The use of dye-ligand affinity chromatography for the purification of non-enzymatic human plasma proteins

Literature data are analysed in this review on the use of immobilized triazine dyes for the characterization, isolation and purification of non-enzymatic human plasma proteins in both conventional and high-pressure liquid chromatography systems. Attention is focused on the mode of interaction between the dyes and these proteins, as well as on the advantages over previously reported techniques. Future developments are discussed.     

Protein displacement in dye-ligand chromatography using neutral and charged polymers

Displacement chromatography was demonstrated to perform separations efficiently under mass-overloaded conditions, offering advantages such as increased product recovery and purity, superior resolving power, and concentration and purification in a single processing step. The use of water-soluble polymers for protein displacement in dye-ligand chromatography was initiated in our laboratory. The polymers for displacement were selected using differences spectroscopy to monitor their interactions with a dye-ligand in solution. Non-charged polymers such as poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) and poly(N-vinyl caprolactam) efficiently displaced lactate dehydrogenase from porcine muscle from a Blue Sepahrose column. The latter polymer, being thermosensitive, could be easily removed from the eluate and recovered by precipitation at 45 degrees C and low-speed centrifugation. The positively charged polymer poly(ethylene imine) proved to be an even more efficient displacer. The dye-ligand column could be regenerated after application of displacer either by washing with a solution of the soluble ligand Cibacron Blue (in the case of non-charged polymers) or by washing with highly alkaline solutions containing polyanions (in the case of poly(ethylene imine)) The latter formed a soluble complex with poly(ethylene imine) and stripped the column from the polymer.     

One-step purification of rabbit histidine rich glycoprotein by dye-ligand affinity chromatography with metal ion requirement

A simple method for purification of the histidine rich glycoprotein (rHRG) from rabbit sera was developed. The rHRG was purified by one-step affinity chromatography using the triphenylmethane dye "acid fuchsin" as a specific ligand, which gave an overall yield above 80%. Interestingly, the binding of rHRG to the ligand required the divalent transition-metal ions such as Zn2+, Ni2+, and Co2+ at pH 9.5. In the presence of 0.5 mM ZnCl2, the binding was enhanced 15 times compared with that in the absence of ZnCl2. Bound rHRG was efficiently eluted from the affinity absorbent with 100 mM imidazole or histidine. Purified rHRG was homogeneous with an Mr of 94 kDa when analyzed by SDS-PAGE, whereas isoelectric focusing revealed microheterogeniety with pI values ranging from 6.3 to 6.8. Blotting analysis with lectins specific for carbohydrate moieties and treatment with glycosidases demonstrated that rHRG is a highly N-glycosylated protein with diverse carbohydrate structures.     

Rapid purification of RNAs using fast performance liquid chromatography (FPLC)

We present here an improved RNA purification method using fast performance liquid chromatography (FPLC) size-exclusion chromatography in place of denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The method allows preparation of milligram quantities of pure RNA in a single day. As RNA oligonucleotides behave differently from globular proteins in the size-exclusion column, we present standard curves for RNA oligonucleotides of different lengths on both the Superdex 75 column and the Superdex 200 size-exclusion column. Using this approach, we can separate monomer from multimeric RNA species, purify the desired RNA product from hammerhead ribozyme reactions, and isolate refolded RNA that has aggregated after long-term storage. This methodology allows simple and rapid purification of RNA oligonucleotides for structural and biophysical studies.     

Rapid purification of the 30 kDa calcimedin using DNase I affinity chromatography

The 30 kDa calcimedin was found to bind directly to phenyl-Sepharose in a calcium dependent manner similar to calmodulin. The 30 kDa calcimedin was also found to bind to and inhibit DNase I. This calcium-dependent binding was exploited to develop a two-step purification scheme for this calcimedin. In addition, affinity-purified antibodies to the 30 kDa calcimedin were used to examine its tissue distribution. The highest levels were found in lung, trachea and diaphragm while the lowest levels of the 30 kDa calcimedin were found in brain and skeletal muscle.     

Expanded bed affinity chromatography of dehydrogenases from bakers' yeast using dye-ligand perfluoropolymer supports

Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) have been partially purified from preparations of homogenized yeast cells using Procion Yellow H-E3G and Procion Red H-E7B, respectively, immobilized on solid perfluoropolymer supports in an expanded bed. A series of pilot experiments were carried out in small packed beds using clarified homogenate to determine the optimal elution conditions for both MDH and G6PDH. Selective elution of MDH using NADH was effective but the yields obtained were dependent on the concentration of NADH used. Selective elution was found to be most effective when a low concentration of NaCl (0.1 M) was present. MDH could be recovered in 84% yield with a purification factor of 94 when this strategy was adopted. In the case of G6PDH, specific elution using NADP(+) was successful in purifying G6PDH 178-fold in 96% yield. The dynamic capacity of both affinity supports was estimated by frontal analysis, in an expanded bed with unclarified homogenate, and corresponded to 17 U MDH/mL of settled Procion Yellow H-E3G perfluoropolymer support and 7.7 U H6PDH/mL of settled Procion Red H-E7B perfluoropolymer support. Expanded bed affinity chromatography of MDH resulted in an eluted fraction containing 89% of the applied activity with a purification factor of 113. Expanded bed affinity chromatography of G6PDH resulted in an eluted fraction containing 84% of the applied activity with a purification factor of 172. With both enzymes, the overall recovery of enzyme activity was greater than 94%, showing that the expanded bed approach to purification was nondenaturing. (c) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Fractionation of plasma proteins using dye-ligand chromatography: elution profiles on immobilized green TSK-AF

The fractionation of human plasma by chromatography on immobilized Green TSK-AF was assessed by immunological analysis of the elution profiles of 27 different plasma proteins. A three-step procedure was used to elute proteins from the column. First a low-molarity buffer (30 mM sodium phosphate, pH 7.0, I = 0.053) was applied; then a linear salt gradient (0-1.0 M NaCl in the above buffer) was followed by an additional wash with four bed volumes of 1.0 M NaCl. Tightly bound proteins were finally stripped with 0.5 M NH4SCN. The elution profile of the proteins using this procedure appears to be very reproducible. Comparison with the profile obtained upon chromatography on Cibacron Blue 3GA [Gianazza, E. and Arnaud, P. (1982) Biochem. J. 201, 129-136] indicates significant differences between the binding properties of the two gels. These differences can be used to design a "tandem-chromatography" system which provides an efficient means for the separation of several plasma proteins.     

Use of differential dye-ligand chromatography with affinity elution for enzyme purification: 6-phosphogluconate dehydratase from Zymomonas mobilis

Using differential dye-ligand chromatography and affinity elution with a substrate analog, 6-phosphogluconate dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.12) has been isolated from extracts of Zymomonas mobilis in a one-step procedure with 50% recovery. The specific activity of freshly isolated enzyme was 245 units mg-1. The enzyme contains iron, and it is rapidly inactivated in oxidizing conditions. It is inhibited by glycerophosphates, most strongly by the D-alpha-isomer which structurally corresponds to half of the substrate molecule.     

Rapid purification of a recombinant protein using tandem radial flow ion-exchange column chromatography.

Tandem radial flow anion- and cation-exchange columns were used to partially purify and concentrate a dilute recombinant protein that had been refolded in vitro after production as insoluble inclusion bodies in E. coli. The refolded sample was first passed through a Q-Sepharose Fast Flow column in order to remove the majority of E. coli contaminating proteins and endotoxins, then purified on an S-Sepharose Fast Flow column connected to the outlet of the Q-Sepharose column. This tandem arrangement enabled the rapid processing of multiple preparations of refolded material during production method development.     

Affinity membrane chromatography: relationship of dye-ligand type to surface polarity and their effect on lysozyme separation and purification

Two different dye-ligands, i.e. Procion Brown MX-5BR (RB-10) and Procion Green H-4G (RG-5) were immobilised onto poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (pHEMA) membranes. The polarities of the affinity membranes were determined by contact angle measurements. Separation and purification of lysozyme from solution and egg white were investigated. The adsorption data was analysed using two adsorption kinetic models the first order and the second order to determine the best-fit equation for the separation of lysozyme using affinity membranes. The second-order equation for the adsorption of lysozyme on the RB-10 and RG-5 immobilised membranes systems is the most appropriate equation to predict the adsorption capacity for the affinity membranes. The reversible lysozyme adsorption on the RB-10 and RG-5 did not follow the Langmuir model, but obeyed the Temkin and Freundlich isotherm model. Separation and purification were monitored by determining the lysozyme activity using Micrococcus lysodeikticus as substrate. The purities of the eluted lysozyme, as determined by HPLC, were 76 and 92% with recovery 63 and 77% for RB-10 and RG-5 membranes, respectively. For the separation and purification of lysozyme the RG-5 immobilised membrane provided the best results. The affinity membranes are stable when subjected to sanitization with sodium hydroxide after repeated adsorption-elution cycles.     

Characterization of cell envelope-associated proteinases of thermophilic lactobacilli

D. FIRA, M. KOJIC, A. BANINA, I. SPASOJEVIC, I. STRAHINIC AND L. TOPISIROVIC. 2001 . The proteolytic activities of two natural isolates of thermophilic lactobacilli, Lactobacillus acidophilus BGRA43 and Lact. delbrueckii BGPF1, and Lact. acidophilus CH2 (Chr. Hansen's strain) and Lact. acidophilus V74 (Visby's strain), were compared. Results revealed that optimal pH for all four proteinases is 6·5, whereas temperature optimum varied among proteinases. Determination of caseinolytic activity done under optimal conditions for each strain revealed that the CH2 and V74 proteinases completely hydrolysed both α_S1-casein and β-casein, showing very low activity towards κ-casein. The BGPF1 proteinase completely hydrolysed only β-casein. The BGRA43 proteinase completely hydrolysed all three casein fractions. The proteolytic activities of whole cells were inhibited by serine proteinase inhibitors, suggesting that all four strains produce serine proteinases. DNA–DNA hybridization and PCR analysis showed that BGPF1 contains the prtB -like proteinase gene. Characterized thermophilic strains BGPF1 and BGRA43 were successfully used as starter cultures for production of yoghurt and acidophilus milk, respectively.     

Characterization of cell envelope-associated proteinases of thermophilic lactobacilli

The proteolytic activities of two natural isolates of thermophilic lactobacilli, Lactobacillus acidophilus BGRA43 and Lact. delbrueckii BGPF1, and Lact. acidophilus CH2 (Chr. Hansen's strain) and Lact. acidophilus V74 (Visby's strain), were compared. Results revealed that optimal pH for all four proteinases is 6.5, whereas temperature optimum varied among proteinases. Determination of caseinolytic activity done under optimal conditions for each strain revealed that the CH2 and V74 proteinases completely hydrolysed both alphaS1-casein and beta-casein, showing very low activity towards kappa-casein. The BGPF1 proteinase completely hydrolysed only beta-casein. The BGRA43 proteinase completely hydrolysed all three casein fractions. The proteolytic activities of whole cells were inhibited by serine proteinase inhibitors, suggesting that all four strains produce serine proteinases. DNA-DNA hybridization and PCR analysis showed that BGPF1 contains the prtB-like proteinase gene. Characterized thermophilic strains BGPF1 and BGRA43 were successfully used as starter cultures for production of yoghurt and acidophilus milk, respectively.     

Rapid purification of calcium-activated protease by calcium-dependent hydrophobic-interaction chromatography

Both low Ca2+- and high Ca2+-requiring forms of Ca2+-activated protease (calpains I and II) were found to bind to phenyl-Sepharose in a calcium-dependent manner, suggesting that both enzymes expose a hydrophobic surface region in the presence of Ca2+. Inclusion of leupeptin in column buffers prevented the loss of activity during hydrophobic-interaction and substrate-affinity chromatography. Under these conditions calpain II (high calcium-requiring form) was rapidly purified from bovine brain and rabbit skeletal muscle using successive phenyl-Sepharose and casein-Sepharose columns.     

Rapid purification of phospholamban by monoclonal antibody immunoaffinity chromatography

Monoclonal antibodies have been raised against canine phospholamban purified by sodium dodecyl sulfate - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Four of twenty-four antibodies were purified to close to homogeneity from mouse ascites. All four antibodies could react with isolated bovine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) to result in the stimulation of ATP-dependent Ca2+ pump activity and blocking of phospholamban phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Relative efficiencies of antibodies in Ca2+ pump stimulation and on phospholamban phosphorylation were not correlated. An immunoabsorbent prepared by conjugating antibody Al to Affi-Gel 10 was used for the purification of phospholamban. Isolated bovine cardiac SR was solubilized in a buffer containing deoxycholate and the soluble fraction was applied to the immunoaffinity column. After washing the column with a series of detergent-containing buffer solutions, the column-bound protein which contained essentially pure phospholamban was eluted by a buffer containing 2.8 M MgCl2. The phospholamban recovery from the immunoaffinity column was close to 100%; the overall yield of purification from SR vesicles was about 70%. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that purified phospholamban consisted of a 25 and 5 kilodalton (kDa) protein species. Upon brief boiling (20 s) of the sample in SDS-PAGE sample buffer, five molecular species ranging from 5 to 25 kDa could be detected by immunotransblotting following SDS-PAGE. This observation supports the notion that phospholamban is composed of five 5-kDa polypeptides. The pure phospholamban could be phosphorylated maximally by cAMP-dependent protein kinase to 1-1.5 mol phosphate/mol phospholamban (25,000 g). This stoichiometry of phosphorylation could be increased to about 5 upon addition of the immunoaffinity column flow through fraction.     

The specific activities of mesophilic and thermophilic proteinases

1. Most enzymes from extreme thermophiles do not possess higher specific activities than similar enzymes from mesophiles (measured at their respective growth temperatures). 2. However, using protein substrates, the specific activities of thermophilic proteinases are considerably higher than those of most microbial and eukaryotic proteinases. 3. This property could be attributed to purely kinetic influences on the enzyme, to some specific "design" feature of the proteinase, or to the effects of temperature on the substrate. 4. Comparisons of the rates of hydrolysis of large and small substrates by both mesophilic and thermophilic proteinases suggest that temperature-induced changes in substrate susceptibility are a major factor.     

Rapid purification of plasmid DNAs by hydroxyapatite chromatography.

A method is described for the rapid preparation of plasmid DNAs of molecular weight up to 14 X 10(6). This method involves the chromatography, at room temperature, of bacterial cleared lysates on hydroxyapatite in the presence of high concentrations of phosphate and urea. All detectable protein and RNA contamination of plasmid DNA is removed by this procedure and the conformation of the plasmid DNA is unaffected. Less than 0.5% chromosomal DNA is present in the purified preparation and even this can be removed if necessary by a simple extention of the procedure to include a heat-denaturation step. The method is extremely rapid and amenable to large-scale plasmid preparation; 5 mg ColE1 DNA have been purified within 40 min. The yield of plasmid DNA is similar to that obtained with the conventional dye-centrifugation technique, however the purity is greater.     

Rapid partial purification of S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase by affinity chromatography

A Sepharose-ethylenediamine-PCMB column can be used to obtain a rapid purification of S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase. PCMB-affinity fractions from both rat liver and sea urchin eggs have high specific activity, particularly the latter. The activity of the purified rat liver enzyme is stimulated by the addition of either putrescine or spermidine, whereas the purified enzyme fraction from sea urchin eggs has no measurable activity without the addition of either putrescine or spermidine. In both preparations there is a stoichiometric relationship between the release of ¹⁴CO2 from S-adenosyl-L-carboxyl-¹⁴C-methionine and the formation of spermidine.     

Characterization of Peptostreptococcus asaccharolyticus glutamate dehydrogenase purified by dye-ligand chromatography

Glutamate dehydrogenase (L-glutamate:NAD+ oxidoreductase (deaminating); EC 1.4.1.2) has been purified from Peptostreptococcus asaccharolyticus in a single step using dye-ligand chromatography. The enzyme (GDH) was present in high yields and was stabilized in crude extracts. A subunit molecular weight of 49000 +/- 500 was determined by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and six bands were obtained after cross-linking the subunits with dimethyl suberimidate. This bacterial GDH was predominantly NAD+-linked, but was able to utilize both NADP+ and NADPH at 4% of the rates with NAD+ and NADH, respectively. An investigation of the amino acid specificity revealed some similarities with GDH from mammalian sources and some clear differences. The values of apparent Km for the substrates ammonia, 2-oxoglutarate, NADH, NAD+ and glutamate were 18.4, 0.82, 0.066, 0.031 and 6 mM, respectively. The P. asaccharolyticus GDH was not regulated by purine nucleotides, but was subject to strong inhibition with increasing ionic strength.