New procedure for concentration and analytical isoelectric focusing of proteins

Immunoblotting techniques with picogram sensitivity in cerebrospinal fluid protein detection

Agarose isoelectric focusing followed by blotting with nitrocellulose, nylon or polyvinylidene difluoride membranes, and immunochemical detection of cerebrospinal fluid IgG with various combinations of antisera, was evaluated. Polyvinylidene difluoride proved to be an easy-to-handle and reliable membrane for protein blotting. Among immunochemical visualization reactions, the most sensitive employed biotinylated goat anti-human IgG followed by streptavidin colloidal gold conjugate and silver enhancement in 20% w/v urea, allowing a sensitivity of less then 1 picogram IgG/band.

Micropreparative isotachophoretic electrodesorption of monoclonal antibodies from an affinity adsorbent

The principle of isotachophoretic desorption of proteins from an affinity sorbent was used for the preparative isolation of monoclonal antibodies against transferrin, under a cationic regimen. Electrodesorption was carried out on an apparatus of our own construction with a photometric detector and a detector of potential gradient. The apparatus was provided with a sorption element filled with an exchangeable affinity active sorbent. The construction of the apparatus and the procedure suitable for the isolation of the antibody of the IgG type are described. The possibility of repeating the sorption-desorption cycle at least sixteen times was demonstrated, with relatively good yields of the protein.

Electrophoretic concentration of proteins in a nonlinear pH gradient

A method for electrophoretic concentration of differently charged proteins is described. A nonlinear pH gradient is generated by imposing a potential gradient on an electrolyte system composed of (+)H3PO4-valine (pI 6.0)-Servalyte (pH 9-11)-triethylamine(-). Proteins contained in the valine solution accumulate at the interphase formed between the valine solution and the Servalyte solution. This interphase acts as a barrier or liquid membrane to all proteins having isoelectric points in the range 6-9. For proteins having isoelectric points in the range 5-7 valine is replaced by histidine (pI 7.64) and the Servalyte by Pharmalyte, pH 2.5-5.0. Ribonuclease, hexokinase, bovine serum albumin, and hemoglobin were concentrated and recovered from the top of the column using a peristaltic pump. The duration of concentration process was 1-4 h, the length of the run depending on the experiment scale (20 or 100 ml protein solution), the amount of protein, and the isoelectric point of the protein. Proteins were concentrated 9- to 48-fold, depending on the initial volume and concentration of the protein. The recoveries ranged from 79.7 +/- 1.1 for hemoglobin to 93.17 +/- 2.84 for ribonuclease.

Isotachophoretic electrodesorption of proteins from an affinity adsorbent on a microscale

Cationic isotachophoresis was used for the desorption of mouse monoclonal antibody to transferrin strongly affinity-bonded to transferrin immobilized on polyethyleneglycol terephthalate powder. The electrodesorption under nondestructive conditions was effected in the capillary isotachophoresis apparatus of our own construction which was equipped with an adsorption element. The electrodesorption is on-line connected with quantitative isotachophoretic analysis of the antibody desorbed. Only a few tens of microliters of the affinity adsorbent and several nanomoles of the antibody are needed for the characterization of the capacity of the affinity adsorbent and the conditions of adsorption and desorption.

A new technique for desorbing substances tightly bound to affinity gels: flat-bed electrophoretic desorption in Sephadex via isoelectric focusing (FEDS-IEF)

In some cases, proteins and other molecules which are tightly bound to affinity gels can be recovered under mild conditions by electrophoresis. We have extended this technique by running electrophoretic desorption in flat-beds of Sephadex in the presence of ampholytes (FEDS-IEF). A number of advantages of this technique are noted: due to the geometry of the apparatus, high voltages can be used which result in short running times; there are no physical barriers to the migration of the protein and no abrupt conductivity drops; desorbed samples are easily located and recovered; and relatively large sample loads can be readily accommodated. Running times are very sensitive to the experimental conditions. Affinity gels should be applied as a narrow zone, distant from the anticipated banding position of the desorbed species. A wide ampholyte interval is generally recommended. The system appears to be gentle and flexible enough to allow investigators to optimize the conditions for desorption of various affinity gel systems.