Size exclusion chromatography for extraction of serum bile acids

A major problem in the measurement of serum bile acids is their quantitative extraction from the high molecular protein matrix. In our hands, the standard techniques of adsorption and reversed-phase chromatography have yielded incomplete recovery for different bile acids (33-93%) and poor reproducibility. In contrast, with the novel extraction procedure of size exclusion chromatography, recovery was nearly quantitative (75-104%) and reproducibility was satisfactory. The described method allowed for a reliable determination of serum bile acids in healthy subjects and patients with liver cirrhosis. We conclude that size exclusion chromatography for serum bile acid extraction is more reliable than alternative techniques, because the separation by size is independent of solubility, charge, and polarity.     

Size exclusion chromatography of cellulose in LiCl/N,N-dimethylacetamide

Size exclusion of cellulose in LiCl/N,N-dimethylacetamide has been used for the past 15 years, yet much of the current research is still devoted to fundamental studies, as many issues regarding column calibration, separation mechanisms and solution behavior have not been resolved yet. The paper reviews practical aspects of sample preparation and it is demonstrated that sample heating and several techniques to aid solvent exchange call for reevaluation. It is further shown that the use of internal standard may introduce minor improvements in repeatability. The commonly used column calibration procedures, chromatographic conditions and applications are also reviewed. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms of separation, to optimize column calibration and to facilitate and optimize sample preparation.     

Size exclusion chromatography as a tool for quality control of recombinant allergens and hypoallergenic variants

Proteins or glycoproteins bearing epitopes for human IgE antibodies are designated as allergens causing type I allergic diseases. In this study, recombinant allergens were compared with their natural counterparts either as part of extracts or as purified molecules with respect to several biochemical and immunological properties.Natural and recombinant Bet v 1 and Phl p 1, major allergens of birch pollen extracts and Phleum pratense pollen extracts, were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting, EAST inhibition and size exclusion chromatography (SEC).Differences of IgE-binding capacities between recombinant Bet v 1 as well as recombinant Phl p 1 variants were detected by EAST inhibition. These results were confirmed by size exclusion chromatography in that the recombinant proteins showed differences of their elution volumes being equivalent to the natural molecules only with the more active recombinant form. In contrast, SDS-PAGE and immunoblot analysis resulted in divergent characteristics, as either migrations of the variants were similar or no differences of IgE binding were detectable.In conclusion, size exclusion chromatography is the method of choice for quality control of well characterized recombinant allergens, comprising control of purity, protein content and conformation.     

Size exclusion chromatography on soft and semi-rigid packing materials in the dynamic axial compression mode

The effect of dynamic axial compression within a range of up to 5 bar upon the structure of the bed packed with soft and semi-rigid packing materials (Sephadex G-25, Bio-Gel P2 and Toyopearl HW-40) and the associated chromatographic parameters were studied for size exclusion chromatography. Continuous packing compression is accomplished by use of a special column with controlled external pressure applied to the packing. Compression has been shown to favor an overall increase in the resolution with pressure optima observed in some cases.     

Size analysis and stability study of lipid vesicles by high-performance gel exclusion chromatography, turbidity, and dynamic light scattering

Vesicles of egg phosphatidylcholine (EPC) and phosphatidic acid (EPA) were prepared by reverse-phase evaporation (REV) followed either by sequential extrusion through polycarbonate membranes with pore diameters of 0.8, 0.4, 0.2, 0.1, and 0.05 micron or by filtration through 0.8-micron cellulosic or 0.22-micron polyvinylidene fluoride (PVF) membranes. The resulting vesicles ranging from 130 to 640 nm in mean diameter (REVs) were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a TSK G6000 PW gel exclusion column. The efficiency of this technique to determine vesicle size parameters was studied by the analysis of the chromatograms in combination with dynamic light scattering (DLS) determination of the mean diameters (MD) of the fractionated vesicles in the region of the elution profile maxima. The HPLC TSK G6000 PW gel exclusion provides a reproducible and fast method of size characterization for lipid vesicles having MD up to 1 micron, the best selectivity being obtained in the 20- to 500-nm MD range. HPLC analysis of REV's demonstrates that: (i) both the average size and polydispersity of the vesicles decrease with decreasing pore size of the membranes, cellulosic or PVF "tortuous" ones being less efficient than "straight bores" polycarbonate ones; (ii) mixed EPC/EPA REVs sequentially extruded down through 0.2-micron polycarbonate membranes are highly deformable without rupture of the bilayer; and (iii) the mean size of extruded REV's is stable for at least 1 week. The role of EPA on the size stability of mixed EPC/EPA vesicles was studied by coupling HPLC gel exclusion and turbidity analysis of pure EPC and EPC/EPA (mole ratio: 91/9) sonicated small unilamellar vesicles as a function of time. The apparent size variation of EPC vesicles observed over a week, is mainly due to their aggregation which is significantly reduced by the introduction of a small amount of EPA in the vesicle membrane.     

Comparison of maximum production rates and optimum operating/design parameters in overloaded elution and displacement chromatography

The results of a study of the optimization of the experimental conditions for maximum production rate in overloaded elution and displacement chromatography are discussed. This study is based on the use of the equilibrium-dispersive model of chromatography and the competitive Langmuir isotherms to calculate individual band profiles in the elution and displacement modes, and of a simplex algorithm to optimize the production rate. The operating parameters (sample size, mobile phase velocity, and the displacer concentration in the displacement model) and the column design parameters (column length and average particle diameter) are optimized simultaneously. Binary mixtures having relative concentrations 3:1 and 1:3, and separation factors of 1.2 to 1.8 are investigated. One of our major results is that, in both modes of chromatography, the maximum production rate is achieved at very low values of the retention factors, k', much lower than those used in current practice. In all cases, unless k' exceeds greatly that optimum value, the production rate is higher in overloaded elution than in displacement chromatography. This is particularly true for the extraction of a minor component, which is eluted second. (c) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Size exclusion chromatographic analysis of polyphenol-serum albumin complexes

Formation of water-soluble polyphenol-protein complexes was investigated by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). The combination of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and bovine serum albumin (BSA), which did not form a precipitate after the solutions were mixed, showed an SEC peak due to complex formation 2-24 h after mixing. Peak size of the complex varied with time, suggesting slow change of the conformation of the protein accompanied by complexation. Formation of the complex was substantiated by ultrafiltration of the mixture; the complex did not pass through a membrane with a 100,000 nominal molecular weight limit (NMWL). The SEC profile varied with the combination of compounds. The peaks due to the complexes showed that the apparent value of the number average molecular weight (M(n)) of the EGCG-BSA complex was 2.8x10(5), while that of a pentagalloylglucose (PGG)-BSA complex was 9.5x10(5) under the conditions used. Dimeric hydrolyzable tannins, oenothein B and cornusiin A, also caused changes in the SEC profile of BSA, although the combinations did not show peaks attributable to formation of such large complexes observed for EGCG and PGG. Procyanidin B3 and (+)-catechin did not cause changes in the SEC profile of BSA. With cytochrome c, EGCG did not show any chromatographic changes.     

Optimized operating parameters for the displacement separation of biomolecules in immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography

The ideal immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) model was employed to investigate the effect of operating parameters change on the displacement separation of biomolecules. By combining a lower initial mobile phase modifier (MPM) concentration and a higher final MPM concentration, the displacement chromatographic separation produced both higher concentration of feeds and better throughput in IMAC displacement separating systems.     

`Tanned'' gelatin spheres and granules for exclusion chromatography

1. The preparation of tanned gelatin spheres and granules from high-molecular-weight gelatin is described. This material is comparatively hard, giving high flow rates, is insoluble in water at temperatures between 0 degrees and 100 degrees and is resistant to digestion by trypsin and chymotrypsin. The high-molecular-weight fraction of gelatin was prepared by precipitation with polyethylene glycol, and the spheres and granules prepared from this fraction were hardened and insolubilized by tanning with either formalin or chromium salts or both. 2. The spheres and granules were used successfully for the separation of protein molecules and other protein-aceous materials ranging in molecular weight from 200 to greater than 6000000. This gel exclusion material has several properties superior to those of other products used for similar purposes. Further, it was noticed that the porosity of the spheres differed considerably from that of the granules.     

Photodegradation of hyaluronic acid: EPR and size exclusion chromatography study.

Photochemically induced radical reactions involving the lateral sequences and the end macromolecular chain groups of hyaluronic acid in aqueous solutions at 293K were studied by EPR spin trapping technique with DMPO (5,5-dimethylpyrroline-1-oxide). In the first 1-10 minutes of irradiation EPR indicates spin adducts of two carbon centered radicals with the splitting constants of aN = 1.60 mT, aH = 2.51 mT and aN = 1.56 mT, aH = 2.28 mT. After longer irradiation time (over 10 minutes) dominate two further DMPO adducts of radicals centered on hetero-atoms with splitting constants of aN = 1.44 mT, aH = 1.60 mT and of aN = 1.49 mT, aH = 1.49 mT. Simultaneously, molecular weight followed by SEC decreases, suggesting that UV irradiation leads to the breaking of interglycosidic bonds of hyaluronic acid main macromolecular chain.     

Size and structure of antigen-antibody complexes: thermodynamic parameters

The role of antigen-antibody (Ag-Ab) complexes in the immune response depends, in part, on the size of the complexes. Previously, we combined electron microscopy with classical and quasi-elastic light scattering to characterize the molecular weight distribution and the conformation of Ag-Ab complexes made from bovine serum albumin (BSA) and pairs of anti-BSA monoclonal antibodies at a single concentration and Ag:Ab molar ratio. In this report, the molecular weight distribution of Ag-Ab complexes was determined by classical light scattering at a single Ag:Ab ratio and over a range of concentrations, and binding of BSA to pairs of MAb was determined by radioimmunoassay at several Ag:Ab molar ratios. A thermodynamic model was developed for the equilibrium size distribution of Ag-Ab complexes formed between a pair of MAb, each with unique affinity and specificity, and an Ag containing a single epitope for each of the pair of MAb. The combined experimental data were used in conjunction with the model to determine the values of cyclization and polymerization constants. Successful determination of the parameters required data from both classical light scattering and electron microscopy. Cyclization constants were lower than those reported in other studies of Ag-Ab complexes; this may be attributable to our use of a protein Ag, as compared to a divalent hapten. In two out of three cases, cyclization constants increased with increasing number of Ab in the complex, in contrast to previous assumptions. The validity of the thermodynamic model was further shown by its ability, in combination with conformational and hydrodynamic model, to predict the hydrodynamic radius of the complexes over a wide range of experimental conditions.     

High performance exclusion microcolumn chromatography of proteins and peptides

A new method of determination of molecular mass of proteins and peptides has been developed, basing on the microcolumn exclusion chromatography on non-modified silica sorbents in trifluoroacetic acid. It is shown that in this eluent the proteins and peptides adopt the random-coil conformation and are not hydrolyzed for three days at room temperature.     

Measurements of protein-protein interactions by size exclusion chromatography

A method is presented for determining second virial coefficients (B(2)) of protein solutions from retention time measurements in size exclusion chromatography. We determine B(2) by analyzing the concentration dependence of the chromatographic partition coefficient. We show the ability of this method to track the evolution of B(2) from positive to negative values in lysozyme and bovine serum albumin solutions. Our size exclusion chromatography results agree quantitatively with data obtained by light scattering.     

Characterization of loaded liposomes by size exclusion chromatography

This review focuses on the use of conventional (SEC) and high performance (HPSEC) size exclusion chromatography for the analysis of liposomes. The suitability of both techniques is examined regarding the field of liposome applications. The potentiality of conventional SEC is strongly improved by using a HPLC system associated to gel columns with a size selectivity range allowing liposome characterization in addition to particle fractionation. Practical aspects of size exclusion chromatography are described and a methodology based on HPSEC coupled to multidetection modes for on-line analysis of liposomes via label or substance encapsulation is presented. Examples of conventional SEC and HPSEC applications are described which concern polydispersity, size and encapsulation stability, bilayer permeabilization, liposome formation and reconstitution, incorporation of amphiphilic molecules. Size exclusion chromatography is a simple and powerful technique for investigation of encapsulation, insertion/interaction of substances from small solutes (ions, surfactants, drugs, etc.) up to large molecules (proteins, peptides and nucleic acids) in liposomes.     

Purification of RNA-DNA hybrids by exclusion chromatography.

A simple method for selection of RNA-DNA hybrids has been developed and applied to the purification of adenovirus-specific messenger RNA. Cytoplasmic RNA prepared from adenovirus type 2 (ad2)-infected HeLa cells or from an ad2-transformed rat cell line was hybridized in solution to the complementary strands of ad2 DNA. The hybridization mixture was subsequently fractionated by chromatography on a Sepharose 2B column. The intact probe DNA as well as the RNA-DNA hybrids are excluded from the gel matrix and elute with the void volume. Nonhybridized RNA, in contrast, is included into the gel matrix and elutes as a broad peak well separated from the excluded fractions. Fractions corresponding to the void volume, were collected and the RNA-DNA hybrids were denatured in 90% formamide. The selected RNA was separated from the DNA by affinity chromatography on poly(U)-Sepharose. Restriction endonuclease fragments of DNA with a large enough size to make them excluded from the agarose column were also used for hybridization. In these experiments hybridizations were carried out under conditions which would allow R-loop formation (Thomas, M., White, R.L., and Davis, R.W. (1976) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 73, 2294-2298) and the hybridized RNA was separated from unhybridized RNA by Sepharose chromatography. The validity of the method was demonstrated by programming an in vitro protein-synthesizing system with selected RNA.     

Purification and separation of various plasmid forms by exclusion chromatography

A chromatographic method for the rapid isolation of preparative amounts of plasmid DNA without the use of cesium chloride centrifugation is described. The protocol uses the alkaline extraction procedure and an exclusion column of Fractogel TSK 75S. From a clear lysate it is possible to obtain plasmid DNA completely free of proteins, RNA, and chromosomal DNA. From partially purified plasmid the procedure allows the separation of the different forms. This technique was successfully applied to different plasmids ranging in size from 2.9 to 17.5 MDa. It is a preparative method yielding easily 500 micrograms of pBR322 from 1 liter of amplified culture. The plasmid is suitable for topoisomerase I, topoisomerase II, and EcoRI assays.     

Refolding of denatured ribonuclease observed by size exclusion chromatography

The unfolding and refolding of pancreatic ribonuclease have been observed by absorbance, fluorescence, and size exclusion chromatographic measurements in solutions of guanidinium chloride continuously maintained at pH 6.0 and 4 degrees C. The spectral measurements were fitted with a minimal number of kinetic phases while the chromatographic measurements were simulated from an explicit mechanism. All of the measurements are consistent with a minimal mechanism involving seven components. The folded components include the native protein and two transiently stable intermediates each having the same hydrodynamic volume. The intermediate having all native peptide isomers has an unfolding midpoint in 3.8 M denaturant while the intermediate having one nonnative peptide isomer has an unfolding midpoint in 1.3 M denaturant. The unfolded protein is distributed among four components having the same hydrodynamic volume but differing peptide isomers. At equilibrium, 10% of the denatured protein has all native isomers, 60% has one nonnative isomer, 5% has a different nonnative isomer, and 25% has both nonnative isomers. In low denaturant concentrations, the dominant component with one nonnative isomer can refold to transiently populate the compact intermediate with the same nonnative isomer.     

Hydraulic characteristics of aerobic granules using size exclusion chromatography

Elution of poly(ethylene glycol) of molecular weight 200-20,000 Da from a size exclusion chromatography column packed with phenol-fed aerobic granules of three different nominal sizes (types I-III) has been investigated. The pore sizes of the three types of granules were evaluated based on the mean hydraulic times of the elution curves that decreased directly proportional to the increased logarithm of the molecular mass of a standard tracer and increased as granule size decreased. The corresponding exclusion limits for types I-III granules were 139,000, 123,000, and 54,500 Da, respectively. A one-dimensional convection-dispersion model described the effective dispersion coefficients of the tracers through the granule column. The intra-granular permeabilities and convective and diffusional transit times through the granule interior were evaluated by a dual porosity model. For small molecules of molecular mass <5,000 Da, intra-granular convection dominated transport mechanisms at fast moving velocity. For comparatively larger molecules, diffusion barrier existed to limit nutrient supply to the granules. The size exclusion test provided intra granular transport characteristics using detailed analysis on the elution data.