High-performance gel-permeation chromatography of polypeptides in a volatile solvent: rapid resolution and molecular weight estimations of proteins and peptides on a column of TSK-G3000-PW

A gel-permeation column of TSK-G3000-PW that was equilibrated and developed with 36 or 45% acetonitrile in 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid fractionated mixtures of peptides with high resolving power. In addition, the elution volumes of 11 standard peptides and proteins were linearly related to the logarithms of their molecular weights in the acetonitrile-trifluoroacetic acid solvent at both low and high flow rates. Since the solvent is volatile and relatively transparent to short-wavelength ultraviolet light this high-performance gel-permeation system offers a rapid and highly sensitive method for the analysis, characterization, and purification of peptides and proteins from complex mixtures.     

Study of humoral hemolytic factors in hemorrhage using chromatographic methods]

The kidney-dependent increase of the haemolytic activity of blood serum after acute decompensated blood loss was demonstrated in the experiments on rats. The preparative ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Toyoperal was used to separate the haemolytic active component of the posthaemorrhagic blood serum with the max value of the specific activity of 6.86 A/micrograms protein. The analysis of the separated component by size-exclusion chromatography on TSK-G3000-SW column indicated a molecular mass of 80-100 kDa. In injection in the circulatory system in in vivo experiments the dose-dependent effect of the action of separated component was demonstrated.     

Nonideal size-exclusion chromatography of proteins: Effects of pH at low ionic strength

Ideal size-exclusion chromatography separates molecules primarily on the basis of hydrodynamic volume. This is achieved only when the chromatographic support is neutral and the polarity nearly equal to that of the mobile phase. When this is not the case, the support surface may begin to play a role in the separation process. As the magnitude of surface contributions becomes larger, the deviation from the ideal increases. Because the separation mechanism is different than that of ideal size-exclusion chromatography, selectivity could be increased in nonideal size-exclusion chromatography. This paper explores the use of size-exclusion chromatography columns with mobile phases that cause proteins to exhibit slight deviations from the ideal size-exclusion mechanism. Although there are many ways to initiate nonideal size-exclusion behavior, the specific variable examined in this study is the influence of pH at low ionic strength. Individual proteins were chromatographed on SynChrom GPC-100, TSK-G2000SW, and TSK-G3000SW columns at low ionic strength. It was found that a protein could be selectively adsorbed, ion excluded, or chromatographed in an ideal size-exclusion mode by varying mobile-phase pH relative to the isoelectric point of the protein. In extreme cases, molecules could be induced either to elute in the void volume or beyond the volume of total permeation. It is postulated that these effects are the result of electrostatic interactions between proteins and surface silanols on the support surface. Optimization of size-exclusion separations relative to protein isoelectric points is discussed.     

Cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography: separation of highly basic proteins using volatile acidic solvents

The chromatographic behavior of a number of globular proteins was studied on a Bio-Sil TSK CM-2-SW weak cation exchange HPLC column under acidic conditions. A linear gradient of 0-1 M NH4Ac in 1 M HOAc, inducing a convex pH gradient from 2.4-4.8, resulted in an excellent separation of highly basic proteins. For these proteins a linear relationship between isoelectric point and retention time was determined experimentally. The effect of pH and the ion composition of the eluting buffer system on this linear correlation was studied. Although the exact basis for protein separation on the CM-2-SW column at low pH is not clear yet, both the pH-dependent net positive charge per unit surface area and most likely the relative percentage of arginine in the total number of basic residues contribute to this separation. Because of the high resolving power and the high protein recovery obtained in a system using only acidic volatile buffer solutions, the cation exchanger is particularly suitable for the purification of nanogram amounts of acid-stable basic growth factors. The present sterile conditions (1 M HOAc/NH4Ac system, pH less than 4) and the easy removal of salt by lyophilization facilitate the detection of these proteins by biological assays.     

Physicochemical characterization of the 68 000-dalton protein of bovine neurofilaments

The 68 000-dalton protein from bovine neurofilaments was purified by a combination of chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and on hydroxylapatite in buffers containing 8 M urea. Although the separation of this protein from the other proteins of the neurofilament appeared to be hampered by a mixed association of the several components, a nearly homogeneous product was obtained for study. Sedimentation equilibrium experiments in buffers containing 8 M urea showed the molecule to be a monomer with a molecular weight of 70 600 +/- 2000. Circular dichroic spectra taken under the same conditions gave no evidence of residual alpha-helix. Molecular sieve chromatography in 8 M urea on controlled-pore glass showed that the molecule eluted at an unexpectedly small volume. The small elution volume did not depend significantly on protein concentration and is unlikely to be the result of intermolecular association. Rather, the monomer probably has a conformation more rigid or extended than a classical random coil. When dialyzed into 0.01 M tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane/1 mM ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid/0.1 mM dithioerythritol, pH 8.5, the protein does not assemble into filaments. Sedimentation velocity reveals that under these conditions it consists mainly of a 4.8S molecular species, containing few large particles; sedimentation equilibrium shows that it is composed of oligomers, the smallest present in significant concentration having a molecular weight approximately that of a trimer. Circular dichroism measurements lead to the interpretation that the molecule has refolded in this buffer into a structure that has approximately 55% alpha-helix. Assembly into filamentous particles resembling neurofilaments occurs when the protein is dialyzed against 0.1 M 2-(N-morpholino)ethane-sulfonic acid/0.1% beta-mercaptoethanol/1 mM ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid/0.17 M NaCl, pH 6.5. We suggest that the oligomeric species present in 0.01 M tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane may frequently be present in solubilized preparations of intermediate filaments and may represent an intermediate in the assembly process.     

The inhibition by strongly acidic polypeptides of the repair of double-stranded DNA breaks induced by the gamma irradiation of Chinese hamster fibroblast cells]

The ability of polypeptides consisted of aspartic and glutamic acids to inhibit the repair and to promote the formation of unrepaired double-strand DNA breaks and chromosomal aberrations in gamma-ray induced Chinese hamster cells was shown. A complete inhibition of the double-strand DNA breaks repair was observed at the concentrations of 20 mu M/l (polyglutamic acid with molecular weight 2000-15,000 daltons) and 100 mu M/l (aspartylglutamic acid with molecular weight 1500-4500 daltons). Both polypeptides were low toxic at the given concentrations.     

Acacia senegal gum: continuum of molecular species differing by their protein to sugar ratio, molecular weight, and charges

The main chemical and physical features of the Acacia senegal exudate gum and its molecular fractions isolated by chromatographies were determined using a wide variety of methods. Three main molecular fractions were isolated after hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) and biochemical analyses confirmed the presence of an arabinogalactan-peptide (FI), an arabinogalactan-protein (FII), and a glycoprotein (FIII) fraction as described commonly in the literature. Further purification of FIII using size exclusion chromatography revealed three distinct populations. A wide molecular weight distribution within each population with the presence of at least two distinct molecular species per population was identified by high performance size exclusion chromatography coupled to on line multi-angle laser light scattering (HPSEC-MALLS). In addition, both sugars content (neutral and uronic acids) and UV profiles revealed that FIII was composed of a continuum of molecular species differing both by their protein-to-sugar ratio and molecular weight. FI and FII had average molecular weight M(w) of 2.86 x 10(5) and 1.86 x 10(6) g.mol(-1), respectively, and a low polydispersity index (M(w)()/M(n) approximately 1.3). The three populations identified in FIII after HIC separation had M(w) of 2.67 x 10(6), 7.76 x 10(5), and 2.95 x 10(5) g.mol(-1) and very low polydispersity indexes (1.13, 1.04, and 1.01). Estimation of the polypeptide backbone length in the three fractions gave 43, 2253, and 4443 amino acid residues, respectively, hydroxyproline (Hyp) and serine being the most prominent residues within FI and FII, Hyp and Asx (asparagine + aspartic acid) within FIII. Secondary structure prediction from circular dichroism data resulted in polyproline II, beta-sheet, and random coil structures for FII and FIII, whereas no secondary structure was identified in FI. The existence of exposed tryptophanyl residues to the solvent was noticed by fluorescence in FII and FIII, tryptophan residues being absent from FI. In addition, 8-5' non cyclic diferulic acid was identified to be covalently linked to carbohydrate moieties of FII. Infrared spectroscopy identified the different vibrations of saccharidic and peptidic bonds with absorbance amplitudes in agreement with sugar and protein elementary analyses. Titration measurements in order to evaluate the number of charges on total Acacia gum and its molecular fractions revealed that 100% of charges came from polysaccharidic moieties (i.e., glucuronic acids) in FI. Charges coming from polysaccharidic moieties were of 91.3% and 37.9% for FII and FIII, respectively, the remaining 8.7% and 62.1% charges in FII and FIII molecular fractions coming from the polypeptidic backbone.     

Isolation and characterization of an organic solvent soluble polypeptide component from photoreceptor complexes of Rhodospirillum rubrum.

An organic solvent soluble polypeptide has been isolated from photoreceptor complexes and chromatophores of Rhodospirillum rubrum. After extraction of the protein from lyophilized samples with 1:1 chloroform-methanol, it was purified by column chromatography. Its isoelectric point determined by isoelectric focusing was 7.10. When analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the purified polypeptide ran as a single band of an apparent molecular weight of 12 000. However, according to amino acid analysis, the minimal molecular weight based on one histidine residue per polypeptide is 19 000. The polypeptide contains no cysteine and no tyrosine. Amino acid analysis indicated that three methionines were present per histidine residue and cyanogen bromide cleavage gave four smaller peptides which were isolated by two-dimensional electrophoresis and chromatography. Spectroscopic analysis indicated the presence of three tryptophan residues per histidine and N-bromosuccinamide cleavage also gave four smaller peptides which could be isolated by two-dimensional electrophoresis and chromatography. The C-terminal amino acid was shown to be glycine by two methods, while the N-terminal amino acid appears to be blocked. The organic solvent soluble polypeptide accounts for approximately 50% of the chromatophore protein and seems to bind the antenna bacteriochlorophyll and carotenoid molecules. Using this procedure, organic solvent soluble polypeptides were isolated from several photosynthetic bacteria and were found to have substantially different amino acid contents.     

Two-dimensional separation of erythrocyte membrane proteins.

The details of a two-dimensional separation procedure specially designed for the study of erythrocyte membranes are presented. In this highly reproducible method, the membrane proteins are dissolved in sodium dodecyl sulfate and separated first on the basis of charge by isoelectric focusing. The samples are loaded either at the cathode (CIF) or anode (AIF). The CIF samples gave better separation of the acidic proteins, while the AIF was better for the separation of the high molecular weight polypeptides of the erythrocyte. Over 90 discrete polypeptides could be detected with this method in the pH range of 5 to 8. Special attention was given to the higher molecular weight components. For example, six components could be detected within the 90,000 to 100,000 molecular weight range of protein 3, the major membrane protein. A component with the same or very nearly the same molecular weight as spectrin band 2 was detected. It is more basic than spectrin band 2, and both spectrin band 2 and the basic component are readily phosphorylated in the intact cell. However, the phosphorylation of band 2 is cAMP independent while the phosphorylation of the basic component is enhanced by cAMP. In contrast to spectrin, the basic component is not extracted from the membrane with 0.1 mm EDTA, although dilute NaOH will remove it from the membrane. The Ca²⁺-activated transferase of the erythrocyte cytoplasm will not crosslink this component. Calcium does, however, activate the conversion of this component to a lower molecular weight. This high molecular weight basic component has properties attributed to the component labeled 2.1 in Fairbanks' system of nomenclature.     

The molecular size and shape of the Folch-Pi apoprotein in aqueous and organic solvents.

In 1% acetic acid, sedimentation velocity measurements and equilibrium ultracentrifuge experiments demonstrate that the Folch-Pi apoprotein is not monodisperse. The weight-average molecular weight calculated from ultracentrifuge experiments and combining sedimentation coefficient and viscosity measurements, ranged from 64000 to 80000. The intrinsic viscosity value suggests an asymetric shape for the apoprotein if a low value of hydration is considered. In dioxan/1% acetic acid (2:3, v/v) a smaller sedimentation coefficient was found, the intrinsic viscosity value remaining identical to that in 4% acetic acid. In pure 2-chloroethanol, light-scattering experiments led to a molecular weight of 165000 indicating that even in this solvent the protein is not monomeric. Intrinsic viscosity and light scattering measurements on the one hand, primary sequence on the other hand (six proline residues per monomer of Mr 23500) suggest that the molecule in 2-chloroethanol may consist of rod-like segments with flexible junctions.     

Molecular characteristics of many hemoproteins: a survey of molecular weights, sedimentation coefficients, other molecular parameters and amino acid compositions

Data on molecular weights, sedimentation coefficients, other molecular parameters and amino acids compositions of many hemoproteins were collected from the literature and studied. The results of the survey gave a general view of the molecular characteristics of hemoproteins and also revealed the presence of various statistical correlations among the molecular parameters and amino acid compositions. Some of the correlations were found to be practically useful for the estimation of number of heme per molecule, molecular weight or partial specific volume. Discussions were made on the possible structural basis of the molecular characteristics of hemoproteins.     

重组乙肝疫苗纯度高效液相层析(HPLC)测定方法的改进

为建立重组汉逊酵母乙肝疫苗HPLC检定方法,应用TSK－G5000PW检测系统测定汉逊酵母重组乙肝疫苗表面抗原的纯度,对不同样品处理液的配比浓度和处理时间分别进行了探讨,作者选用DTT／Tween-80作为样品处理效果优于DTT＋Tween-20,1:50Tween-80与0.1mol/L等量混合为样品处理液的适宜浓度。样品处理液与等量样品混匀时间介于35s-2min时,HPLC分离效果好,结果稳定。该处理液及处理时间对CHO细胞及Merck酿酒酵母重组乙肝疫苗表面抗原的HPLC纯度测定无影响。结果表明：现有的HPLC检测系统用0.1mol/L DTT与1：50 Tween-80等量混合处理后能有效地检测不同类型重组乙肝疫苗表面抗原的纯度。     

High-speed gel filtration of polypeptides in sodium dodecyl sulfate

The separation of polypeptides treated with SDS was studied using G3000SW packing prepared from silica for high-speed gel filtration. The peaks of ovalbumin, chymotrypsinogen A, cytochrome c, aprotinin, and insulin B chain were completely separated in the presence of 0.1% SDS and 0.05 M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). A plot of the logarithm of molecular weight of polypeptides versus Kd was linear over a molecular weight range of 3,000 to 50,000 at the above concentrations of SDS and sodium phosphate. The slopes of the plots of log molecular weight versus Kd depend to a significant extent on the concentration of the sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0).     

The polypeptide composition of bovine epidermal alpha-keratin.

1. The polypedtide chains that comprise the subunits of the tonofilaments, or th alpha-keratin component, of bovine epidermis were fractionated by combination of chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and preparative polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. 2. The seve polypeptide chains investigated had generalyy similar properties; all contained two residues per molecule of tryptophan and N-acetylserine was the common N-terminal amino acid residue. 3. On the basis of close similarities in alpha-helix content and amino acid composition, the polypeptide chains were classified into three distinct groups. Each group contained approximately one-third of the total polypeptides on a molar basis. The groups and designated polypeptides chain numbers were: group one, polypeptides 1a and 1b, which had moleculae weights of 58,000, contained about 25% alpha-helix, 86 glutamic acid and 8 cysteine residues per molecule, but which differed in net charge, extinction coefficients and tyrosine contents; group two, polypeptides 2, 3, and 4, which hadmolecular weights within thewithin the range of 52,00-56,000, contained about 48% alpha-helix, 54 glutamic acid and 6 cysteine residues per molecule, but which differed in extinction coefficients and tryosine contents; and group, polypeptides 5 and 6, which had molecular weights of 47000-48000, contained about 56% alpha-helix, 64 glutamic acid and 4 cysteine residues per molecule, but which differed in extinction coefficients and tyrosine contents...     

Isolation and characterization of a rubredoxin and two ferredoxins from Desulfovibrio africanus

Rubredoxin and two distinct ferredoxins have been purified from Desulfovibrio africanus. The rubredoxin has a molecular weight of 6000 while the ferredoxins appear to be dimers of identical subunits of approximately 6000 to 7000 molecular weight. Rubredoxin contains one iron atom, no acid-labile sulfide and four cysteine residues per molecule. Its absorbance ratio A278/A490 is 2.23 and its amino acid composition is characterized by the absence of leucine and a preponderance of acidic amino acids. The two ferredoxins, designated I and II, are readily separated on DEAE-cellulose. The amino acid compositions of ferredoxins I and II show them to be different protein species; the greater number of acidic amino acid residues in ferredoxin I than in ferredoxin II appears to account for separation based on electronic charge. Both ferredoxins contain four iron atoms, four acid-labile residues per molecule. Spectra of the two ferredoxins differ from those of ferredoxins of other Desulfovibrio species by exhibiting a pronounced absorption peak at 283 nm consistent with an unusual high content of aromatic residues. The A385/A283 absorbance ratio of ferredoxins I and II are 0.56 and 0.62, respectively. The N-terminal sequencing data of the two ferredoxins clearly indicate that ferredoxins I and II are different protein species. However, the two proteins exhibit a high degree of homology.     

Electrophoretic determination of sulfhydryl groups and its application to complex protein samples, in vitro protein synthesis mixtures, and cross-linked proteins

Without prior fractionation, the number of sulfhydryl groups of individual polypeptides in a protein mixture can be determined, provided their molecular weights and approximate isoelectric points are known. Urea-denatured protein samples are reacted with iodoacetamide and iodoacetate in a modified version of Creighton's procedure. After separation by sodium dodecyl sulfate - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing, the number of sulfhydryl groups is determined by counting the protein bands which have additional negative charges. This method requires little material and provides an additional parameter, besides the molecular weight and isoelectric point, for the identification and characterization of a protein. The sensitivity may be enhanced for nonradioactive proteins by using 14C-labeled iodoacetamide and iodoacetate. The procedure has been applied to prokaryotic in vitro protein synthesis mixtures, bacterial membrane protein, and trypsin-cleaved or chemically cross-linked subunits of the F1 ATPase from Escherichia coli.     

Chromatographic analysis of griseofulvin and metabolites in biological fluids

A simple and accurate assay for the determination of griseofulvin and its metabolites in biological fluids using high-performance liquid chromatography is described. Using a reversed phase column and a mobile phase solvent of 45% acetonitrile in 0.1 M acetic acid, baseline separation of griseofulvin and several analogues was obtained. The described method allows one to quantitatively determine griseofulvin, 6-demethylgriseofulvin, and griseofulvic acid, a newly identified metabolite in man, in urine and plasma samples. Treatment of plasma samples prior to the analysis is simply made by deproteinizing the samples with an equal volume of acetonitrile. For urine samples, the procedure involves diethyl ether extraction with subsequent evaporation to dryness and reconstitution with the mobile phase solvent.     

Purification and properties of the nitrogenase of Azospirillum amazonense.

The nitrogenase of the free-living, microaerobic, N2-fixing bacterium Azospirillum amazonense (strain Y1) was purified by chromatography on DEAE-52 cellulose, by heat treatment, and by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The specific nitrogenase activities were 2,400 nmol of C2H4 formed per min per mg of protein for dinitrogenase (MoFe protein) and 1,800 nmol of C2H4 formed per min per mg of protein for dinitrogenase reductase (Fe protein). The MoFe protein was composed of a minimum of 1,852 amino acid residues, had an isoelectric point of 5.2, and contained 2 atoms of Mo, 24 atoms of Fe, and 28 atoms of acid-labile sulfide per molecule. The Fe protein had 624 amino acid residues and an isoelectric point of 4.6 and contained four atoms of Fe and six atoms of acid-labile sulfide per molecule. The purified MoFe protein showed two subunits with molecular weights of 55,000 and 50,000. The purified Fe protein revealed two polypeptides on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with apparent molecular weights of 35,000 and 31,000. The two Fe protein polypeptides were demonstrated with immunological techniques in the purified, highly active enzyme as well as in extracts. Also, Azotobacter vinelandii Fe protein showed two closely migrating polypeptides that migrated differently from the Fe protein polypeptides of Azospirillum brasilense or Rhodospirillum rubrum. The nitrogenase activity of Azospirillum amazonense Y1 was independent of Mn2+, and the addition of activating enzyme had no effect. No activating enzyme could be found in Azospirillum amazonense. Obviously, the nitrogenase system of Azospirillum amazonense Y1 is different from that of Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 and resembles the Azotobacter system.     

Free energy relationships for thiol-disulfide interchange reactions between charged molecules in 50% methanol

Acid dissociation equilibrium constants and rate constants for disulfide interchange reactions have been measured in 50% methanol at low ionic strength for peptides containing cysteines with local ionic neighboring groups. These physical constants may be correlated by separation of free energy contributions into solvent-independent and solvent-dependent factors. The former represent inductive effects which may be evaluated by extrapolation of pKa values to the limit of infinite ionic strength. These solvent-independent contributions give Br onsted coefficients consistent with previously reported values for disulfides with neutral constituents. The solvent-dependent contributions represent thru-solvent electrostatic effects and are consistent with the form of the Bjerrum relationship correlating molecular charges, intergroup distances, and the dielectric constant of the solvent. These results provide a quantitative framework for developing strategies for employing coulombic interactions to direct disulfide pairing in synthetic polypeptides.     

Structural Proteins of Rabies Virus

Purified rabies virions, unlabeled or labeled with radioactive amino acids or d-glucosamine, were dissociated into their polypeptides by treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate in a reducing environment and fractionated by electroiphoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate-containing polyacrylamide gel. The molecular weights of individual polypeptides were estimated by comparison of their rate of migration with that of protein markers of known molecular weight. Purified viral nucleocapsid and a mixture of envelope components, isolated from virions disrupted by sodium deoxycholate, were analyzed by the same procedure. The number of molecules per virion of each polypeptide was estimated from the proportions of the separated components, the known molecular weight of the viral ribonucleic acid, and the chemical composition of the nucleocapsid. The protein moiety of the nucleocapsid particle was estimated to consist of 1,713 molecules of a major polypeptide (molecular weight, 62,000 daltons) and 76 molecules of a minor polypeptide (molecular weight, 55,000 daltons). In addition to 1,783 molecules of a glycoprotein component (molecular weight, 80,000 daltons), the viral envelope contains 789 and 1,661 molecules, respectively, of two other polypeptides (molecular weight, 40,000 and 25,000 daltons).