Free flow electrophoresis for the purification of proteins: I. Zone electrophoresis and isotachophoresis

Measuring aptamer equilibria using gradient micro free flow electrophoresis

Gradient micro free flow electrophoresis (muFFE) was used to observe the equilibria of DNA aptamers with their targets (IgE or HIVRT) across a range of ligand concentrations. A continuous stream of aptamer was mixed online with an increasing concentration of target and introduced into the muFFE device, which separated ligand-aptamer complexes from the unbound aptamer. The continuous nature of muFFE allowed the equilibrium distribution of aptamer and complex to be measured at 300 discrete target concentrations within 5 min. This is a significant improvement in speed and precision over affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) assays. The dissociation constant of the aptamer-IgE complex was estimated to be 48 +/- 3 nM. The high coverage across the range of ligand concentrations allowed complex stoichiometries of the aptamer-HIVRT complexes to be observed. Nearly continuous observation of the equilibrium distribution from 0 to 500 nM HIVRT revealed the presence of complexes with 3:1 (aptamer/HIVRT), 2:1, and 1:1 stoichiometries.

Improving sensitivity in micro-free flow electrophoresis using signal averaging

Microfluidic free-flow electrophoresis (microFFE) is a separation technique that separates continuous streams of analytes as they travel through an electric field in a planar flow channel. The continuous nature of the microFFE separation suggests that approaches more commonly applied in spectroscopy and imaging may be effective in improving sensitivity. The current paper describes the S/N improvements that can be achieved by simply averaging multiple images of a microFFE separation; 20-24-fold improvements in S/N were observed by averaging the signal from 500 images recorded for over 2 min. Up to an 80-fold improvement in S/N was observed by averaging 6500 images. Detection limits as low as 14 pM were achieved for fluorescein, which is impressive considering the non-ideal optical set-up used in these experiments. The limitation to this signal averaging approach was the stability of the microFFE separation. At separation times longer than 20 min bubbles began to form at the electrodes, which disrupted the flow profile through the device, giving rise to erratic peak positions.

Micro free-flow electrophoresis: theory and applications

Free-flow electrophoresis (FFE) is a technique that performs an electrophoretic separation on a continuous stream of analyte as it flows through a planar flow channel. The electric field is applied perpendicularly to the flow to deflect analytes laterally according to their mobility as they flow through the separation channel. Miniaturization of FFE (microFFE) over the past 15 years has allowed analytical and preparative separation of small volume samples. Advances in chip design have improved separations by reducing interference from bubbles generated by electrolysis. Mechanisms of band broadening have been examined theoretically and experimentally to improve resolution in microFFE. Separations using various modes such as zone electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, isotachophoresis, and field-step electrophoresis have been demonstrated.

Fast electrophoretic separation optimization using gradient micro free-flow electrophoresis

The continuous nature of micro free-flow electrophoresis (mu-FFE) was used to monitor the effect of a gradient of buffer conditions on the separation. This unique application has great potential for fast optimization of separation conditions and estimation of equilibrium constants. COMSOL was used to model pressure profiles in the development of a new mu-FFE design that allowed even application of a buffer gradient across the separation channel. The new design was fabricated in an all glass device using our previously published multiple-depth etch method (Fonslow, B. R.; Barocas, V. H.; Bowser, M. T. Anal. Chem. 2006, 78, 5369-5374, ref 1). Fluorescein solutions were used to characterize the applied gradients in the separation channel. Linear gradients were observed when buffer conditions were varied over a period of 5-10 min. The effect of a gradient of 0-50 mM hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) on the separation of a group of 4-fluoro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-F) labeled primary amines was monitored as a proof of concept experiment. Direct comparisons to capillary electrophoresis (CE) separations performed under the same conditions were made. Gradient mu-FFE recorded 60 separations during a 5 min gradient allowing nearly complete coverage across a range of HP-beta-CD concentrations. In comparison, 4 h were required to assess 15 sets of conditions across the same range of HP-beta-CD concentrations using CE. Qualitatively, mu-FFE separations were predictive of the migration order and spacing of peaks in CE electropherograms measured under the same conditions. Data were fit to equations describing 1:1 analyte-additive binding to allow a more quantitative comparison between gradient mu-FFE and CE.

Prediction of the location of stationary steady-state zone positions in counterflow isotachophoresis performed under constant voltage in a vortex-stabilized annular column

A theoretical model is presented and an analytical expression derived to predict the locations of stationary steady-state zone positions in ITP as a function of current for a straight channel under a constant applied voltage. Stationary zones may form in the presence of a countercurrent flow whose average velocity falls between that of a pure leader zone and of a pure trailer zone. A comparison of model predictions with experimental data from an anionic system shows that the model is able to predict the location of protein zones with reasonable accuracy once the ITP stack has formed. This result implies that an ITP stack can be precisely directed by the operator to specific positions in a channel whence portions of the stack can be removed or redirected for further processing or analysis.

Free flow isotachophoresis in an injection moulded miniaturised separation chamber with integrated electrodes

An injection moulded free flow isotachophoresis (FFITP) microdevice with integrated carbon fibre loaded electrodes with a separation chamber of 36.4mm wide, 28.7 mm long and 100 microm deep is presented. The microdevice was completely fabricated by injection moulding in carbon fibre loaded polystyrene for the electrodes and crystal polystyrene for the remainder of the chip and was bonded together using ultrasonic welding. Two injection moulded electrode designs were compared, one with the electrode surface level with the separation chamber and one with a recessed electrode. Separations of two anionic dyes, 0.2mM each of amaranth and acid green and separations of 0.2mM each of amaranth, bromophenol blue and glutamate were performed on the microdevice. Flow rates of 1.25 ml min(-1) for the leading and terminating electrolytes were used and a flow rate of 0.63 ml min(-1) for the sample. Electric fields of up to 370 V cm(-1) were applied across the separation chamber. Joule heating was not found to be significant although out-gassing was observed at drive currents greater than 3 mA.

Free-flow zone electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing using a microfabricated glass device with ion permeable membranes

This paper describes a microfabricated free-flow electrophoresis device with integrated ion permeable membranes. In order to obtain continuous lanes of separated components an electrical field is applied perpendicular to the sample flow direction. This sample stream is sandwiched between two sheath flow streams, by hydrodynamic focusing. The separation chamber has two open side beds with inserted electrodes to allow ventilation of gas generated during electrolysis. To hydrodynamically isolate the separation compartment from the side electrodes, a photo-polymerizable monomer solution is exposed to UV light through a slit mask for in situ membrane formation. These so-called salt-bridges resist the pressure driven fluid, but allow ion transport to enable electrical connection. In earlier devices the same was achieved by using open side channel arrays. However, only a small fraction of the applied voltage was effectively utilized across the separation chamber during free-flow electrophoresis and free-flow isoelectric focusing. Furthermore, the spreading of the carrier ampholytes into the side channels resulted in a very restricted pH gradient inside the separation chamber. The chip presented here allows at least 10 times more efficient use of the applied potential and a nearly linear pH gradient from pH 3 to 10 during free-flow isoelectric focusing could be established. Furthermore, the application of hydrodynamic focusing in combination with free-flow electrophoresis can be used for guiding the separated components to specific chip outlets. As a demonstration, several standard fluorescent markers were separated and focused by free-flow zone electrophoresis and by free-flow isoelectric focusing employing a transversal voltage of up to 150 V across the separation chamber.

Use of dyes to investigate migration of the chiral selector in CFFE and the impact on the chiral separations

Continuous free flow electrophoresis was investigated as a tool for the preparative chiral separation of piperoxan enantiomers using sulfated beta-cyclodextrin (sbeta-CD) as the chiral additive. Bulk migration of sbeta-CD was confirmed using LC-MS analysis of the individual fractions collected and visualized with the addition of crystal violet to the separation buffer. In the absence of sbeta-CD, the crystal violet-containing buffer was reddish/purple and the crystal violet was deflected cathodically in the chamber. In the presence of sbeta-CD, the crystal violet-containing buffer was blue and was deflected anodically. However, formation of accumulation and depletion zones was apparent in both cases. The addition of sbeta-CD to the cathodic wash solution allowed for almost complete resolution of the piperoxan enantiomers with a processing rate of 0.45 mg/ h.

Application of free-flow electrophoresis to the purification of trichosanthin from a crude product of acetone fractional precipitation

The application of free-flow electrophoresis (FFE) to the purification of trichosanthin (TCS) from a crude product of acetone fractional precipitation was investigated. An electrophoresis technique, combining field step electrophoresis (FSE) and zone electrophoresis (ZE) to a one-step procedure, was optimized until a satisfactory purification factor (1.35), high resolution, and purity (>99%) were achieved. Testing several separation buffer systems revealed that a throughput of 14.2 mg/h can be obtained when the very basic TCS (pI 10.1) was dissolved and electrophoresed in a phosphate buffer system of pH 4. The purity of electrophoresed trichosanthin was proved by a variety of analytical methods, such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-gel electrophoresis, capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF), and sequencing of N- and C-termini. The high purity and large throughput achieved at low cost by using FFE indicates that this method can be employed for TCS purification.

High-resolution density gradient electrophoresis of subcellular organelles and proteins under nondenaturing conditions

We have developed a density gradient electrophoresis device (DGE) and used it for the preparative separation of various endocytic organelles that are hard to separate by other means. Our separation by DGE of late endosomal vesicles, recycling vesicles, early endosomes and plasma membranes is unmatched. Using the same DGE device, we performed preparative high-resolution rate zonal separation of proteins using amphoteric buffers as originally described by Bier (Electrophoresis 1993, 14, 1011-1018). Isoforms of bovine beta-lactoglobulin, human apo-transferrin, and bovine erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase that have isoelectric points within 0.8 pH units were readily separated even in the absence of nonionic detergents. The DGE apparatus is inexpensive and has unique separation abilities for vesicles and proteins.

Automated free-solution isotachophoresis: instrumentation and fractionation of human serum proteins

An automated free-solution isotachophoresis system (FS-ITP) for preparative fractionation of biopolymers is described, operated in a batch mode. The dimension of the separation chamber allows an up to 1200-fold higher sample load compared to separation in capillaries of 180 microm inner diameter as used in analytical capillary isotachophoresis (C-ITP). The preparative capacity of the system is within the milligram range. The method is fully compatible with analytical C-ITP, which is essential for preparative-scale isotachophoresis with regard to optimization of electrolyte systems and the search for suitable spacers. As a model application the fractionation of human serum proteins is reported. The collected fractions were analyzed by C-ITP and agarose gel electrophoresis.

Continuous free-flow electrophoresis

This review evaluates the literature on continuous free flow electrophoresis, published during the last four years. Its aim is to serve not only experts in the field but also newcomers, and, therefore, it also briefly describes the principles of the method and the techniques used, referring to fundamental papers published earlier. The actual commercial instrumentation is briefly outlined. A substantial part of this review is devoted to the optimization of the performance of this method. Finally, diverse applications of fractionations of charged species in solution, ranging from small ions to biological particles and cells, are surveyed.

Unstable proteins: how to subject them to chromatographic separations for purification procedures

The chromatographic separation of an unstable protein is often a challenge to the scientist working in the field of life sciences. Especially for the purification of sensitive enzymes, making use of conventional chromatographic techniques is difficult and frequently results in a complete loss of biological activity of the target protein. This report summarizes some general strategies that may help to keep unstable proteins in their native conformation during the rather harsh conditions of a purification procedure. In this context, a recently developed hollow fiber membrane module, suitable for performing on-line dialysis, is introduced and examples of its application to liquid column chromatography are given. Many innovative separation techniques, characterized by dramatic improvements in both performance and separation time, have recently been developed. Since the chromatographic separation of unstable proteins requires the use of modern state-of-the-art equipment and technology, emphasis is given to newly developed separation techniques such as expanded bed adsorption, perfusion chromatography, protein free flow electrophoresis and the use of tentacle gels. In addition, examples of recently published purifications of unstable proteins are discussed with respect to strategies ensuring the preservation of the native protein structure during chromatographic separation.

Fractionation of human serum proteins by capillary and recycling isotachophoresis

The fractionation of human serum proteins using capillary isotachophoresis (CITP) and recycling isotachophoresis (RITP) in presence of low molecular mass spacer compounds is reported. Anionic CITP was performed in an instrument equipped with a Teflon capillary of 0.5 mm ID as well as in an apparatus which features an open-tubular fused-silica capillary of 75 microns ID. RITP was performed in a recycling fast flow focusing apparatus in which fluid flows rapidly through a narrow, rectangular cell and the effluent from each outlet port is reinjected into the electrophoresis chamber through the corresponding input port. Typically, 1 mL serum was processed batchwise within about 2.5 h prior to collection of 30 fractions of about 4 mL each. The fractions were analyzed separately for conductivity, pH and UV absorbance and selected fractions were characterized by an immunoassay for transferrin, as well as by gel isoelectric focusing, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, CITP and capillary zone electrophoresis. The search for suitable electrolyte systems and spacers was executed by CITP and by computer simulation. For simple configurations, separations predicted by simulation are shown to qualitatively agree with fractionation performed by CITP and RITP. Configurations producing three protein subgroups, the first containing mainly albumin, the second transferrin and the third the globulins, are discussed.

Purification of ovalbumin and lysozyme from a commercial product by recycling isotachophoresis

The aim of this work was to test the suitability of using recycling isotachophoresis (RITP) for the purification of ovalbumin (OVA) and/or lysozyme (LYSO) from a commercial OVA product containing LYSO and conalbumin (CAL) as major proteinaceous impurities. The search for suitable electrolyte systems and spacers was carried out by capillary isotachophoresis. RITP was performed in a recycling free-flow focusing apparatus in the batch mode with immobilization of the advancing zone structure via a controlled counterflow. Typically 700 mg of the commercial product were processed within 2 h. Enhancement of the sample load was achieved by a feed of sample under counterflow control. The collected fractions were analysed separately for conductivity, pH and ultraviolet absorption, and selected fractions were characterized by analytical capillary electrophoretic methods. All three proteins could be separated and fractionated using suitable spacers. Depending on the chosen conditions either OVA or LYSO could be purified in amounts larger than milligrams per hour (OVA 300 mg/h; LYSO 10 mg/h). The instability of CAL in solution prevented its isolation in the investigated configurations.

Innovative developments in isotachophoresis (displacement electrophoresis)

This Mini Review is aimed at characterizing the innovative developments in isotachophoresis (ITP) during the past few years, discussing in turn new theoretical, analytical, preparative and applicative aspects of this unique separation method. Examples given from our laboratory include the study of the detailed dynamics of the ITP separation of four components by computer simulation and experimental validation in a capillary-type instrument with multiple sensors along the separation trough; the anionic ITP analysis in presence of a strong cathodic electroosmotic flow using an open-tubular fused-silica capillary with on-column multiwavelength detection, and the fractionation of proteins in a screen-segmented, rotating column as well as by recycling ITP.

Free-flow electrophoresis for the purification of proteins: II. Isoelectric focusing and field step electrophoresis

Two modes of continuous isoelectric focusing are described. The development of a natural pH gradient, consisting of a mixture of three buffer solutions, and the focusing behavior of human serum albumin is investigated. The advantages of isoelectric focusing in an artificial pH gradient of three buffer solutions are demonstrated on the purification of alpha-amylase from an E. coli protein extract. Furthermore the principle of field step electrophoresis is presented. The most important factors influencing the efficiency: (i) residence time, (ii) conductivity of the sample and (iii) sample zone width, are discussed. The use of a larger sized device to allow simultaneous multiple injections of the sample demonstrates the feasibility of scaling-up field step electrophoresis. This approach permits a throughput of about 20 mL sample solution per minute.

Scale-up of free flow electrophoresis: I. Purification of alcohol dehydrogenase from a crude yeast extract by zone electrophoresis

The potential and limitations in scaling-up free-flow electrophoresis, with emphasis on zone electrophoresis, are demonstrated. Purification of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) from a crude yeast extract was chosen as a model for an industrial approach to enzyme purification. In zone electrophoresis the separation quality strongly depends on the pH and conductivity of the background electrolyte, its residence time and flow rate, as well as the applied voltage. Optimization of these parameters resulted in a purification factor of 5.3 and a yield of 96% ADH, using a Tris/HCl buffer, pH 8.0, and a conductivity of 1 mS/cm, with a residence time of 10 min at 500 V. The loading capacity of the method for a laboratory-sized free-flow electrophoresis apparatus was limited to a sample throughput of about 0.4 g/h. By increasing the chamber dimensions it was possible to purify the enzyme by a purification factor of 4.7 and a yield of 93% ADH, at a throughput of about 1 g total protein/h. By simultaneously applying the sample at 3 input positions the throughput could be increased to 2.75 g/h with a purification factor of 4.7 and an overall yield of 90%.

Scale-up of free-flow electrophoresis: II. Purification of alcohol dehydrogenase from a crude yeast extract by field step electrophoresis and combined field step-zone electrophoresis

Results of the purification of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) by field step electrophoresis and combined field step-zone electrophoresis are presented. In field step electrophoresis, optimization of voltage, residence time and pH of the sample solution led to a maximal purification factor of 2.8 and a yield of 89% ADH. The limit of loading capacity was reached at a protein concentration of the sample solution of approximately 4 g/L, allowing a maximal throughput of 1.14 g/h with a yield of 86% and a 2.8-fold purification in the Elphor VaP 22 apparatus. With a production scale apparatus a throughput of 2.07 g/h without any loss of separation quality could be achieved. By introducing the sample solution into the separation chamber through 3 inlets, simultaneously, the throughput was increased to 3.2 g/h with a purification factor of 2.7 and a yield of 82% ADH. For the combined field step-zone electrophoresis method a maximum purification factor of 3.6 and a yield of 80% ADH were achieved. The loading capacity was limited to a 4.13 g/L protein concentration of the sample solution, resulting in a throughput of 440 mg/h. Injecting the sample solution simultaneously into 3 inlets resulted in a maximum throughput of 1.92 g/h with 3.1-fold purification and a yield of 80% ADH. Zone electrophoresis, field step electrophoresis and a combination of both are compared with respect to resolution, throughput and the application potential in a protein purification scheme. A scale-up to 3 g/h is possible in zone electrophoresis and field step electrophoresis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)