Immobilization of L-glyceryl phosphorylcholine: isolation of phosphorylcholine-binding proteins from seminal plasma

The preparation of an affinity sorbent containing immobilized L-glyceryl phosphorylcholine for affinity chromatography of phosphorylcholine-binding proteins from seminal plasma is described. The ligand was coupled either after its maleinylation to poly(acrylamide-allyl amine) copolymer or directly to divinyl sulfone-activated Sepharose. The prepared phosphorylcholine derivative coupled to Sepharose was used for affinity chromatography of phosphorylcholine-binding proteins from bull and boar seminal plasma. Adsorbed proteins were specifically eluted with phosphorylcholine solution. Isolated phosphorylcholine-binding proteins were characterized by SDS electrophoresis and HPLC with reversed phase. Composition of the boar phosphorylcholine-binding fraction obtained by affinity chromatography on immobilized L-glyceryl phosphorylcholine was compared with that eluted from immobilized heparin by the phosphorylcholine solution. No phosphorylcholine-binding proteins were found in human seminal plasma.