Salting-out in amphiphilic gels as a new approach to hydrophobic adsorption

Current insights on protein behaviour in hydrophobic interaction chromatography

This paper gives a summary of different aspects for predicting protein behaviour in hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC). First, a brief description of HIC, hydrophobic interactions, amino acid and protein hydrophobicity is presented. After that, several factors affecting protein chromatographic behaviour in HIC are described. Finally, different approaches for predicting protein retention time in HIC are shown. Using all this information, it could be possible to carry out computational experiments by varying the different operating conditions for the purification of a target protein; and then selecting the best conditions in silico and designing a rational protein purification process involving an HIC step.

Chemometric analysis of retention data from salting-out thin-layer chromatography in relation to structural parameters and biological activity of chosen sulphonamides

Salting-out thin-layer chromatography of several chosen sulphonamides on silica gel has been examined with aqueous solutions of salts: sulphates, chlorides, nitrates, phosphates, acetates, thiocyanates. It was established that applied salts have different effects on retention of sulphonamides accordingly to Hofmeister's clasification (e.g. kosmotropes, chaotropes and neutral). The parameters of the linear regression analysis of dependences between the R(M) values and concentration of the salt in the eluent system were correlated with QSAR ones. It appeared that chromatographic parameters obtained by SOTLC method reflect not only physico-chemical properties of examined compounds but also they include information about their activity. 3D graph revealing pharmacological properties of analytes was constructed. Universal character of this method for predicting and classification of drug containing sulphonamide group was confirmed by localisation of additional compounds structurally similar but acting antagonistically towards sulphonamides.

Novel hydrophobic interaction chromatography matrix for specific isolation and simple elution of immunoglobulins (A, G, and M) from porcine serum

A new, highly acetylated agarose matrix (HA-Sepharose) was synthesized and used as a hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) medium to specifically isolate immunoglobulins (Igs) from porcine serum. Recovery of Igs was in a single step and under mild conditions. HA-Sepharose adsorption was studied in terms of salt, gel acetylation time, flow rate, and protein concentration on the loading buffer. At 0.5 M Na2SO4, control with unmodified Sepharose retained a small fraction (0.70 mg/mL of matrix) of serum albumin. On the contrary HA-Sepharose retained primary Igs (IgA, IgG, and 53% of IgM) as revealed by sodium dodecyl sulphate 10% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), quantitative radial immunodiffusion and immunodetection. At a flow rate of 1 mL/min, the HA-Sepharose column capacity (3.9 mg/mL of matrix) was similar to the reported capacity for the commercial thiophilic T-gel. However, HA-Sepharose showed higher recovery of IgA and IgM than the T-gel in the same salt conditions, clearly an advantage in terms of immunoglobulin recovery strategies. Acetylation changed the matrix adsorption from albumin to immunoglobulins; thus, the highly acetylated gel rendered recoveries of Igs from unprocessed porcine serum practically free of albumin.

Protein instability during HIC: Hydrogen exchange labeling analysis and a framework for describing mobile and stationary phase effects

Unfolding of marginally stable proteins is a significant factor in commercial application of hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC). In this work, hydrogen-deuterium isotope exchange labeling has been used to monitor protein unfolding on HIC media for different stationary phase hydrophobicities and as a function of ammonium sulfate concentration. Circular dichroism and Raman spectroscopy were also used to characterize the structural perturbations experienced by solution phase protein that had been exposed to media and by protein adsorbed on media. As expected, greater instability is seen on chromatographic media with greater apparent hydrophobicity. However, increased salt concentrations also led to more unfolding, despite the well-known stabilizing effect of ammonium sulfate in solution. A thermodynamic framework is proposed to account for the effects of salt on both adsorption and stability during hydrophobic chromatography. Using appropriate estimates of input quantities, analysis with the framework can explain how salt effects on stability in chromatographic systems may contrast with solution stability.

Modeling of the salt effects on hydrophobic adsorption equilibrium of protein

A two-state protein model is proposed to describe the salt effects on protein adsorption equilibrium on hydrophobic media. This model assumes that protein molecules exist in two equilibrium states in a salt solution, that is, hydrated and dehydrated states, and only the dehydrated-state protein can bind to hydrophobic ligands. In terms of the two-state protein hypothesis and the steric mass-action theory, protein adsorption equilibrium on hydrophobic media is formulated by a five-parameter equation. The model is demonstrated with the adsorption of bovine serum albumin to Phenyl Sepharose gels as a model system. The effects of salt type (sodium chloride, sodium sulfate and ammonium sulfate) on the model parameters are discussed. Then, the model formulism is simplified in terms of the small magnitude of the protein dehydration equilibrium constant in the model. This simplification has returned the model derived on the basis of the two-state protein hypothesis to its original mechanism of salt effects on the hydrophobic adsorption of protein. This simplified model also creates satisfactory prediction of protein adsorption isotherms.

Evaluation of n-valeraldehyde modified chitosan as a matrix for hydrophobic interaction chromatography

The n-valeraldehyde modified Chitosan (pentyl-Chitosan CL) was prepared by Schiff-base formation and hydrogenation. By studying the IR spectra of Chitosan and pentyl-Chitosan CL, it is suggested that a pentyl group is linked to 2'-NH, by a C-N bond. The influence of temperature and ionic strength on the adsorption of protein on pentyl-Chitosan CL were studied, and it was found that the behavior of adsorption met with the theory of hydrophobic interaction. The storage stability of these packing materials was also investigated, the results show storage in 20% ethanol at 4 degrees C is the most suitable condition. Alpha-amylase was purified successfully by hydrophobic interaction chromatography, using pentyl-Chitosan CL as hydrophobic matrix. The purification factor is about 2.5 and the recovery is over 82%.

Direct interaction of a vancomycin derivative with bacterial enzymes involved in cell wall biosynthesis

BACKGROUND

The glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin complexes DAla-DAla termini of bacterial cell walls and peptidoglycan precursors and interferes with enzymes involved in murein biosynthesis. Semisynthetic vancomycins incorporating hydrophobic sugar substituents exhibit efficacy against DAla-DLac-containing vancomycin-resistant enterococci, albeit by an undetermined mechanism. Contrasting models that invoke either cooperative dimerization and membrane anchoring or direct inhibition of bacterial transglycosylases have been proposed to explain the bioactivity of these glycopeptides.

RESULTS

Affinity chromatography has revealed direct interactions between a semisynthetic hydrophobic vancomycin (DCB-PV), and select Escherichia coli membrane proteins, including at least six enzymes involved in peptidoglycan assembly. The N(4)-vancosamine substituent is critical for protein binding. DCB-PV inhibits transglycosylation in permeabilized E. coli, consistent with the observed binding of the PBP-1B transglycosylase-transpeptidase.

CONCLUSIONS

Hydrophobic vancomycins interact directly with a select subset of bacterial membrane proteins, suggesting the existence of discrete protein targets. Transglycosylase inhibition may play a role in the enhanced bioactivity of semisynthetic glycopeptides.

Isolation of food allergens

The identification of food allergens is a priority in the management of food allergy, because of the need to obtain standardized extracts and pure allergens for diagnosis and therapy. It is thus important to develop methods for purification of allergenic molecules in order to study their biological and immunological characteristics. Protocols for protein extraction from foods and for allergen purification are reviewed in this paper. We report published methods for extraction of allergens from either animal and vegetable foods and detailed purification methodologies including ion-exchange, gel filtration and reversed-phase chromatography of well known allergens.

Hydrophobic interaction chromatography of proteins

In this article, an overview of hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) of proteins is given. After a brief description of protein hydrophobicity and hydrophobic interactions, we present the different proposed theories for the retention mechanism of proteins in HIC. Additionally, the main parameters to consider for the optimization of fractionation processes by HIC and the stationary phases available were described. Selected examples of protein fractionation by HIC are also presented.

The hydrophobic character of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) isoagglutinins

Peanut seed lectin (PNA) is widely used to identify tumor-specific antigens on the eukaryotic cell surface. In this work PNA was purified by affinity chromatography, using a column containing glutaraldehyde-treated human erythrocytes, whereas PNA isoforms were purified by hydrophobic interaction chromatography using Phenyl-Sepharose. The affinity-purified PNA and its isoforms consist of four equal subunits of 24.5 kDa each, all of which agglutinated human sialidase-treated erythrocytes equally well; however, differences in their relative thermostabilities and sugar specificities for lactose were observed. Fractions PNA-I and PNA-II possess higher affinity for lactose residues than the more hydrophobic isoforms III and IV. These findings suggest that the differences observed in PNA isoagglutinins are due to hydrophobic regions of the protein that influence the three-dimensional organization of the molecule as well as its thermal stability and sugar specificity.

Plant heterotrimeric G protein beta subunit is associated with membranes via protein interactions involving coiled-coil formation

Gbeta subunits from animals are anchored to membranes via Ggamma subunits. No Ggamma has been identified in plants to date. Using differential centrifugation of Arabidopsis and broccoli extracts, Gbeta was highly enriched in the microsomal pellet. Treatment of microsomes with detergents and salts indicates that plant Gbeta is located at the membrane surface and attached to membranes by hydrophobic interactions. Analysis of transgenic plants expressing Gbeta-GFP fusion proteins showed that mutations in the heptad repeat domain of Gbeta severely diminished their membrane association. We propose that plant Gbeta is anchored to membranes by an unknown protein similar to animal Gbeta by Ggamma, via coiled-coil formation.

Purification and characterization of extracellular lipases from Ophiostoma piliferum

Interest in lipases from microorganisms, animals, and plants has greatly increased in the past decade due to their applications in biotransformations and organic syntheses. We are reporting the purification and characterization of two lipases from the fungus, Ophiostoma piliferum, a saprophytic organism commonly found on wood. A major and a minor lipase have been co-purified by hydrophobic interaction chromatography on octyl sepharose FF, followed by ion exchange chromatography on Q sepharose FF. The lipases bound very tightly to octyl sepharose resulting in greater than 100-fold purification in this one step. The major lipase has a molecular weight of approximately 60 kDa, a pI of 3.79, and is glycosylated as determined by PAS staining. The minor lipase, which composes 10% of the total protein, has a pI of 3.6, and molecular weight of approximately 52 kDa and did not stain with the PAS reagent. Deglycosylation of the major lipase produced two proteins of lower molecular weight, a 55 kDa protein and a 52 kDa protein. The deglycosylated protein at 52 kDa co-migrates with the minor lipase on SDS-PAGE gels. N-terminal amino acid sequencing of the major and minor lipases indicated both lipases have the same N-termini and MALDI-TOF mass spectral analysis showed similar peptide patterns. Available data indicate that the lipases are derived from the same protein and appear to differ in their post-translational modification as evidenced by their pIs and molecular weight difference. The pH rate profile and thermal stability were determined for the purified O. piliferum lipase and were consistent with a mesophilic lipase. In aqueous solution, the lipases exhibited a higher rate of hydrolysis for p-nitrophenylbutyrate (C4) than for p-nitrophenylstearate (C18), which is an unexpected result.

Comparison of the protein adsorption selectivity of salt-promoted agarose-based adsorbents. Hydrophobic, thiophilic and electron donor-acceptor adsorbents

Protein adsorption of human serum onto six different agarose-based chromatographic gels that were representative of the salt-promoted adsorbent family [octyl- and phenyl-Sepharose, mercaptoethanol-divinyl sulfone agarose (T gel), mercaptomethylene pyridine-derivatized agarose gel (MP gel), tricyanoaminopropene-divinyl sulfone agarose (DVS-TCP gel), tricyanoamino-propene-bisoxirane agarose (bisoxirane-TCP gel)] was studied in the presence of moderate or high concentrations of the water structuring salt, sodium sulfate. Study of the protein adsorption selectivity by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed an opposed selectivity for hydrophobic interaction adsorbents and electron donor-acceptor adsorbents. The T gel, MP gel and TCP gels belonged to the electron donor-acceptor adsorbents, displaying a main selectivity for immunoglobulins, whereas octyl-Sepharose belonged to the hydrophobic adsorbents, displaying a main selectivity for 'hydrophobic' proteins. Phenyl-Sepharose for its part was described as an example of a composite selectivity of both families. The conclusion of this work is two-fold: (1) hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) and electron donor-acceptor chromatography (EDAC) have opposed protein selectivities and are both salt-promoted. As a main consequence, it means that high concentrations of a water-structuring salt can promote different types of weak molecular interactions, resulting in different protein adsorption selectivities: (2) thiophilic adsorption chromatography (TAC) should be renamed EDAC as similar protein selectivity is demonstrated for electron donor-acceptor ligand devoid of sulfur atoms.

Rigid porous polyacrylamide-based monolithic columns containing butyl methacrylate as a separation medium for the rapid hydrophobic interaction chromatography of proteins

Macroporous poly(acrylamide-co-butyl methacrylate-co-N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide) monoliths containing up to 15% butyl methacrylate units have been prepared by direct polymerization within the confines of HPLC columns. The hydrodynamic and chromatographic properties of these 50 mm x 8 mm I.D. columns-such as back pressure at different flow-rates, effect of percentage of hydrophobic component in the polymerization mixture, effect of salt concentration on the retention of proteins, dynamic loading capacity, and recovery-were determined under conditions typical of hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Using the monolithic column, five proteins were easily separated within only 3 min.

From gel filtration to adsorptive size exclusion

Adsorption and size exclusion in starch and cross-linked dextran were phenomena discovered in Uppsala in the 1950s [Porath (1979), Biochem. Soc. Trans. 7, 1197; Porath (1981), Current Content 19, 21; Porath (1981), J. Chromatogr. 218, 241; Janson (1987), Chromatographia 23, 361; Laurent (1993), J. Chromatogr. 633, 1]. These discoveries were the background to the development of a variety of affinity chromatographic methods. At present attempts are being made to combine size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with adsorption into a single operation that we call adsorptive SEC (AdSEC).

Polyol-promoted adsorption of serum proteins to amphiphilic agarose-based adsorbents

We tested the promotion of protein adsorption onto amphiphilic agarose-based adsorbents by addition of high concentrations of polyols during the adsorption phase. C3- to C5-polyols were inefficient in promoting protein adsorption, whereas some of the C6-polyols studied (sorbitol, dulcitol and mannitol) could promote serum protein adsorption onto mercaptomethylene pyridine-derivatized agarose, octyl- and phenyl-Sepharose. Sorbitol was the most potent protein adsorption promoter, with a direct relation between the amount of protein adsorbed and the concentration of sorbitol. For each chromatographic gel, the effects of increasing concentrations of sorbitol or sodium sulfate on protein adsorption were similar and two-dimensional electrophoresis revealed the preservation of the protein adsorption specificity whether sorbitol or sodium sulfate was used. These results show that a water-structuring salt or a polyol can promote protein adsorption in the same manner, presumably by a related mechanism.

Chromatographic methods for amylases

This review surveys recent developments in chromatographic methods for the separation of amylases from complex extracts, including the separation of isozymes. It contains two tables with the properties and molecular characteristics of alpha-and beta-amylases from different sources as well as an updated review of methods for the determination of amylase activity. The main subject of this review is a detailed evaluation of the application of newly developed chromatographic methods for the purification of amylases.

Temperature effects in hydrophobic interaction chromatography

The effect of temperature from 5 degrees C to 50 degrees C on the retention of dansyl derivatives of amino acids in hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) was investigated by HPLC on three stationary phases. Plots of the logarithmic retention factor against the reciprocal temperature in a wide range were nonlinear, indicative of a large negative heat capacity change associated with retention. By using Kirchoff's relations, the enthalpy, entropy, and heat capacity changes were evaluated from the logarithmic retention factor at various temperatures by fitting the data to a logarithmic equation and a quadratic equation that are based on the invariance and on an inverse square dependence of the heat capacity on temperature, respectively. In the experimental temperature interval, the heat capacity change was found to increase with temperature and could be approximated by the arithmetic average. For HIC retention of a set of dansylamino acids, both enthalpy and entropy changes were positive at low temperatures but negative at high temperatures as described in the literature for other processes based on the hydrophobic effect. The approach presented here shows that chromatographic measurements can be not only a useful adjunct to calorimetry but also an alternative means for the evaluation of thermodynamic parameters.

Amphiphilic agarose-based adsorbents for chromatography. Comparative study of adsorption capacities and desorption efficiencies

A number of hydrophobic derivatives attached to cross-linked agarose were studied as protein adsorbents. Differences in the adsorption and desorption behaviour were determined as functions of type and concentration of selected salts. Whereas octyl- and phenyl-Sepharose adsorb serum albumin preferentially, pyridyl-S-agarose shows a much stronger preferential affinity for IgG in the presence of high concentrations of lyotropic salts, such as sulphates. In contrast to pyridyl-S-agarose, a large portion of proteins remained fixed to octyl- and phenyl-Sepharose after extensive washing with 1 M NaOH.

Cyanogen bromide and tresyl chloride chemistry revisited: the special reactivity of agarose as a chromatographic and biomaterial support for immobilizing novel chemical groups

The cyanogen bromide and tresyl chloride (2,2,2-trifluoroethanesulfonyl chloride) methods belong to the best-known activation procedures for solid supports in biochemistry. In both cases the originally proposed reaction mechanisms were revised many years later. In this paper important aspects of these two major activation reactions in connection with the singular polysaccharide support, agarose, will be treated with emphasis on the novel reaction mechanism recently proposed for tresyl chloride. In addition, the special role played by sulfur in the new uncharged alkyl-S-S-gels is examined in connection with the phenomenon of base-atom recognition.

Hydrophobic interaction chromatography for isolation and purification of Equ.cl, the horse major allergen

Equ.cl, the horse (Equus caballus) major allergen, was identified in a partially purified extract obtained from a crude aqueous horse dander extract, by acetonic precipitation and a salting-out process. It was isolated and purified by size-exclusion chromatography followed by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Equ.cl appeared as an almost pure protein in a fraction eluted at 1.2 M ammonium sulphate from a phenyl Superose column. It is a single peptide with a relative molecular mass of 20,000 and a pI of ca. 3.9.

Improved high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of intracellular deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate levels

The ability to measure intracellular deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) pool sizes is important for understanding the intracellular metabolism of DNA synthesis and repair. We have developed an improved method for measuring intracellular dNTP pool size by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Previous methods have enabled accurate measurement of dNTPs only in concentrations greater than approximately 10 pmol per 10(6) cells due to the inability to partially purify cell extracts, to the inability to apply extracts from extremely large numbers of cells, to the lack of efficient columns, to the presence of incompatible solvents, and to the inability to inject large volumes. We have modified a low-pressure strong anion-exchange column pre-step developed by others to concentrate and partially purify oxidized cell extracts while at the same time eluting them in a more compatible solvent for HPLC injection. The HPLC column is a YMC ODS-AQ column operating in a combined hydrophobic-interaction chromatography-reversed-phase chromatography mode. The injection and elution solvents are both phosphate-based. Using this method it is possible to measure intracellular dNTP levels well below 0.5 pmol per 10(6) cells or at the sensitivity of the DNA polymerase assay.

Adsorption behavior of milk proteins on polystyrene latex. A study based on sedimentation field-flow fractionation and dynamic light scattering

Sedimentation field-flow fractionation (SdFFF) has been used to characterize the adsorption of the proteins beta-casein (BCN) or beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) on colloidal polystyrene latices; this system was used to model hydrophobic interactions between the proteins and the surfaces of fat droplets in protein-stabilized emulsions. It was found that the SdFFF technique could determine directly the surface concentrations of BCN and BLG irreversibly adsorbed to the latex surface, provided care was taken to maintain the ionic strength of the carrier at a level which suppressed particle-wall repulsion in the separation channel. The measured surface concentrations were similar for the two proteins (about 1 mg/m2), and this was verified by quantitative amino acid analysis. These concentrations were smaller than those found in depletion studies (3 and 4 mg/m2 respectively for BCN and BLG), in which loosely associated protein may have been included in the determinations. The thickness of the adsorbed layers was determined in situ by dynamic light scattering and was found to differ significantly for the two proteins (up to 15 nm for BCN vs. 2-3 nm for BLG). The implication of these findings in terms of different surface arrangements of the two proteins is discussed.

New developments in protein isolation, purification, and characterization

The most significant advancements in techniques and methods for protein purification and analysis have been made in liquid chromatography and in electrophoresis. In the area of chromatography, adsorbents based on new affinity principles have been prepared. New packing materials have facilitated the rapid progress of high-performance techniques. A great many new techniques in the field of electrophoresis have emerged. On an analytical scale, electrophoretic methods in two dimensions or in capillaries are unsurpassed in resolution power. Development of techniques for protein transfer between different media is a prerequisite for a full exploitation of the new methods. Modern techniques for analysis of submicrogram quantities facilitate the separation, detection, and characterization of complex protein mixtures.

Protein interactions with surface-immobilized metal ions: structure-dependent variations in affinity and binding capacity with temperature and urea concentration

We have used equilibrium binding analyses to evaluate the influence of temperature and urea on the affinity of hen egg white lysozyme and bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A for surface-immobilized Cu(II) ions. Linear Scatchard plots suggested that these model proteins were interacting with immobilized metal ions via a single class of intermediate-affinity (Kd = 10-40 microM) binding sites. Alterations in temperature had little or no effect on the immobilized Cu(II) binding capacity of either protein. Temperature effects on the interaction affinity, however, were protein-dependent and varied considerably. The affinity of lysozyme for immobilized Cu(II) ions was significantly decreased with increased temperature (0 degree C-37 degrees C), yet the affinity of ribonuclease did not vary measurably over the same temperature range. The van 't Hoff plot (1n K vs 1/T) for lysozyme suggests a straight line relationship (single mechanism) with a delta H of approximately -5.5 kcal/mol. Urea effects also varied in a protein-dependent manner. A 10-fold reduction in the affinity of lysozyme for the immobilized Cu(II) was observed with the urea concentrations up to 3 M; yet urea had no effect on the affinity of ribonuclease for the immobilized metal ions. Although the interaction capacity of lysozyme with the immobilized Cu(II) ions was decreased by 50% in 3 M urea, ribonuclease interaction capacity was not diminished in urea. Thus, temperature- and urea-dependent alterations in protein-metal ion interactions were observed for lysozyme but not ribonuclease A. The complete, yet reversible, inhibition of lysozyme- and ribonuclease-metal ion interactions by carboxyethylation with low concentrations of diethylpyrocarbonate provided direct evidence of histidyl involvement. The differential response of these proteins to the effects of temperature and urea was, therefore, interpreted based on calculated solvent-accessibilities and surface distributions of His residues, individual His residue pKa values, and specific features of the protein surface structure in the immediate environment of the surface-exposed histidyl residues. Possible interaction mechanisms involved in protein recognition of macromolecular surface-immobilized metal ions are presented.

Specific purification of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase by hydrophobic chromatography on immobilized colchicine

Hydrophobic column chromatography of bovine brain extracts (40-80% ammonium sulfate fraction) on immobilized colchicine resulted in the selective elution of one major protein with decreasing ionic strength of medium. This protein was identified as glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH; EC 1.2.1.1) on the basis of its biochemical properties, N-terminal amino-acid sequence and enzymatic activity. The present method enabled GAPDH to be isolated with a high recovery (80%; 184 mg/kg brain) and could be of potential use for the purification of GAPDH from various tissues.

Protein conformational effects in hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Retention characterization and the role of mobile phase additives and stationary phase hydrophobicity

We have studied the conformational behavior of alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LACT) in hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC). Retention characterization in terms of Z (slope of plot of ln k' vs. ln phi B, where k' is the capacity factor and phi B is the volume fraction of mobile phase B) has been explored, and the relationship of Z to other slopes, such as S (slope of the plot of ln k' vs. phi B) has been derived. The reasons for the sensitivity of Z to conformational change are discussed. The enhanced broadening of alpha-LACT in a temperature transition region of conformational change has been studied by spectral analysis using on-line photodiode array detection. The influence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ addition to the mobile phase is further explored. Since alpha-LACT is a calcium binding protein, addition of this metal leads to stabilization, i.e. higher column temperatures are required for conformational change. On the other hand, addition of Mg2+ appears to destabilize the protein. We have explored the use of a more hydrophobic support, C2-(ethyl) ether phase, for the elution of alpha-LACT. In this case, two widely separated peaks are observed. By spectral analysis the first peak is shown to be native and the later eluted, broad second peak to be an unfolded mixture of species. As previously observed in reversed-phase liquid chromatography, the second peak grows at the expense of the first, as the column temperature is raised. The second peak also grows as the contact time of the protein with the surface increases. This behavior can be ascribed to the conformational change of alpha-LACT in the column, the late eluted species under the second peak binding significantly more strongly to the phase than the native peak. Reinjection of the late eluted fraction reveals that reformation of the native species takes place in solution within 30 min. As before, addition of Ca2+ reduces the extent of unfolding under any specific condition. These results add further to our understanding and ability to control conformational changes in high-performance liquid chromatography.

Thiophilic adsorption of immunoglobulins--analysis of conditions optimal for selective immobilization and purification

Immunoglobulins have been selected by their general affinity for adjacent sulfone-thioether sulfur groups as a useful model system for the characterization of thiophilic interaction chromatography. Mercaptoethanol coupled to divinylsulfone-activated agarose (thiophilic or T-gel) provided an affinity matrix for the efficient and reversible immobilization of the immunoglobulins. The adsorption/desorption process was investigated as a function of protein concentration, temperature, flow rate, and pH in different concentrations of ammonium sulfate. Immobilization of these proteins was (as a function of pH) found to be both dependent and independent of the adsorption-promoting effects of water-structure-forming salts. Buffer conditions are recommended for the selective adsorption of immunoglobulins from unfractionated human serum. These results indicate that thiophilic interaction chromatography provides a new and effective alternative for the immobilization and purification of immunoglobulins and other proteins under conditions known to preserve structure and biological activity.

Thermal behavior of proteins in high-performance hydrophobic-interaction chromatography. On-line spectroscopic and chromatographic characterization

The thermal behavior of a series of standard proteins in hydrophobic interaction chromatography on a previously developed weakly hydrophobic ether-bonded phase column has been studied. Depending on the temperature and protein, conformational changes can occur in the chromatographic system. Methods for recognizing these conformational effects are presented, including retention and peak width variations with temperature, and Z values (the slope of the plot of log k' vs. log %B solvent. The Z value is shown to be a general index characterizing protein retention as a function of salt concentration. In addition, on-line UV spectroscopic analysis, (absorbance ratios and second derivative spectroscopy) with a photodiode array detector, is shown to corroborate chromatographic trends. Lysozyme maintains a stable conformation over the temperature range 10-40 degrees C, whereas beta-lactoglobulin A has a conformational transition between 25 degrees C and 40 degrees C. Calcium-depleted alpha-lactalbumin, a rather labile species, maintains a stable conformation up to ca. 20 degrees C, and then undergoes structural changes. Finally, cytochrome c appears to be relatively stable up to ca. 65 degrees C. Since conformational changes for this protein occur at ca. 35 degrees C on more hydrophobic phases, the extent of hydrophobicity of the stationary phase is important for maintenance of the native state. Based on this work, hydrophobic-interaction chromatography at sub-ambient temperatures appears promising.

Salt-promoted adsorption: recent developments

Efficient fractionation of human serum proteins is accomplished by use of a series of tandem-coupled beds of group-affinity adsorbents. The general fractionation strategy for group fractionation of a complex protein mixture is discussed.

The Hofmeister effect and the behaviour of water at interfaces

Starting from known properties of non-specific salt effects on the surface tension at an air-water interface, we propose the first general, detailed qualitative molecular mechanism for the origins of ion-specific (Hofmeister) effects on the surface potential difference at an air-water interface; this mechanism suggests a simple model for the behaviour of water at all interfaces (including water-solute interfaces), regardless of whether the non-aqueous component is neutral or charged, polar or non-polar. Specifically, water near an isolated interface is conceptually divided into three layers, each layer being I water-molecule thick. We propose that the solute determines the behaviour of the adjacent first interfacial water layer (I1); that the bulk solution determines the behaviour of the third interfacial water layer (I3), and that both I1 and I3 compete for hydrogen-bonding interactions with the intervening water layer (I2), which can be thought of as a transition layer. The model requires that a polar kosmotrope (polar water-structure maker) interact with I1 more strongly than would bulk water in its place; that a chaotrope (water-structure breaker) interact with I1 somewhat less strongly than would bulk water in its place; and that a non-polar kosmotrope (non-polar water-structure maker) interact with I1 much less strongly than would bulk water in its place. We introduce two simple new postulates to describe the behaviour of I1 water molecules in aqueous solution. The first, the 'relative competition' postulate, states that an I1 water molecule, in maximizing its free energy (--delta G), will favour those of its highly directional polar (hydrogen-bonding) interactions with its immediate neighbours for which the maximum pairwise enthalpy of interaction (--delta H) is greatest; that is, it will favour the strongest interactions. We describe such behaviour as 'compliant', since an I1 water molecule will continually adjust its position to maximize these strong interactions. Its behaviour towards its remaining immediate neighbours, with whom it interacts relatively weakly (but still favourably), we describe as 'recalcitrant', since it will be unable to adjust its position to maximize simultaneously these interactions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Thiophilic adsorption--a new method for protein fractionation

Divinylsulphone-activated agarose to which mercaptoethanol is coupled showed very selective group adsorption of human serum proteins, in particular the immunoglobulins. The adsorption increases markedly in the presence of high concentrations of neutral water-structure forming salts and is distinct from adsorptions based on hydrophobic interaction. A characteristic feature of this new type of adsorbent is the structure of the groups attached to the polymer, P, i.e., R-S-CH2-CH2-SO2-CH2-CH2-O-P, where R is a small aliphatic residue. Our results indicate that the thioether sulphur and the adjacent sulphone group act cooperatively and are apparently necessary to maintain the distinct behaviour of such absorbents.

Synthesis of new hydrophobic adsorbents based on homologous series of uncharged alkyl sulphide agarose derivatives

A homologous series of uncharged thioalkyl derivatives of agarose were prepared by a simplified synthetic route and their adsorption behaviour towards human serum proteins was evaluated and compared with that of a commercially available alkyl ether derivative of agarose. The influence of the spacer arm length on the adsorption efficiency was also investigated. The degree of substitution of the derivatives can be estimated conveniently by sulphur analysis. The four different types of thiolkyl derivatives (C6, C8, C12 and C14) investigated here behave in all respects like hydrophobic adsorbents. The coupling yield obtained is high (75% or more) and is better than that obtained by alternative synthetic routes reported so far. The adsorption capacity towards serum proteins of the various derivatives increases with increasing alkyl chain length and degree of substitution. Desorption is achieved by a progressive decrease in the polarity of the eluent and the recovery of the applied material is in the range 80-90%. The role played by the thioether as a possible modulator of the observed hydrophobic adsorption is discussed. For the group separation of serum proteins the optimum adsorbent, as regards capacity combined with ease of elution of adsorbed material, should be substituted with chains of six or eight carbon atoms and have a ligand concentration in the range 80-120 mumole g-1 dry gel.