Chromatographic Separation Of Proteins Research Articles

Micellar gradients in size-exclusion simulated moving bed chromatography

The selectivity of size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) can be modified by adding non-ionic micelles to the mobile phase. Surfactant-aided size-exclusion chromatography (SASEC) can therefore very well be performed in a gradient mode on an SMB, as is reported in this paper. A method has been developed for correctly positioning a micellar gradient over an SMB. The method is applied for size-exclusion chromatography with the non-ionic surfactant C 12E 23 as gradient forming solute, and demonstrated by applying it to a relevant chromatographic protein separation problem.

New small-scale cross-axis coil planet centrifuge: The design of the apparatus and its application to counter-current chromatographic separation of proteins with aqueous–aqueous polymer phase systems

The cross-axis coil planet centrifuge ( X-axis CPC) is useful for partitioning macromolecules with aqueous–aqueous polymer phase systems. The floor model we have built with a pair of separation columns had some shortcomings such as requirement of large space, short life of the flow tubes, and difficulty in installing columns. In order to improve the partition efficiency and the utility of counter-current chromatography (CCC), a new small-scale X-axis CPC was designed and fabricated in our laboratory. The down-sizing of the apparatus was done by reducing the scale to about 1/2 of our original model of X-1.5 L type with several improvements. Performance of the apparatus was evaluated on protein separation using an aqueous–aqueous polymer phase system composed of polyethylene glycol 1000 and dibasic potassium phosphate with four multilayer coiled columns. A series of experiments revealed that the combination of right- and left-handed coils produced the best partition efficiencies for both lower and upper mobile phases by selecting the revolution direction. The overall results indicate that the head–tail elution mode substantially affects to the peak resolution and stationary phase retention. This new X-axis CPC would be useful for the separation of various kinds of biologically active compounds.

Integrated bioprocess for the production and isolation of urokinase from animal cell culture using supermacroporous cryogel matrices

An integrated cell cultivation and protein product separation process was developed using a new type of supermacroporous polyacrylamide gel, called cryogel (pAAm-cryogel) support matrix. Human fibrosarcoma HT1080 and human colon cancer HCT116 cell lines were used to secrete urokinase (an enzyme of immense therapeutic utility) into the culture medium. The secreted protein was isolated from the circulating medium using a chromatographic capture column. A pAAm cryogel support with covalently coupled gelatin (gelatin-pAAm cryogel) was used for the cultivation of anchorage dependent cells in the continuous cell culture mode in 5% carbon dioxide atmosphere. The cells were attached to the matrix within 4-6 h of inoculation and grew as a tissue sheet inside the cryogel matrix. Continuous urokinase secretion into the circulating medium was monitored as a parameter of growth and viability of cells inside the bioreactor. No morphological changes were observed in the cells eluted from the gelatin-cryogel support and re-cultured in T-flask. The gelatin-pAAm cryogel bioreactor was further connected to a pAAm cryogel column carrying Cu(II)-iminodiacetic acid (Cu(II)-IDA)-ligands (Cu(II)-IDA-pAAm cryogel), which had been optimized for the capture of urokinase from the conditioned medium of the cell lines. Thus an automated system was built, which integrated the features of a hollow fiber reactor with a chromatographic protein separation system. The urokinase was continuously captured by the Cu(II)-IDA-pAAm cryogel column and periodically recovered through elution cycles. The urokinase activity increased from 250 PU/mg in the culture fluid to 2,310 PU/mg after recovery from the capture column which gave about ninefold purification of the enzyme. Increased productivity was achieved by operating integrated bioreactor system continuously for 32 days under product inhibition free conditions during which no backpressure or culture contamination was observed. A total 152,600 Plough units of urokinase activity was recovered from 500 mL culture medium using 38 capture columns over a period of 32 days.

Integration of Multidimensional Chromatographic Protein Separations with a Combined “Top-Down” and “Bottom-Up” Proteomic Strategy

In this paper, we present a combined top-down/bottom-up proteomic analysis workflow for the characterization of proteomic samples. This workflow combines protein fractionation (multidimensional chromatographic separation) with parallel online ESI-TOF-MS intact protein analysis, and fraction collection. Collected fractions were digested and protein identifications were produced using MALDI Q-TOF-MS analysis. These identifications were then linked with corresponding ESI-TOF-MS intact protein mass data to permit full protein characterization. This methodology was applied to an E. coli cytosolic protein fraction, and enabled the identification and characterization of proteins exhibiting co-translational processing, post-translational modification, and proteolytic processing events. The approach also provided the ability to distinguish between closely related protein isoforms. The summary of results from this study indicated that roughly one-third of all detected components generated corresponding data from both top-down and bottom-up analyses, and that significant and novel information can be derived from this application of the hybrid analytical methodology.

Adsorption of bovine serum albumin at solid/aqueous interfaces

Adsorption of soluble serum proteins on hydrophilic and hydrophobic solid surfaces is important for biomaterials and chromatographic separations of proteins. The adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) from aqueous solutions was studied with in situ ATR-IR spectroscopy, and with ex situ ATR-IR, ellipsometry, and water wettablity measurements. The results were used to quantitatively determine the adsorbed film thickness and surface density of BSA on hydrophilic silicon oxide/silicon surfaces, and on these surfaces covered with a hydrophobic lipid monolayer of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC). The water contact angles were ∼5° for silicon oxide, 47° ± 1° for the DDPC monolayer, and 53° ± 1° for the BSA monolayers. At 25 °C, and with 0.01–1 wt% BSA in water, the surface densities range from Γ = 2.6–5.0 mg/m 2, and the film thicknesses range from d = 2.0–3.8 nm, on the assumption that the film is as dense as bulk protein. These results, and certain changes in the IR amide I and II bands of the protein, indicate that the protein adsorbs as a side-on monolayer, with some flattening due to unfolding or denaturation. The estimated α-helical content for protein in buffer solutions is 15% higher than for solutions in water. The adsorption density reaches a steady-state value within 10 min for the lowest concentration, but does not appear to reach a steady-state value after 3 h f‘or the higher concentrations. Adsorption of BSA on a silicon oxide surface covered with a monolayer of DPPC leads to an adsorbed protein film of about half the thickness and surface density than on silicon oxide, but the same contact angle, indicating more protein unfolding on the hydrophobic than on the hydrophilic surface.

Evaluation of multidimensional (ion-exchange/reversed-phase) protein separations using linear and step gradients in the first dimension

The performance characteristics of multidimensional liquid chromatographic protein separations were evaluated using on-line electrospray mass detection, and a novel workflow for automated LC/MS data processing. Two-dimensional ion exchange/reversed-phase LC separations of Escherichia coli cytosol were conducted using either a continuous linear or discontinuous step gradient in the first dimension. Chromatographic profiles of the top 100 most abundant components were characterized to assess overall separation reproducibility within each mode, and to characterize differences in component distribution between the two modes of operation. Analysis of the resulting data indicates that multidimensional separations of complex protein mixtures can be done reproducibly. Furthermore, under the conditions employed within this study, a linear first dimension gradient was more effective at fractionating the protein mixture, distributing fewer major components to multiple second dimension cycles than an equivalent step gradient. The application of on line mass spectrometry, and automated processing of the resulting data, proved valuable for producing component level analysis of multidimensional protein separations.

Lysosomal Membrane Proteomics and Biogenesis of Lysosomes

This review focuses on events involved in the biogenesis of the lysosome. This organelle contains a diverse array of soluble, luminal proteins capable of digesting all the macromolecules in the cell. Altered function of lysosomes or its constituent enzymes has been implicated in a host of human pathologies, including storage diseases, cancer, and infectious and neurodegenerative diseases. Luminal enzymes are well-characterized, and aspects of how they are incorporated into lysosomes are known. However, little is known about the composition of the membrane surrounding the organelle or how the membrane is assembled. Our starting point to study lysosome biogenesis is to define the composition of the membrane by the use of proven methods for purification of lysosomes to near homogeneity and then to characterize membrane-associated and integral lysosomal membrane proteins. This has been achieved using advanced proteomics (electrophoretic or chromatographic separations of proteins followed by time-of-flight mass spectrometric identification of peptide sequences). To date, we have identified 55 proteins in the membrane-associated fraction and 215 proteins in the integral membrane. By applying these methods to mouse models of lysosome dysgenesis (such as BEIGE, Pale Ear, PEARL) that are related to human diseases such as Chediak-Higashi and Hermansky-Pudlak syndromes, it may be possible to define the membrane protein composition of lysosomes in each of these mutants and to determine how they differ from normal. Identifying proteins affected in the respective mutants may provide hints about how they are targeted to the lysosomal membrane and how failure to target them leads to disease; these features are pivotal to understanding lysosome biogenesis and have the potential to implicate lysosomes in a broad range of human pathologies.

Photopolymerized monolithic capillary columns for rapid micro high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of proteins

The preparation of monolithic poly(butyl methacrylate– co-ethylene dimethacrylate) capillary columns using photoinitiated in situ polymerization within 200 μm i.d. capillaries and their application for μHPLC separations of proteins have been studied. The low resistance to flow characteristic of monolithic columns, enabled the use of very high flow rates of up to 100 μL/min representing a flow velocity of 87 mm/s. Very good separations of a model protein mixture consisting of ribonuclease A, cytochrome c, myoglobin, and ovalbumin was achieved in less than 40 s using a very simple single step gradient of the mobile phase. Interestingly, no effect of the pore size on the separations of proteins was observed for these monolithic columns within the size range of 0.66–2.2 μm. The monolithic μHPLC columns are found very robust and no changes in the long term separation performance and back pressure were observed.

Evaluation of usefulness of Magnafloc M-22S flocculant in the process of obtaining protein concentrates from peas

The cationic polyelectrolyte, Magnafloc M22S, was tested in the process of obtaining protein preparations from pea var. Piast. Additionally, preparations were precipitated from flour subjected to chemical modification with acetic and succinic anhydride. Chemical composition (total protein, true protein, phenol compounds and sugar level), electrophoretic and chromatographic separation of proteins, and functional properties (solubility, water and fat absorption, ability to emulsify and to foam) of the obtained preparations were compared with concentrates precipitated at the isoelectric point of the proteins. The use of polyelectrolyte Magnafloc M-22S in the process of obtaining protein preparations from chemically un-modified pea-flour did not increase the protein content, but it reduced the level of phenol compounds and increased water absorption. Preparations obtained from flour subjected to acetylation and succinylation were characterized by a higher protein content and better fat absorption.

Protein separation by nonsynchronous coil planet centrifuge with aqueous–aqueous polymer phase systems

Counter-current chromatographic separation of proteins was performed using a rotary-seal-free nonsynchronous coil planet centrifuge (CPC) fabricated in our laboratory. This apparatus has a unique feature that allows a freely adjustable rotational rate of the coiled separation column at a given revolution speed. The separation was performed using a set of stable proteins including cytochrome c, myoglobin and lysozyme with two different types of aqueous–aqueous polymer phase systems, i.e., PEG (polyethylene glycol) 1000–dibasic potassium phosphate, and PEG 8000–dextran T500 in 5 m M potassium phosphate buffer. Using a set of multilayer coiled columns prepared from 0.8 mm I.D. PTFE tubing with different volumes (11, 24, 39 ml), the effect of the column capacity on the partition efficiency was investigated under a given set of experimental conditions. Among these experiments, the best separation of proteins was attained using the 39 ml capacity column with a 12.5% (w/w) PEG 1000–12.5% (w/w) dibasic potassium phosphate system at 10 rpm of coil rotation under 800 rpm. With lower phase mobile at 0.2 ml/min in the head-to-tail elution, the resolution between cytochrome c and myoglobin was 1.6 and that between myoglobin and lysozyme, 1.9. With upper phase mobile in the head-to-tail elution, the resolution between lysozyme and myoglobin peaks was 1.5. In these two separations, the stationary phase retention was 35.0 and 33.3%, respectively. Further studies were carried out using a pair of eccentric coil assemblies with 0.8 mm I.D. PTFE tubing at a total capacity of 20 ml. A comparable resolution was obtained using both lower and upper phases as a mobile phase in a head-to-tail elution. The results of our studies demonstrate that the nonsynchronous CPC is useful for protein separation with aqueous–aqueous polymer phase systems.

Whey proteins as a model system for chromatographic separation of proteins

Although chromatographic separation of whey proteins has been considered too expensive, whey may serve as an excellent model mixture to investigate and validate the use of simulation tools in the development and optimization of chromatographic separations and the outcome could easily be utilized since the model system has an intrinsic value. Besides, milk from transgenic animals could be an attractive source of pharmaceuticals which must be separated from the other proteins in the milk. Several whey proteins are of interest especially, α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulins, immunoglobulins, lactoperoxidase, and lactoferrin. The scope of the project is to develop a consistent set of chromatographic data for whey proteins including isotherms, transport properties and scale-up studies and to develop the appropriate models for the anion exchangers Q-Sepharose XL, Source 30Q, Ceramic Q-HyperD F, and Merck Fractogel EMD TMAE 650 (S). In this work we have determined and correlated gradient and isocratic retention volumes in the linear range of the isotherm for α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin A and B, and bovine serum albumin at a pH from 6 to 9 at various NaCl concentrations.

SwellGel: a sample preparation affinity chromatography technology for high throughput proteomic applications

Development of high throughput systems for purification and analysis of proteins is essential for the success of today’s proteomic research. We have developed an affinity chromatography technology that allows the customization of high capacity/high throughput chromatographic separation of proteins. This technology utilizes selected chromatography media that are dehydrated to form uniform SwellGel discs. Unlike wet resin slurries, these discs are easily adaptable to a variety of custom formats, eliminating problems associated with resin dispensing, equilibration, or leakage. Discs can be made in assorted sizes (resin volume 15 μl–3 ml) dispensed in various formats (384-, 96-, 48-, and 24-well microplates or columns) and different ligands can be attached to the matrix. SwellGel discs rapidly hydrate upon addition of either water or the protein sample, providing dramatically increased capacity compared to coated plates. At the same time, the discs offer greater stability, reproducibility, and ease of handling than standard wet chromatography resins. We previously reported the development of SwellGel for the purification of 6× His- and glutathione- S-transferase (GST)-tagged fusion proteins [Prot. Exp. Purif. 22 (2001) 359–366]. In this paper, we discuss an expanded list of SwellGel stabilized chromatographic methods that have been adapted to high throughput formats for processing protein samples ranging from 10 μl to 10 ml (1 μg to 50 mg protein). Data are presented applying SwellGel discs to high throughput proteomic applications such as affinity tag purification, protein desalting, the removal of abundant proteins from serum including albumin and immunoglobulin, and the isolation of phosphorylated peptides for mass spectrometry.

PROTEIN SEPARATION BY CROSS-AXIS COIL PLANET CENTRIFUGE WITH SPIRAL COLUMN ASSEMBLIES

ABSTRACT A newly fabricated spiral column assembly was first applied to the countercurrent chromatographic separation of proteins using the cross-axis coil planet centrifuge (cross-axis CPC). The separation was performed by a set of stable proteins such as cytochrome C, myoglobin, and lysozyme with an aqueous–aqueous polymer phase solvent system composed of 12.5% (w/w) polyethylene glycol (PEG) 1000–12.5% (w/w) dibasic potassium phosphate. Three sets of left-handed single-layer spiral columns with different IDs (1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mm) were employed to investigate the effect of column ID on partition efficiency at four different elution modes. The elution modes consisted of the combinations of the direction of revolution (PI=counterclock-wise; PII=clockwise), the head–tail elution mode (H=head to tail; T=tail to head), and the inward–outward elution mode (I=inward; O=outward). Among these experiments, the best separation of proteins was attained using a 1.5 mm-ID column assembly with the PI-H-O elution mode of the lower phase mobile. The resolution between cytochrome C and myoglobin peaks was 0.9 and between myoglobin and lysozyme peaks was 1.0, while the retention of the stationary phase was 32.7%. In order to improve the partition efficiency, the four-layer spiral column assembly with 1.0 mm-ID column tubing was applied to the protein separation. The resolution between these peaks was improved to 1.1 and 1.2, respectively, while the stationary phase retention decreased to 20.9%. Further studies using a single-layer spiral coiled column also revealed the effective peak resolution of proteins, but with lower stationary phase retention. The overall results demonstrated the spiral column assembly was useful for the protein separation using the cross-axis CPC with the aqueous-aqueous polymer phase system.

Novel nuclear and mitochondrial glycosylases revealed by disruption of the mouse Nth1 gene encoding an endonuclease III homolog for repair of thymine glycols

Endonuclease III, encoded by nth in Escherichia coli, removes thymine glycols (Tg), a toxic oxidative DNA lesion. To determine the biological significance of this repair in mammals, we established a mouse model with mutated mNth1, a homolog of nth, by gene targeting. The homozygous mNth1 mutant mice showed no detectable phenotypical abnormality. Embryonic cells with or without wild-type mNth1 showed no difference in sensitivity to menadione or hydrogen peroxide. Tg produced in the mutant mouse liver DNA by X-ray irradiation disappeared with time, though more slowly than in the wild-type mouse. In extracts from mutant mouse liver, we found, instead of mNTH1 activity, at least two novel DNA glycosylase activities against Tg. One activity is significantly higher in the mutant than in wild-type mouse in mitochondria, while the other is another nuclear glycosylase for Tg. These results underscore the importance of base excision repair of Tg both in the nuclei and mitochondria in mammals.

Hydrophobic interaction chromatographic separation of proteins in human blood fractions hyphenated to atomic spectrometry as detector of essential elements

The binding of metals to proteins in blood fractions was investigated applying hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) for protein separation and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) as the element specific detector. For the semi-preparative separation of metalloproteins in erythrocytes and blood plasma, a HIC column (Fractogel EMD Phenyl I (S) 150 mm×10 mm I.D.) was adapted. The separation column was calibrated with the same four standard proteins as used in Pomazal et al. [Analyst 124 (1999) 657]. The sample injection volume and the ammonium sulphate gradient set-up were optimized: 20 or 200 μl, respectively, of blood plasma and of lysed erythrocytes were injected. The separated proteins were collected in 4-ml fractions and analyzed by GFAAS off-line. An optimization of the GFAAS measuring parameters for Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn, Co, Ni, and Cr was performed. For each element, a specific temperature program was optimized with respect to the matrix of the HIC eluate (0.02 M NaH 2PO 4, 1.8 M (NH 4) 2SO 4). The obtained metal profiles of the eluate were compared with the HIC chromatograms. The limits of detection (LOD) for the elements by GFAAS were: 0.5 ng Cu/ml; 0.2 ng Mn/ml; 1 ng Fe/ml; 0.2 ng Zn/ml; 0.12 ng Co/ml; 0.2 ng Ni/ml; 0.16 ng Cr/ml. The GFAAS method enabled the detection of the proteins of interest via the metals.

Functionalized glycidyl methacrylate based polymers as stationary phases for protein retention

The search for new materials for chromatographic separation of proteins is a major endeavor nowadays. In order to obtain better chromatographic separation media, poli(glycidyl methacrylate co-ethylen dimethacrylate) matrices were synthesized, milled, classified, functionalized with different reagents and then comparatively tested in batch experiments for protein retention. The Methacrylate/Dimethacrylate resin was treated in different sequences of experiments with Urea, Iminodiacetic acid, N-N dimethyl formamide and ammonia, in order to determine whether functionalization provides sufficient amino groups to capacitate them for protein retention. Fixed bed experiments with particulate resin were also carried out. Previous characterization confirms that the polymeric matrix is macroporous and exhibits a unimodal pore size distribution. The resin also presents a good thermal stability.

The role of intraparticle convection in protein adsorption by liquid chromatography using POROS 20 HQ/M particles

Adsorptive separations by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) are important processes in biotechnology for the separation of proteins. Packing materials for chromatographic separations of proteins have been continuously improved in order to reduce intraparticle mass transfer resistances. The objective of this paper is to understand and characterise mass transfer mechanisms inside POROS HQ/M particles (PerSeptive Biosystems, Framingham, MA, USA) combining theory with experimental work. Elution chromatography under non-retained conditions and frontal chromatography in retained conditions of two proteins, myoglobin and bovine serum albumin (BSA), were studied. Elution chromatography experiments show that the mass transfer resistance in POROS HQ/M is substantially reduced by intraparticle convection. Adsorption equilibrium isotherms were measured from experimental breakthrough curves. The adsorption of myoglobin (with 0.1 M NaCl) follows a linear isotherm, whereas the adsorption of BSA (with no NaCl or with 0.1 M NaCl) follows Langmuir isotherms almost rectangular in shape. Three mathematical models, accounting for adsorption on throughpore walls and inside microparticles of POROS particles and intraparticle convection in throughpores, were developed in this study and used in the modelling of experimental breakthrough curves of myoglobin and BSA. Experimental convection effects in POROS HQ/M particles are higher than those predicted by these models and the extra effects can be attributed to a flow rate dependent film resistance around microparticles.

Proteomic technologies in modern biomedical science.

This review highlights modern technologies employed in proteomics. Methods of sample preparations are discussed with special emphasis on the requirements for preparation of biological material, which may seriously influence the results of proteomic studies. Methods of solubilization, electrophoresis, chromatographic protein separation, and visualization of protein spots in gels are described. Modern methods of mass spectrometry used in proteomic studies include combination of protein chips with mass spectrometry. The review also describes approaches of functional proteomics, i.e., interactomics, and also bioinformatic resources used in proteomics for image analysis of 2D-gel-electrophoresis and for identification of protein sequences by mass spectra.

Chromatographic separation of proteins on metal immobilized iminodiacetic acid-bound molded monolithic rods of macroporous poly(glycidyl methacrylate–co-ethylene dimethacrylate)

Continuous rod of macroporous poly(glycidyl methacrylate–co-ethylene dimethacrylate) was prepared by a free radical polymerization within the confines of a stainless-steel column. The epoxide groups of the rod were modified by a reaction with iminodiacetic acid (IDA) that affords the active site to form metal IDA chelates used for immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). The efficiency of coupling of IDA to the epoxide-contained matrix was studied as a function of reaction time and temperature. High-performance separation of proteins, based on immobilized different metals on the column, were described. The influence of pH on the adsorption capacity of bovine serum albumin on the Cu 2+–IDA continuous rod column was investigated in the range from 5.0 to 9.0. Purification of lysozyme from egg white and human serum albumin (HSA) on the commercially available HSA solution were performed on the naked IDA and Cu 2+–IDA continuous rod columns, respectively; and the purity of the obtained fractions was detected by matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Influence of Synergistic Effects on Ion-Exchange Chromatographic Separation of Proteins

Formation of strong bonds between proteins and polyelectrolyte chains of ion-exchange sorbents gives rise to synergistic effects in multicomponent sorption and chromatographic separation of proteins. A series of heteronetwork-cross-linked polymeric bases with varied content of ionic groups was prepared. Consecutive sorption and cosorption of insulin and α-lactalbumin on these materials were studied.