Behavior of human immunoglobulin G adsorption onto immobilized Cu(II) affinity hollow‐fiber membranes

Iminodiacetic acid (IDA) and tris(2‐aminoethyl)amine (TREN) chelating ligands were immobilized on poly(ethylene vinyl alcohol) (PEVA) hollow‐fiber membranes after activation with epichlorohydrin or butanediol diglycidyl ether (bisoxirane). The affinity membranes complexed with Cu(II) were evaluated for adsorption of human immunoglobulin G (IgG). The effects of matrix activation and buffer system on adsorption of IgG were studied. Isotherms of batch IgG adsorption onto finely cut membranes showed that neither of the chelates, IDA‐Cu(II) or TREN‐Cu(II), had a Langmuirean behavior with negative cooperativity for IgG binding. A comparison of equilibrium and dynamic maximum capacities showed that the dynamic capacity for a mini‐cartridge in a cross‐flow filtration mode (52.5 and 298.4 mg g^?1 dry weight for PEVA‐TREN‐Cu(II) and PEVA‐IDA‐Cu(II), respectively) was somewhat higher than the equilibrium capacity (9.2 and 73.3 mg g^?1 dry weight for PEVA‐TREN‐Cu(II) and PEVA‐IDA‐Cu(II), respectively). When mini‐cartridges were used, the dynamic adsorption capacity of IDA‐Cu(II) was the same for both mini‐cartridge and agarose gel. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Affinity adsorption of lysozyme on a macroligand prepared with Cibacron Blue 3GA attached to yeast cells

The objective of this study was the development of affinity adsorbent particles with the appropriate characteristics to be applied in protein purification using the affinity ultrafiltration method. To prepare affinity macroligands Cibacron Blue 3GA, as a ligand molecule, was immobilized by covalent bonding onto yeast cell walls, the support material or matrix. The maximum attachment of the ligand to the matrix was 212 μmol/g (ligand dry weight/yeast dry weight). Lysozyme was selected as the protein model for the adsorption studies. Its adsorption onto the matrix without ligand and matrix with attached ligand were investigated batch-wise. The adsorption equilibrium isotherms appeared to follow a typical Langmuir isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacity (q(m)) of the Cell-Cibacron macroligand for lysozyme was 110 mg/ml of wet macroligand. The adsorbent was also employed for the separation of lysozyme from hen egg white. High purity lysozyme was obtained.     

Removal of heavy metals from water effluents using supermacroporous metal chelating cryogels

Applications of IDA in, for example, immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography for purification of His-tagged proteins are well recognized. The use of IDA as an efficient chelating adsorbent for environmental separations, that is, for the capture of heavy metals, is not studied. Adsorbents based on supermacroporous gels (cryogels) bearing metal chelating functionalities (IDA residues and ligand derived from derivatization of epoxy-cryogel with tris(2-aminoethyl)amine followed by the treatment with bromoacetic acid (defined as TBA ligand)) have been prepared and evaluated on capture of heavy metal ions. The cryogels were prepared in plastic carriers, resulting in desired mechanical stability and named as macroporous gel particles (MGPs). Sorption and desorption experiments for different metals (Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, and Ni2+ with IDA adsorbent and Cu2+ and Zn2+ with TBA adsorbent) were carried out in batch and monolithic modes, respectively. Obtained capacities with Cu2+ were 74 μmol/mL (TBA) and 19 μmol/mL gel (IDA). The metal removal was higher for pH values between pH 3 and 5. Both adsorbents showed improved sorption at lower temperatures (10°C) than at higher (40°C) and the adsorption significantly dropped for the TBA adsorbent and Zn2+ at 40°C. Desorption of Cu2+ by using 1 M HCl and 0.1 M EDTA was successful for the IDA adsorbent whereas the desorption with the TBA adsorbent needs further attention. The result of this work has demonstrated that MGPs are potential treatment alternatives within the field of environmental separations and the removal of heavy metals from water effluents.     

Binding of nonsubstrate ligands to the glutathione S-transferases.

Fluorescence spectroscopy and inhibition kinetics were used to quantitate the affinity of nonsubstrate ligands for the rat liver glutathione S-transferases AA, A, B, and C in the presence of glutahione. The dissociation constants KD, for ligands such as bilirubin, indocyanine green, and hematin were determined by measuring the decrease in the intrinsic fluorescence of the proteins attendant on the addition of ligand. A second technique, used for compounds which absorb strongly at the excitation maxima of tryptophan, was to utilize 8-anilinonaphthalen sulfonate in the formation of protein complex fluorescing at a higher wavelength. The quenching of this complex allowed the determination of the dissociation constants for ligands such as 3,6-dibromosulfophthalein and cephalothin. These data indicate that all four proteins bind these ligands but do so with different affinities. The bilirubin-induced decrease in fluorescence was used to estimate the stoichiometry of binding as 1.2 mol of bilirubin bound/mol of transferase B and 0.7 mol/mol of transferase C. All of the ligands examine are inhibitors of catalytic activity, as tested in a standard assay with GSH and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as substrates. From these studies we conclude that these proteins have a broad specificity not only for their substrates, but for the binding of nonsubstrate ligands as well.     

Ligand interactions of the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor. The stoichiometry of mannose 6-phosphate binding

The interaction of the bovine cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor with a variety of phosphorylated ligands has been studied using equilibrium dialysis and immobilized receptor to measure ligand binding. The dissociation constants for mannose 6-phosphate, pentamannose phosphate, bovine testes beta-galactosidase, and a high mannose oligosaccharide with two phosphomonoesters were 7 X 10(-6) M, 6 X 10(-6) M, 2 X 10(-8) M, and 2 X 10(-9) M, and the mol of ligand bound/mol of receptor monomer were 2.17, 1.85, 0.9, and 1.0, respectively. We conclude that the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor has two mannose 6-phosphate-binding sites/polypeptide chain.     

Protein Ligand Interactions. Part 5: Isoquinoline Alkaloids as Inhibitors of Acetylcholinesterase from Electrophorus Electricus

Abstract

Kinetic analysis has shown that papaverine, berberine and isoquinoline alkaloids act as reversible competitive inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase with respect to the substrate, acetylthiocholine chloride. The inhibitor constants (Ki) vary from 3.5 μM to 88 μM. With time they act as irreversible covalent inhibitors with papaverine producing 85% inactivation after 40 min. Pseudo first-order kinetics are observed with the rate constant being proportional to the concentration of the ligand and the order of reaction being equal to one. Spectrophotometry was used to study the binding of the ligands with acetylcholinesterase and Scatchard analysis used to calculate the respective dissociation constants and the number of binding sites.     

Studies on the effects of glucose in vitro and of the glycaemic state in vivo on the binding characteristics of mu, delta and kappa opiate receptors in mouse brain.

The effect of glucose on the binding characteristics of opiate receptor subtypes was investigated in brain membranes from normoglycaemic lean Aston (C57BL/6J) mice using [3H][D-Ala2,MePhe4,Gly5-ol]enkephalin (DAMGO), [3H][D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE) and [3H]U69,593 as selective ligands for mu, delta and kappa opiate receptors respectively. The equilibrium dissociation constants (Kd) and maximal binding capacities (Bmax) of [3H]DAMGO and [3H]DPDPE were unaltered by 20mM glucose in vitro. Similarly, [3H]U69,593 binding was not modified by increasing the concentration of glucose from 0 to 20mM (P between 0.10 and 0.05), or by the presence of 20mM fructose and of 20mM 3-O-me-glucose, a non-metabolisable sugar, in the incubation medium. The nonselective opiate ligand, [3H]diprenorphine, bound with similar affinity and binding capacity to brain membranes prepared from control and streptozotocin-diabetic Swiss (CD1) mice. The addition of 20mM glucose or of 20mM fructose in vitro induced no changes in their binding parameters. The affinity and binding capacity of [3H]U69,593 to STZ-diabetic Swiss mouse brain membranes was not significantly different to that of normoglycaemic controls; 20mM glucose in vitro had no effect on ligand binding to kappa sites in STZ-diabetic mouse brain membranes. We conclude that glucose does not interact directly with the opiate receptor to modfy it in such as way as could explain the altered sensitivity to different opioid agonists seen in obese and hyperglycaemic animal models in vivo.     

Immobilization of phospholipid vesicles on alkyl derivatives of agarose gel beads

We have immobilized phospholipid vesicles on hydrophobic derivatives of agarose gel beads. The vesicles were prepared from cholate-solubilized egg yolk phospholipids by gel filtration in 0.2 M NaCl at pH 7.1, which produced small vesicles, or in 0.5 M (NH₄)₂SO₄ at pH 8.0, which yielded large ones. The small vesicles eluted with K_d 0.4–0.6 and the large ones with K_d 0.05 on Sepharose 4B. Butyl, octyl and dodecyl sulfide derivatives of Sepharose 4B were synthesized using 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether and alkyl mercaptans (Maisano, F., Belew, M. and Porath, J. (1985) J. Chromatogr. 321, 305–317). The phospholipid vesicles were immobolized on 0.6–1-ml columns of these adsorbents in the salt solution that had been used for the preparation of the liposomes. A ligand concentration of 8 μmol per ml gel was sufficient for immobilization of small as well as large vesicles. The capacity of immobilization per ml gel was at least 20–100 and 1.5–3 μmol of phospholipids for small and large vesicles, respectively. The rate of adsorption of small vesicles was initially 0.3–0.5 μmol of phospholipids per min per ml gel, but decreased later to 0.2–0.3 μmol/min per ml as the gel bead surfaces approached saturation. These rates were determined at a vesicle concentration corresponding to 1.2 mM phospholipids and at room temperature. The butyl adsorbent gave a higher initial adsorption rate but a lower capacity than the dodecyl adsorbent, probably due to differences in the energy thresholds for ligand penetration through the hydrophilic surface layer of the vesicles, and to differences in the binding strength. The maximal concentration of adsorbed small vesicles that we achieved, 100 μ mol of phospholipids per milliliter octyl surfide-Sepharose 4B, would be equivalent to close-packing of the spherical phospholipid vesicles in 40% of the accessible volume of the gel beads.     

中红侧沟茧蜂气味结合蛋白MmedOBP18的原核表达及配体结合特性

【目的】研究中红侧沟茧蜂Microplitis mediator气味结合蛋白MmedOBP18在触角中的表达定位,解析MmedOBP18重组蛋白的配体结合特性。【方法】原核表达中红侧沟茧蜂气味结合蛋白MmedOBP18;采用荧光免疫组织化学技术研究MmedOBP18在中红侧沟茧蜂雌蜂触角中的表达定位;通过荧光竞争结合实验分析MmedOBP18重组蛋白与99种候选配体的结合特性。【结果】在原核表达系统中成功表达MmedOBP18重组蛋白。荧光免疫定位结果显示MmedOBP18主要表达在触角锥形感器Ⅰ内的淋巴液中。荧光竞争结合实验结果表明,MmedOBP18重组蛋白能够与16种候选配体结合,与低挥发性植物挥发物2-十三酮、十二醛、十四酸和十一酸的结合能力最强,其解离常数K_i值分别为5.21, 6.42, 6.49和6.58μmol/L;而且MmedOBP18重组蛋白与非挥发性植物次生物质棕榈酸、棉酚、槲皮素及亚麻酸也有较强的结合能力,K_i值分别为3.86, 5.07, 5.08和6.51μmol/L;此外,MmedOBP18重组蛋白与鳞翅目昆虫性信息素组分顺-9-十四碳烯醛及顺-11-十六碳醛表现出较强的结合能力,K_i值分别为9.09和11.67μmol/L,提示该蛋白在寄主定位过程中可发挥重要的作用。【结论】中红侧沟茧蜂气味结合蛋白MmedOBP18能够结合长链低挥发和非挥发性化合物,推测其在嗅觉和味觉识别中发挥双重功能,主要参与对寄主和寄主生境的化学信息的近距离识别。     

Protein interaction with immobilized ligands: quantitative analyses of equilibrium partition data and comparison with analytical chromatographic approaches using immobilized metal affinity adsorbents

Quantitative or analytical affinity chromatography has been successful primarily for the analysis of biologically determined macromolecular affinity relationships. Quantitative approaches are also needed to better characterize simpler, chemically defined immobilized ligands with potential for selective interaction with specific, predetermined protein surface groups. Protein interaction with immobilized metal is a rather selective and versatile, high-affinity adsorption technique for which there is little quantitative information. Using model protein interactions with immobilized Cu2+ ions, we have compared analytical frontal affinity chromatographic methods to a simple, nonchromatographic protocol for the rapid determination of quantitative affinity relationships. Values obtained for the equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) and binding capacity (Lt) characterizing the interaction of lysozyme with immobilized Cu2+ were quite similar by frontal analysis (Kd = 37-42 X 10(-6) M; Lt = 6.8-7.4 X 10(-6) mol protein/ml gel) and by equilibrium binding analyses (Kd = 33 +/- 4.7 X 10(-6) M; Lt = 5.8-6.1 X 10(-6) mol protein/ml gel; 14 determinations). The interaction of ovalbumin with immobilized Cu2+ was characterized by an affinity (Kd = 4.2-4.8 X 10(-6) M) and capacity (Lt = 1.5-2.1 X 10(-6) mol protein/ml gel) which were also the same regardless of the method for affinity analysis. These values indicate that the total protein bound at saturation corresponds to as much as 17% of the total immobilized Cu2+ ions (approximately 40 X 10(-6) mol/ml gel). Thus, depending on the fraction of total immobilized Cu2+ available for interaction with a given protein (e.g., lysozyme), the number of individual immobilized ligands actively participating as well as those rendered unavailable upon individual protein binding events may be greater than 1. Linear Scatchard plots obtained for both lysozyme and ovalbumin (purified) suggest the presence of only a single type of immobilized Cu2+-protein interaction operative under the experimental conditions employed. However, Scatchard analyses of data obtained by the nonchromatographic equilibrium binding method also demonstrated the ability to simultaneously resolve the contribution of two components whose presence was predicted by frontal chromatography. Our results support the validity and utility of equilibrium binding data analyzed according to the equations outlined by Scatchard and others as an alternative to analytical chromatographic methods.     

Separation of immunoglobulin G from human serum by pseudobioaffinity chromatography using immobilized l-histidine in hollow fibre membranes

l-Histidine, intended as a pseudobiospecific ligand, was immobilized on poly(ethylenevinyl alcohol) hollow fibre membranes after their activation with epichlorohydrin or butanediol diglycidyl ether. The affinity membranes obtained allowed the one-step separation of immunoglobulin G (IgG) from untreated human serum. Elution was possible under mild conditions with discontinuous pH or salt gradients. IgM was also adsorbed to a certain extent and partially separated from IgG by pH gradient elution. The bound IgG fractions showed pI values between 8 and 9.5 and contained IgG₁ and IgG₃. The dissociation constants for IgG on the bisoxirane- and epichlorohydrin-activated membranes coupled with histidine were determined by equilibrium binding analysis to be 2.5·10⁻⁵ and 2.0·10⁻⁵ M, respectively. The maximum binding capacity of the affinity hollow fibre membranes was 80 and 70 mg of IgG per gram of support, respectively. With a cartridge of surface area 1 m² (about 19 g of fibres), during a 60-min run, theoretically up to 1.5 g of IgG can be removed from human serum. The histidine affinity membranes are very stable owing to the simple nature of the ligand and the coupling via an ether linkage. Reproducible results were obtained over more than 1 year even with untreated human serum being used regularly.     

Copper sorption by chitosan in the presence of citrate ions: influence of metal speciation on sorption mechanism and uptake capacities

The presence of organic ligands in a solution containing metal ions modifies metal speciation, which in turn changes the sorption mechanism, optimum pH range and maximum sorption capacity. The present work investigates the sorption of copper by chitosan in the presence of citrate at different metal/ligand ratios. Copper uptake in acidic solution takes place through electrostatic attraction between the protonated amine groups of chitosan and anionic copper-citrate complexes (mainly Cu(OH)L2- but also a small fraction of CuL-). Sorption was negligible below pH 3 due to competition from dissociated anionic ligand and counter ions brought about by dissociation of the acid used for pH control. Actually, copper sorption begins to be significant when the fraction of anionic copper-complexes exceeds that of anionic copper-free ligand. So sorption capacity strongly increases up to pH 4.5-5.5. Above pH 5.5, the progressive decrease of amine protonation leads to a linear decrease in sorption capacity. An excess of ligand leads to an increase in the fraction of free dissociated (anionic) ligand that may compete for electrostatic attraction on protonated amine groups and therefore leads to a decrease in sorption capacities.     

Rapid group separations of nucleotides and related compounds on silica columns

Nucleosides, bases, and nucleotides can be separated from one another rapidly (10–15 min) on 1-ml silica cartridges. Samples adjusted to 4 mm ammonium borate, 90% acetonitrile are loaded onto 1-ml columns equilibrated with the same solvent. Bases do not absorb to the silica under these conditions. Nucleosides are eluted with 16 ml of 0.5 m acetic acid in 90% acetonitrile. Nucleotides are then eluted with water. The 1-ml silica columns have performed well with samples up to 10 ml in volume. We have found the procedure to be quantitative and the gels to have high capacity (61 μmol Cyd/ml silica). Acid extracts from a large number of cells (10⁸) have been processed on a single cartridge.     

Effects of pressure on enzyme function of Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase

To elucidate the effects of pressure on the function of Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), the enzyme activity and the dissociation constants of substrates and cofactors were measured at pressures up to 250 MPa at 25 degrees C and pH 7.0. The enzyme activity decreased with increasing pressure, accompanying the activation volume of 7.8 ml mol(-1). The values of the Michaelis constant (K(m)) for dihydrofolate and NADPH were slightly higher at 200 MPa than at atmospheric pressure. The hydride-transfer step was insensitive to pressure, as monitored by the effects of the deuterium isotope of NADPH on the reaction velocity. The dissociation constants of substrates and cofactors increased with pressure, producing volume reductions from 6.5 ml mol(-1) (tetrahydrofolate) to 33.5 ml mol(-1) (NADPH). However, the changes in Gibbs free energy with dissociation of many ligands showed different pressure dependences below and above 50 MPa, suggesting conformational changes of the enzyme at high pressure. The enzyme function at high pressure is discussed based on the volume levels of the intermediates and the candidates for the rate-limiting process.     

Superparamagnetic adsorbents for high-gradient magnetic fishing of lectins out of legume extracts

This work presents the development, testing, and application in high-gradient magnetic fishing of superparamagnetic supports for adsorption of lectins. Various approaches were examined to produce affinity, mixed mode, and hydrophobic charge induction type adsorbents. In clean monocomponent systems affinity supports created by direct attachment of glucose or maltose to amine-terminated iron oxide particles could bind concanavalin A at levels of up to approximately 280 mg g(-1) support with high affinity ( approximately 1 microM dissociation constants). However, the best performance was delivered by adsorbents featuring coupled tentacular dextran chains displaying a maximum binding capacity of 238 mg g(-1) and a dissociation constant of 0.13 microM. Adsorbents derivatized with mixed mode or hydrophobic charge induction ligands likewise demonstrated very high capacities for both concanavalin A and Lens culinaris agglutinin (> or = 250 mg g(-1)) with dissociation constants in the micromolar range, though neither of these systems showed any selectivity for lectins in leguminous extracts. When the affinity supports were applied to carbohydrate containing legume extracts only the dextran-linked adsorbents supplied sufficient competition to dissolved sugars to selectively bind concanavalin A in an extract of jack beans. The dextran-linked supports were employed in a high-gradient magnetic fishing experiment, in which concanavalin A was purified to near homogeneity from a crude, unclarified extract of jack beans.     

Solid-phase extraction procedure to remove organic acids from honey

A solid-phase extraction procedure was applied to remove organic acids from honey. Malic, maleic, citric, succinic and fumaric acids were isolated with an anion-exchange cartridge. The different parameters which affected the extraction procedure were studied and optimised to establish the optimal conditions for maximum recovery of organic acids and minimum extraction of interferences. The optimised procedure used a cartridge which was activated with 10 ml of 0.1 M sodium hydroxide solution (percolation rate 3 ml/min). A 10 ml volume of honey solution was passed at a flow-rate of 0.5 ml/min. The cartridge was washed with 10 ml of water (3 ml/min) and organic acids were eluted with 4 ml of 0.1 M sulfuric acid (0.5 ml/min). This solution was injected directly into the chromatograph. When this procedure was carried out on standard solutions of organic acids, recoveries between 99.2 and 103.4% were found. If this procedure was applied to honey samples these recoveries were also satisfactory and ranged from 62.9 to 99.4%.     

Improved retention of idarubicin after intravenous injection obtained for cholesterol-free liposomes

To date there has been a focus on the application of sterically stabilized liposomes, composed of saturated diacylphospholipid, polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugated lipids (5-10 mole%) and cholesterol (CH) (>30 mole%), for the systemic delivery of drugs. However, we are now exploring the utility of liposome formulations composed of diacylphospholipid conjugated PEG mixtures prepared in the absence of added cholesterol, with the primary objective of developing formulations that retain encapsulated drug better than comparable formulations prepared with cholesterol. In this report the stability of cholesterol-free distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC):distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE)-PEG₂₀₀₀ (95:5 mol/mol) liposomes was characterized in comparison to cholesterol-containing formulations DSPC:CH (55:45 mol/mol) and DSPC:CH:DSPE-PEG₂₀₀₀ (50:45:5 mol/mol/mol), in vivo. Circulation longevity of these formulations was determined in consideration of variables that included varying phospholipid acyl chain length, PEG content and molecular weight. The application of cholesterol-free liposomes as carriers for the hydrophobic anthracycline antibiotic, idarubicin (IDA), was assessed. IDA was encapsulated using a transmembrane pH gradient driven process. To determine stability in vivo, pharmacokinetic studies were performed using ‘empty’ and drug-loaded [³H]cholesteryl hexadecyl ether radiolabeled liposomes administered intravenously to Balb/c mice. Inclusion of 5 mole% of DSPE-PEG₂₀₀₀ or 45 mole% cholesterol to DSPC liposomes increased the mean plasma area under the curve (AUC_0-24h) 19-fold and 10-fold, respectively. Cryo-transmission electron micrographs of IDA loaded liposomes indicated that the drug formed a precipitate within liposomes. The mean AUC_0-4h for free IDA was 0.030 μmole h/ml as compared to 1.38 μmole h/ml determined for the DSPC:DSPE-PEG₂₀₀₀ formulation, a 45-fold increase, demonstrating that IDA was retained better in cholesterol-free compared to cholesterol-containing liposomes.     

An extended Scatchard analysis for competitively bound ligands and its application to cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate and cyclic 5'-amido-5'-deoxyadenosine-3', 5'-monophosphate binding to beef skeletal muscle protein.

A method for determining the dissociation constants of ligands and ligand analogs is described. It is based on competition binding studies in the presence of an isotope-labeled, or otherwise measurable, ligand and suitable analog concentrations.The steps used are determination of (1) the maximal amount of radioactive ligand that can be bound, (2) the slopes and intercepts from Scatchard plots at different analog concentrations and (3) the values for the dissociation constants of radioactive ligand and ligand analog from replots of the reciprocals of the slopes and intercepts obtained from the Scatchard plots. Application of the method to a cyclic AMP-binding protein from beef muscle is demonstrated, yielding dissociation constants of 2.10-9 M for cyclic (3H) AMP and cyclic AMP, and 3.10-5 M for cyclic 5'-amido-5'-deoxyadenosine-3', 5'-monophosphate.     

Selective adsorption of proteins to their ligands covalently immobilized onto microfibers

Following ozone oxidation of polyester microfibers of 3.5 mum average diameter and 0.83 m(2)/g specific area, the fiber surface was subjected to graft polymerization of acrylic acid and subsequently immobilized with serologically active proteins including Staphylococcus aureus protein A, a specific antigen, and a specific antibody. The immobilization reaction was mediated by a watersoluble carbodiimide, which allowed formation of a co-valent linkage between the ligand proteins and the grafted poly(acrylic acid)chains. The yields of the immobilized ligand proteins were of the order of 1 mg/g fiber. Their binding affinity and capacity to respective specific proteins were studied in vitro from a buffered solution and serum. It was found that the specific proteins were selectively adsorbed with dissociation constants as low as 1x 10(-6) M, suggesting the adsorption to take place through highly specific protein-protein interaction. An addition of serum albumin did not significantly affect the specific binding, regardless of the ligand proteins. The binding capacity ranged from 1 x 10(-13) to 1x 10(-11) mol/cm(2) primarily depending on the surface density of the immobilized ligands and the number of their binding sites per molecule. (c) 1995 John Wiley & Sons Inc.