Buffer-focusing chromatography using multicomponent electrolyte elution systems

Isoelectric point separation of proteins by capillary pH-gradient ion-exchange chromatography

In the present work, isoelectric point (pl) separation of proteins by pH-gradient ion-exchange chromatography (IEC) on packed capillary columns is demonstrated. The development of a miniaturized flow-through pH probe for reliable pH monitoring of the column effluent, which was an important technical challenge for adapting this technique to capillary dimensions, was solved by designing a low microliter per minute flow rate housing to a commercially available micro pH probe. Highly linear outlet pH-gradients within the pH range 8.5-4.0 were obtained when applying simple inexpensive buffers consisting solely of piperazine, N-methylpiperazine and imidazole on 10 cm x 0.32 mm i.d. fused silica capillaries packed with anion-exchange poly(styrene divinylbenzene)-based macroporous materials, i.e. 10 microm Mono P from Amersham Biosciences and 10 microm PL-SAX from PolymerLabs. Furthermore, when using a pH-gradient from 6.8 to 4.3, both columns were able to baseline separate the A and B genetic variants of beta-lactoglobulin, which differ with two amino acid residues only, but the PL-SAX column provided almost a two-fold decrease in peak widths compared to the Mono P column. The influence of varying the buffer concentration, injection volume and column temperature on the peak widths and resolution of the beta-lactoglobulins was investigated, e.g. a 100 microl sample of dilute beta-lactoglobulins was injected directly on the column with practically no increase in peak width as compared to what obtained with conventional injection volumes. Finally, a pH-gradient from 6.8 to 4.3 was used to separate proteins in skimmed bovine milk on the PL-SAX column. The milk was simply diluted 1:10 (v/v) with water and filtrated before injection.

High-performance cation-exchange chromatofocusing of proteins

Chromatofocusing using high-performance cation-exchange column packings, as opposed to the more commonly used anion-exchange column packings, is investigated with regard to the performance achieved and the range of applications possible. Linear or convex gradients in the range from pH 2.6 to 9 were formed using a variety of commercially available column packings that provide a buffering capacity in different pH ranges, and either polyampholytes or simple mixtures having a small number (three or fewer) of buffering species as the elution buffer. The resolutions achieved using cation-exchange or anion-exchange chromatofocusing were in general comparable, although for certain pairs of proteins better resolution could be achieved using one type of packing as compared to the other, evidently due to the way electrostatic charges are distributed on the protein surface. Several chromatofocusing methods were investigated that take advantage of the acid-base properties of commercially available cation-exchange column packings. These include the use of gradients with a composite shape, the use of very low pH ranges, and the use of elution buffers containing a single buffering species. The advantages of chromatofocusing over ion-exchange chromatography using a salt gradient at constant pH were illustrated by employing the former method and a cation-exchange column packing to separate beta-lactoglobulins A and B, which is a separation reported to be impossible using the latter method and a cation-exchange column packing. Trends in the apparent isoelectric points determined using cation- and anion-exchange chromatofocusing were interpreted using applicable theories. Results of this study indicate that cation-exchange chromatofocusing is a useful technique which is complementary to anion-exchange chromatofocusing and isoelectric focusing for separating proteins at both the analytical and preparative scales.

Effect of buffer concentration on gradient chromatofocusing performance separating protiens on a high-performance DEAE column

Gradient chromatofocusing is a recently developed chromatographic technique that overcomes the limitations of conventional chromatofocusing. This technique employs a HPLC gradient system and simple low-molecular-mass buffer components to generate linear or other function pH gradients on ion-exchange columns. Results of the present work show a superior separation of beta-lactoglobulin A and B in gradient chromatofocusing compared to salt gradient chromatography using the same DEAE column, with an optimized resolution of 2.3 obtained with gradient chromatofocusing compared to 1.1 obtained with NaCl gradients at constant pH. A significant advantage of the gradient chromatofocusing technique over the conventional chromatofocusing technique is its ability to employ a relatively wide range of buffer concentrations in the mobile phase, the effect of which is studied in the present work. Five proteins (conalbumin, ovalbumin, bovine serum albumin, beta-lactoglobulin A and B) are chromatographed on a DEAE-polymethacrylate HPLC anion-exchange column using the same approximately linear pH gradient profile but different mobile phase buffer concentrations. Results show a significant effect of buffer concentration on peak width, separation factor and resolution. For example, resolution increases from 1.5 to 2.3 in the separation of beta-lactoglobulin A and B when the concentration of each of the components in the 100% elution buffer is increased from 6.25 to 25.0 mM (with the same outlet pH gradient). This separation trend is also seen in the chromatography of ovalbumin from a commercial source, noting a progressive increase in resolution of two peaks in the sample (resolution increased from 0.7 to 2.4) when the concentration of each of the components in the 100% elution buffer is increased from 6.25 to 37.5 mM (same outlet pH gradient). The gains in the resolution are attributed to an increase in the separation factor, since the peak widths are generally noted to also increase with increased buffer concentration. These results point to a significant interplay between buffer concentration and pH, which is not effectively exploited in either conventional chromatofocusing or in conventional ion-exchange chromatographic procedures employing salt gradient elution at constant pH. Gradient chromatofocusing has the ability of optimizing both parameters, thus providing it with unique capabilities in protein separations.

High-performance chromatofocusing using linear and concave pH gradients formed with simple buffer mixtures. I. Effect of buffer composition on the gradient shape

Numerical calculations together with simplified analytical relations based on local equilibrium theory are used to determine the factors which govern the shape of the gradient formed during chromatofocusing when simple mixtures of buffering species are employed to produce linear or concave pH gradients. The numerical and analytical development is also used to determine the relation between the gradient shape and the buffering capacities of the adsorbed and liquid phases. Experiments which verify the theoretical methods are described where internally generated, retained pH gradients of various shapes are formed using high-performance chromatography columns. The resulting experimental and theoretical basis can be employed as means for the selection of the buffer composition for use in chromatofocusing.

Displacement chromatography of proteins using a self-sharpening pH front formed by adsorbed buffering species as the displacer

The preparative-scale separation of two proteins into adjoined, pure bands was accomplished using a novel, hybrid chromatography method which employs chromatofocusing using a self-sharpening pH front and displacement development. The method eliminates the use of a traditional displacer for accomplishing displacement chromatography, and was used to separate the A and B forms of beta-lactoglobulin using a strong-base anion-exchange column packing and a buffer system composed of acetic acid and either 3-(N-morpholino)propane-sulfonic acid (MOPS) or 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES). Sample loads up to 150 mg of protein were applied to a 75 x 7.5 mm column to produce a displacement train composed of highly pure protein bands with greater than 90% recovery of protein. A discussion is given of the chromatographic behavior of proteins under concentration overloaded conditions for the case where a self-sharpening pH front formed using adsorbed buffering species is used to desorb proteins from an anion-exchange column packing.

Quasi-linear pH gradients for chromatofocusing using simple buffer mixtures: local equilibrium theory and experimental verification

Chromatofocusing utilizes internally generate, retained pH gradients to focus proteins into narrow chromatographic bands. One of the characteristics of current chromatofocusing methods is that they use expensive polyampholyte buffers containing large numbers of ill-defined components in order to generate linear or quasi-linear pH gradients. In addition to being costly to use, polyampholyte buffers also tend to associate with proteins and often yield irreproducible gradient shapes. In order to avoid the various difficulties associated with the use of polyampholyte buffers, this study investigates the use of mixtures of simple buffering species to generate quasi-linear pH gradients on a weak-base ion-exchange column packing. The ability of these gradients to separate protein mixtures was also investigated. To optimize the conditions used, a computer simulation method using a local equilibrium model developed that predicts the shape of the pH gradient. Several experiments were performed that demonstrate the usefulness of the method and the accuracy of the model.

Gradient chromatofocusing high-performance liquid chromatography. I. Practical aspects

In this work, a versatile method for generating linear pH gradients using weak anion-exchange HPLC has been developed, which is termed gradient chromatofocusing high-performance liquid chromatography. This method utilizes a linear external pH gradient generated in the mobile phase entering the column (inlet pH gradient), superimposed on an internally-generated pH gradient within the column (column pH gradient), which results from the buffering action of the ion exchanger on the mobile phase and vice versa. The method shows significant advantages over conventional chromatofocusing, including: decreased expense due to the use of common buffer components, ease of adjusting the slope of the pH gradient produced at the outlet of the column (outlet pH gradient) through the manipulation of the inlet pH gradient and the ability of using high concentration buffers in the mobile phase. Chromatography of fibrinogen degradation products was done using gradient chromatofocusing. Bandwidths comparable to conventional chromatofocusing were obtained in the separation of fibrinogen degradation products.

High-performance liquid chromatography of amino acids, peptides and proteins. XLVII. Analytical and semi-preparative separation of several pituitary proteins by high-performance ion-exchange chromatography

The chromatographic separation of several pituitary proteins on a Mono-Q anion-exchange column is described. The effect of eluent pH and buffer composition on the resolution is demonstrated with several standard proteins. The experimental data indicate that good protein recoveries and resolution can be obtained on this essentially monodisperse microparticulate ion-exchange resin when the pH of the eluent is chosen ca. 0.5 pH units below the pI of the most basic component in the mixture. With this new column separations are ca. 30 times faster than with conventional cellulosic anion exchangers at similar sample loads.