in Lymphoglobuline detected by western blot and elaborated on 3.3 log). After nanofiltration, the PrP(res) western blot signal was detected with a significant reduction in the less dilute sample, whereas the signal was undetectable in the two other samples. These are the first data in CJD demonstrating a clearance between 1.6 and 3.3 log with a Lymphoglobuline recovery of over 93%. The nanofiltration process confirms its relative efficacy in removing human CJD PrP(sc).     

Chromatographic purification and properties of a therapeutic human protein C concentrate

Protein C deficiency (inherited and acquired) has a relatively high incidence rate in the general population worldwide. For many years, protein C deficient patients have been treated with fresh frozen plasma, prothrombin complex concentrates, heparin or oral anticoagulants, which all have clinical drawbacks. We report the production process of a highly purified human protein C concentrate from 1500 l of cryo-poor plasma by a four-step chromatographic procedure. After DEAE-Sephadex adsorption, protein C was separated from clotting factors II, VII and IX by DEAE-Sepharose FF and further purified, using a new strategy, by an on-line chromatographic system combining DMAE-Fractogel and heparin-Sepharose CL-6B. In addition, the product was treated against viral risks by solvent-detergent and nanofiltration on 15-nm membranes. The protein C concentrate was essentially free of other vitamin K-dependent proteins. Proteolytic activity was undetectable. Neither activated protein C, prekallikrein activator, nor activated vitamin K-dependent clotting factors were found resulting in good stability of the protein C activity. In vitro and in vivo animal tests did not reveal any sign of potential thrombogenicity. The final freeze-dried product had a mean protein C concentration of 58 IU/ml and a mean specific activity of 215 IU/mg protein, corresponding to over 12000-fold purification from plasma. Therefore, this concentrate appears to be of potential benefit for the treatment of protein C deficiency.     

Specific binding of the cAMP receptor protein of Escherichia coli to the lactose operon promoter

The nitrocellulose filter binding assay has been used to study effects of pH, temperature, ionic strength and magnesium ions on the specific binding of the cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) receptor protein (CAP) to the promoter of the lactose (lac) operon of Escherichia coli. The pH has a significant effect on binding with the greatest amount of specific binding appearing at pHs near 7 with a gradual decrease in binding as the pH is increased to 8. Specific binding was observed at temperatures of 22 degrees C and 37 degrees C but not at 4 degrees C. The specific binding was also found to be a function of the concentration of magnesium acetate and potassium chloride, being dependent on the specific cation present, the total ionic strength, and the concentration of the CAP protein. All binding decreases as the ionic strength, increases, but this decrease occurs at a lower ionic strength in magnesium acetate than in potassium chloride. In a double label experiment the filter assay demonstrates that the cAMP-CAP complex preferentially binds to the wild-type lac promoter in the presence of a lac promoter mutated at the CAP binding site. Based on these results and comparisons with other experiments reported in the literature, buffer conditions that approximate the physiological state of a cell appear to be best for studying the interaction between CAP and the lactose promoter in vitro.     

Concentration of 6-aminopenicillanic acid from penicillin bioconversion solution and its mother liquor by nanofiltration membrane

In this study, nanofiltration was applied to the concentration of the 6-aminopenicillinic acid (6-APA) from bioconverted penicillin solution and also to its mother liquor. The 6-APA in the solution was concentrated from 0.211 mol/L to 0.746 mol/L by nanofiltration. The final maximum concentration was 3.6 times higher than the initial concentration and the recovery yield was 97% to 99% of the original 6-APA. The concentrated solution was crystallized with the yields of 88.9–90.2% and the purity of the crystallized product was about 98%. The concentration of 6-APA in the mother liquor after crystallization was 0.014 mol/L and thus was concentrated 20–30 fold by nanofiltration and crystallization. The recovery of 6-APA was over 98%. The salts contained in the mother liquor, such as NH₄Cl and KCl, could be removed by allowing them to permeate through the membrane.     

Mathematical modeling of elution curves for a protein mixture in ion exchange chromatography and for the optimal selection of operational conditions

Elution curves in ionic exchange chromatography (IEC) for a three-protein mixture (alpha-lactoalbumin, ovalbumin, and beta-lactoglobulin), carried out under different flow rates and ionic strength conditions, were simulated using two different mathematical models. These models were the Plate Model and the more fundamentally based Rate Model. Relatively low protein concentrations were used to avoid protein-protein interactions. Simulated elution curves were compared with experimental data not used for parameter identification. Deviation between experimental data and the simulated curves using the Plate Model was less than 0.0189 (absorbance units); a slightly higher deviation [0.0252 (absorbance units)] was obtained when the Rate Model was used. A cost function was built that included the effect of the different production stages, namely fermentation, purification, and concentration. These considered the effect on the performance of IEC; yield, purity, concentration and the time needed to accomplish the separation. Operational conditions in the IEC such as flow rate, ionic strength gradient and the operational time can be selected using this model in order to find the minimum cost for the protein production process depending on the characteristics of the final product desired such as purity and yield. This cost function was successfully used for the selection of the operational conditions as well as the fraction of the product to be collected (peak cutting) in IEC. It can be used for protein products with different characteristics and qualities, such as purity and yield, by choosing the appropriate parameters.     

猪C1q的分离纯化与鉴定

猪Ｃ１ｑ由猪血清通过ＰＥＧ沉淀优球蛋白、低离子强度透析沉淀、ＩｇＧ－Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ４８亲和层析、ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＧ－２００凝胶层析等步骤分离纯化,每３００ｍｌ血清可制得９．８ｍｇＣ１ｑ,产率为４６．７％。纯化的猪Ｃ１ｑ在ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ上显示出三条染色带,分别在２９、２６、２２ｋＤ处,薄层扫描结果表明纯度达９１％;纯化的Ｃ１ｑ保持了较高活性,终浓度为４μｇ／ｍｌ时仍可使致敏的绵羊红细胞出现明显的凝集现象。猪Ｃ１ｑ－ＥＬＩＳＡ结果表明,动物Ｃ１ｑ代替人Ｃ１ｑ应用于临床检测是可行的。