Purification of human immunoglobulin G by thermoseparating aqueous two-phase systems

The purification of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) from a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells supernatant was studied using an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) composed of ethylene oxide/propylene oxide (UCON) and dextran. In UCON/dextran systems IgG partitions preferentially to the less hydrophobic dextran-rich phase (Kp<1). The addition of triethylene glycol-diglutaric acid (TEG-COOH) shifted the IgG partition into the upper phase showing significant improvements in both the recovery yields and purity. The purification of IgG from a CHO cell supernatant with UCON 2000/dextran/TEG-COOH system was optimised using a central composite design. Using an ATPS composed of 8% UCON, 6% dextran and 20% TEG-COOH, IgG was purified, in two steps, with a global yield of 85% and 88% purity. Statistical valid models were obtained to predict the effect of the experimental conditions on the IgG yield and purity, for both extraction and back-extraction steps. A system composed of 10% UCON, 5.5% dextran and 20% TEG-COOH was identified as the best compromise between final purity and yield.     

In situ extraction of intracellular L-asparaginase using thermoseparating aqueous two-phase systems

The feasibility and generic applicability of directly integrating conventional discrete operations of cell disruption by high pressure homogenizer and the product capture by aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE) system have been demonstrated for the extraction of intracellular L-asparaginase from E. coli. In a side-by-side comparison with the conventional ATPE process, including cell disruption, centrifugal clarification and following ATPE, purification of L-asparaginase via this novel in situ ATPE process yielded a product of L-asparaginase with a higher specific activity of 94.8 U/(mg protein) and a higher yield of 73.3%, both of which in the conventional ATPE process were 78.6 U/(mg protein) and 52.1%, respectively. In the purification of L-asparaginase (pI=4.9), product-debris interactions commonly diminish its recovery. It was demonstrated that immediate extraction of L-asparaginase in ATPE systems when it is released at pH 5.0 during cell disruption effectively increased its recovery in the top phase due to the reduced interaction between L-asparaginase and cell debris and the reduced degradation by contaminated protease. In addition, no clarification step and/or disruptate storage are required in this in situ ATPE, which reduced the number of unit operations and thus shortened the overall process time. This novel process has a good potential for the separation of other intracellular biological products.     

Affinity partitioning of human antibodies in aqueous two-phase systems

The partitioning of human immunoglobulin (IgG) in a polymer-polymer and polymer-salt aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) in the presence of several functionalised polyethylene glycols (PEGs) was studied. As a first approach, the partition studies were performed with pure IgG using systems in which the target protein remained in the bottom phase when the non-functionalised systems were tested. The effect of increasing functionalised PEG concentration and the type of ligand were studied. Afterwards, selectivity studies were performed with the most successful ligands first by using systems containing pure proteins and an artificial mixture of proteins and, subsequently, with systems containing a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells supernatant. The PEG/phosphate ATPS was not suitable for the affinity partitioning of IgG. In the PEG/dextran ATPS, the diglutaric acid functionalised PEGs (PEG-COOH) displayed great affinity to IgG, and all IgG could be recovered in the top phase when 20% (w/w) of PEG 150-COOH and 40% (w/w) PEG 3350-COOH were used. The selectivity of these functionalised PEGs was evaluated using an artificial mixture of proteins, and PEG 3350-COOH did not show affinity to IgG in the presence of typical serum proteins such as human serum albumin and myoglobin, while in systems with PEG 150-COOH, IgG could be recovered with a yield of 91%. The best purification of IgG from the CHO cells supernatant was then achieved in a PEG/dextran ATPS in the presence of PEG 150-COOH with a recovery yield of 93%, a purification factor of 1.9 and a selectivity to IgG of 11. When this functionalised PEG was added to the ATPS, a 60-fold increase in selectivity was observed when compared to the non-functionalised systems.     

蛋白质在表面活性剂与高分子共组双水相体系中 的分配

高分子和正负离子表面活性剂混合物可形成一种新型双水相体系。研究蛋白质在溴化十二烷基三乙铵/十二烷基硫酸钠与聚氧乙烯(EO)-聚氧丙烯(PO)嵌段共聚物(EO~2~0PO~8~0)共组双水相体系中的分配。通过在高分子接上亲和配基,研究蛋白质在带有亲和配基高分子的双水相体系中的分配。将表面活性剂富集相稀释或加热高分子富集相,又可形成新的双水相体系,由此可进行蛋白质的多步分配。在蛋白质的分配完成之后,通过将表面活性剂富集相进一步稀释或将高分子富集相加热至高分子浊点以上可将表面活性剂和高分子与目标蛋白质分离。正负离子表面活性剂和高分子还可以循环使用。     

Genetically engineered peptide fusions for improved protein partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems. Effect of fusion localization on endoglucanase I of Trichoderma reesei

Genetic engineering has been used for fusion of the peptide tag, Trp-Pro-Trp-Pro, on a protein to study the effect on partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems. As target protein for the fusions the cellulase, endoglucanase I (endo-1,4-beta-Dglucan-4-glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.4, EGI, Cel7B) of Trichoderma reesei was used. For the first time a glycosylated two-domain enzyme has been utilized for addition of peptide tags to change partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems. The aim was to find an optimal fusion localization for EGI. The peptide was (1) attached to the C-terminus end of the cellulose binding domain (CBD), (2) inserted in the glycosylated linker region, (3) added after a truncated form of EGI lacking the CBD and a small part of the linker. The different constructs were expressed in the filamentous fungus T. reesei under the gpdA promoter from Aspergillus nidulans. The expression levels were between 60 and 100 mg/l. The partitioning behavior of the fusion proteins was studied in an aqueous two-phase model system composed of the thermoseparating ethylene oxide (EO)-propylene oxide (PO) random copolymer EO-PO (50:50) (EO50PO50) and dextran. The Trp-Pro-Trp-Pro tag was found to direct the fusion protein to the top EO50PO50 phase. The partition coefficient of a fusion protein can be predicted with an empirical correlation based on independent contributions from partitioning of unmodified protein and peptide tag in this model system. The fusion position at the end of the CBD, with the spacer Pro-Gly, was shown to be optimal with respect to partitioning and tag efficiency factor (TEF) was 0.87, where a fully exposed tag would have a TEF of 1.0. Hence, this position can further be utilized for fusion with longer tags. For the other constructs the TEF was only 0.43 and 0.10, for the tag fused to the truncated EGI and in the linker region of the full length EGI, respectively.     

Prediction of the partitioning behaviour of proteins in aqueous two-phase systems using only their amino acid composition

The prediction of the partition behaviour of proteins in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) using mathematical models based on their amino acid composition was investigated. The predictive models are based on the average surface hydrophobicity (ASH). The ASH was estimated by means of models that use the three-dimensional structure of proteins and by models that use only the amino acid composition of proteins. These models were evaluated for a set of 11 proteins with known experimental partition coefficient in four-phase systems: polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000/phosphate, sulfate, citrate and dextran and considering three levels of NaCl concentration (0.0% w/w, 0.6% w/w and 8.8% w/w). The results indicate that such prediction is feasible even though the quality of the prediction depends strongly on the ATPS and its operational conditions such as the NaCl concentration. The ATPS 0 model which use the three-dimensional structure obtains similar results to those given by previous models based on variables measured in the laboratory. In addition it maintains the main characteristics of the hydrophobic resolution and intrinsic hydrophobicity reported before. Three mathematical models, ATPS I-III, based only on the amino acid composition were evaluated. The best results were obtained by the ATPS I model which assumes that all of the amino acids are completely exposed. The performance of the ATPS I model follows the behaviour reported previously, i.e. its correlation coefficients improve as the NaCl concentration increases in the system and, therefore, the effect of the protein hydrophobicity prevails over other effects such as charge or size. Its best predictive performance was obtained for the PEG/dextran system at high NaCl concentration. An increase in the predictive capacity of at least 54.4% with respect to the models which use the three-dimensional structure of the protein was obtained for that system. In addition, the ATPS I model exhibits high correlation coefficients in that system being higher than 0.88 on average. The ATPS I model exhibited correlation coefficients higher than 0.67 for the rest of the ATPS at high NaCl concentration. Finally, we tested our best model, the ATPS I model, on the prediction of the partition coefficient of the protein invertase. We found that the predictive capacities of the ATPS I model are better in PEG/dextran systems, where the relative error of the prediction with respect to the experimental value is 15.6%.     

Polyethyleneglycol-pepsin interaction and its relationship with protein partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems

The interaction between the acidic protein, pepsin, and the non-charged polyethyleneglycol polymer was studied by dynamic light scattering, fluorescence spectroscopy and measurements of the protein thermal stability at neutral pH. Polyethyleneglycol of average molecular mass 1450 showed a higher interaction capacity with the protein than polyethyleneglycol of average molecular mass 8000. Polyethyleneglycol of average molecular mass 1450 showed a molecular mechanism where the interpolymer interaction led to the complex formation. This fact can be explained taking into account that the extended form on this polymer molecule favours the interaction with the protein, which is highly dependent of the polymer total concentration. Polyethyleneglycol of average molecular mass 8000 showed a cooperative interaction between the polymer and protein molecules which was independent of the PEG concentration.     

Affinity partitioning of proteins tagged with choline-binding modules in aqueous two-phase systems

We present a novel procedure for affinity partitioning of recombinant proteins fused to the choline-binding module C-LytA in aqueous two-phase systems containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Proteins tagged with the C-LytA module and exposed to the two-phase systems are quantitatively localized in the PEG-rich phase, whereas subsequent addition of the natural ligand choline specifically shifts their localization to the PEG-poor phase by displacement of the polymer from the binding sites. The described procedure is simple, scalable and reproducible, and has been successfully applied to the purification of four diverse proteins, resulting in high yields and purity.     

Immobilized metal ion affinity partitioning, a method combining metal-protein interaction and partitioning of proteins in aqueous two-phase systems.

Immobilized metal ions were used for the affinity extraction of proteins in aqueous two-phase systems composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and dextran or PEG and salt. Soluble chelating polymers were prepared by covalent attachment of metal-chelating groups to PEG. The effect on the partitioning of proteins of such chelating PEG derivatives coordinated with different metal ions is demonstrated. The proteins studied were alpha 2-macroglobulin, tissue plasminogen activator, superoxide dismutase and monoclonal antibodies. The results indicate that immobilized metal ion affinity partitioning provides excellent potential for the extraction of proteins.     

Solvent properties governing protein partitioning in polymer/polymer aqueous two-phase systems

Distribution coefficients of various proteins were measured in aqueous Dextran-Ficoll, Dextran-PES, and Ficoll-PES two-phase systems, containing 0.15M NaCl in 0.01 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. The acquired data were combined with data for the same proteins in different systems reported previously and known solvatochromic solvent properties of the systems to characterize the protein-solvent interactions. The relative susceptibilities of proteins to solvent dipolarity/polarizability, solvent hydrogen bond acidity, solvent hydrogen bond basicity, and solvent ability to participate in ion-ion and ion-dipole interactions were characterized. These parameters, which are representative of solute-solvent interactions, adequately described the partitioning of the proteins in each system. It was found that the relative susceptibilities of proteins to solvent dipolarity/polarizability are interrelated with their relative susceptibilities to solvent hydrogen bond acidity and solvent hydrogen bond basicity similarly to those established previously for small nonionic organic compounds.     

Effects of organic solvents on the partitioning of enzymes in aqueous two-phase systems

Organic solvents (ethylene glycol, glycerol, dimethyl sulphoxide, dimethylformamide, dioxane, methanol and propanol-2, as well as sucrose and urea) have been included in aqueous two-phase (liquid-liquid) systems comprised of water, dextran and poly(ethylene glycol). The concentration of the organic solvent was in most cases 20% (w/w). The influence of these solvents on the phase-forming properties, the volume ratio, the freezing point and the partitioning of a polymer-bound ligand, Procion Red HE-3B poly(ethylene glycol), has been studied. The partition coefficients for alkaline phosphatase decrease with ethylene glycol, glycerol, sucrose and urea (factors of 0.25-0.5), but increase with the other substances (factors of 1.2-1.6). The temperature effects on the partitioning of alkaline phosphatase from calf intestine as well as of phosphofructokinase from yeast in systems containing ethylene glycol have been studied and compared with partitioning in standard systems, not containing solvents. The possible uses of the above systems for partitioning studies of enzymes are discussed.     

Polyethyleneglycol–pepsin interaction and its relationship with protein partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems

The interaction between the acidic protein, pepsin, and the non-charged polyethyleneglycol polymer was studied by dynamic light scattering, fluorescence spectroscopy and measurements of the protein thermal stability at neutral pH. Polyethyleneglycol of average molecular mass 1450 showed a higher interaction capacity with the protein than polyethyleneglycol of average molecular mass 8000. Polyethyleneglycol of average molecular mass 1450 showed a molecular mechanism where the interpolymer interaction led to the complex formation. This fact can be explained taking into account that the extended form on this polymer molecule favours the interaction with the protein, which is highly dependent of the polymer total concentration. Polyethyleneglycol of average molecular mass 8000 showed a cooperative interaction between the polymer and protein molecules which was independent of the PEG concentration.     

Protein partitioning in poly(ethylene glycol)/sodium polyacrylate aqueous two-phase systems

The partition of hemoglobin, lysozyme and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) in a novel inexpensive aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) composed by poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and sodium polyacrylate (NaPA) has been studied. The effect of NaCl and Na(2)SO(4), pH and PEG molecular size on the partitioning has been studied. At high pH (above 9), hemoglobin partitions strongly to the PEG-phase. Although some precipitation of hemoglobin occurs, high recovery values are obtained particularly for lysozyme and G6PDH. The partitioning forces are dominated by the hydrophobic and electrochemical (salt) effects, since the positively charged lysozyme and negatively charged G6PDH partitions to the non-charged PEG and the strongly negatively charged polyacrylate enriched phase, respectively.     

Extraction of the antimicrobial peptide cerein 8A by aqueous two-phase systems and aqueous two-phase micellar systems

Cerein 8A is an antimicrobial peptide with potential application against food spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. The partitioning of cerein 8A was investigated in two liquid-liquid extraction systems that are considered promising for bioseparation and purification purposes. Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) were prepared with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and inorganic salts, and the addition of NaCl was investigated in this system. The best results concerning partition coefficients (K (b)) were obtained with PEG?+?ammonium sulphate, and K (b) value significantly increases when NaCl was added. Cerein 8A was effectively extracted into the micelle-rich phase in a 4% Triton X-114 medium. Recovery yield was higher for ATPS compared to micellar systems. Cerein 8A can be isolated from a crude suspension containing the bioactive molecule by ATPSs. Successful implementation of peptide partitioning represents an important step towards developing a low-cost effective separation method for cerein 8A.     

Genetically engineered peptide fusions for improved protein partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems: Effect of fusion localization on endoglucanase I of Trichoderma reesei

Genetic engineering has been used for fusion of the peptide tag, Trp–Pro–Trp–Pro, on a protein to study the effect on partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems. As target protein for the fusions the cellulase, endoglucanase I (endo-1,4-β- -glucan-4-glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.4, EGI, Cel7B) of Trichoderma reesei was used. For the first time a glycosylated two-domain enzyme has been utilized for addition of peptide tags to change partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems. The aim was to find an optimal fusion localization for EGI. The peptide was (1) attached to the C-terminus end of the cellulose binding domain (CBD), (2) inserted in the glycosylated linker region, (3) added after a truncated form of EGI lacking the CBD and a small part of the linker. The different constructs were expressed in the filamentous fungus T. reesei under the gpdA promoter from Aspergillus nidulans. The expression levels were between 60 and 100 mg/l. The partitioning behavior of the fusion proteins was studied in an aqueous two-phase model system composed of the thermoseparating ethylene oxide (EO)–propylene oxide (PO) random copolymer EO–PO (50:50) (EO₅₀PO₅₀) and dextran. The Trp–Pro–Trp–Pro tag was found to direct the fusion protein to the top EO₅₀PO₅₀ phase. The partition coefficient of a fusion protein can be predicted with an empirical correlation based on independent contributions from partitioning of unmodified protein and peptide tag in this model system. The fusion position at the end of the CBD, with the spacer Pro–Gly, was shown to be optimal with respect to partitioning and tag efficiency factor (TEF) was 0.87, where a fully exposed tag would have a TEF of 1.0. Hence, this position can further be utilized for fusion with longer tags. For the other constructs the TEF was only 0.43 and 0.10, for the tag fused to the truncated EGI and in the linker region of the full length EGI, respectively.     

Phase equilibrium and insulin partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems containing block copolymers and potassium phosphate

In this work, phase diagrams of aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) containing PEO–PPO–PEO block copolymers and potassium phosphate as well as the partitioning behavior of insulin in these systems are presented. Experiments aimed at the identification of the effects of copolymer structure (by varying the number of EO units per polymer molecule), temperature (283.15 and 298.15 K) and pH (5.0 and 7.0) on the phase behavior of these systems were carried out. The results indicated the enlargement of the two-phase region upon increasing the temperature, pH and copolymer hydrophobicity (expressed as the PO/EO ratio in the copolymer molecule). Experimental measurements of the partitioning of human insulin in these ATPS also indicated the dependency of the partition coefficients on temperature, pH, and copolymer hydrophobicity, with the latter being the most influential factor. Finally, experimental data on the phase behavior and insulin partitioning were correlated using an excess Gibbs energy virial-type model modified in order to account for coulombic interactions and ionization equilibrium between the various forms of the phosphate ion.     

Extraction of plasmid DNA from Escherichia coli cell lysate in a thermoseparating aqueous two-phase system

The primary purification of a 6.1 kilo base pair (kbp) plasmid from a desalted alkaline lysate has been accomplished by a thermoseparating aqueous two-phase system [(50% ethylene oxide-50% propylene oxide)-Dextran T 500]. The partitioning of the different nucleic acids (plasmid DNA, RNA, genomic DNA) in the thermoseparating aqueous two-phase system was followed both qualitatively by agarose gel electrophoresis and quantitatively by analytical chromatography (size exclusion- and anion-exchange mode) and PicoGreen fluorescence analysis. The experimental results showed a complete recovery of the plasmid DNA to the top phase, while 80% of total RNA and 58% of total protein was discarded to the bottom phase. Moreover, a 3.8-fold volume reduction of the plasmid DNA solution was achieved. By using a final thermoseparating step, the EO50PO50 polymer could be efficiently recycled, resulting in plasmid solution containing less than 1% polymer. The developed thermoseparating aqueous two-phase system shows great potential for the large-scale processing of plasmid DNA.     

Efficient and non-denaturing membrane solubilization combined with enrichment of membrane protein complexes by detergent/polymer aqueous two-phase partitioning for proteome analysis

It is of central interest in membrane proteomics to establish methods that combine efficient solubilization with enrichment of proteins and intact protein complexes. We have investigated the quantitative and qualitative solubilization efficiency of five commercially available detergents using mitochondria from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as model system. Combining the zwitterionic detergent Zwittergent 3-10 and the non-ionic detergent Triton X-114 resulted in a complementary solubilization of proteins, which was similar to that of the anionic detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The subsequent removal of soluble proteins by detergent/polymer two-phase system partitioning was further enhanced by addition of SDS and increasing pH. A large number of both integral and peripheral membrane protein subunits from mitochondrial membrane protein complexes were identified in the detergent phase. We suggest that the optimized solubilization protocol in combination with detergent/polymer two-phase partitioning is a mild and efficient method for initial enrichment of membrane proteins and membrane protein complexes in proteomic studies.     

Protein partitioning in thermoseparating systems of a charged hydrophobically modified ethylene oxide polymer

The phase behavior of a thermoseparating cationic hydrophobically modified ethylene oxide polymer (HM-EO) containing tertiary amines has been investigated at different pH, salt and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentrations, in order to find a water/HM-EO two-phase system suitable for protein partitioning. The used polymer forms micellar aggregates that can be charged. By changing pH and SDS concentrations the netcharge of the SDS/HM-EO aggregate can be shifted from positive to negative. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme were partitioned in the thermoseparated two-phase systems of the cationic polymer at different pH, salt and SDS concentrations. The dominant attractive interactions between the polymer aggregates and the studied proteins were shown to be of electrostatic (Coulomb) nature rather than hydrophobic interaction. At low ionic strength the positively charged polymeric aggregates attracted negatively charged BSA and repelled positively charged lysozyme. Upon addition of SDS the negatively charged aggregates attracted lysozyme and repelled BSA. Thus, it was possible to direct proteins with different charges to the polymeric phase and redirect them to a polymer-depleted phase by changing the netcharge of the polymeric aggregates. The effect of different salts on the partitioning of BSA in a system of slightly positively charged HM-EO was studied. NaCl and KBr have a significant effect on driving the BSA to the polymer-depleted phase, whereas KF and K2SO4 have a smaller effect on the partitioning. The cloud point temperature of the charged polymer decreased upon addition of SDS near the isoelectric molar ratio of SDS to polymer and also upon salt addition. In the latter case the decrease was smaller than expected from model calculations based on Flory-Huggins theory, which were performed for a charged thermoseparating polymer at different charges and salt concentrations.     

Partial purification of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and phosphofructokinase from rat erythrocyte haemolysate by partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems

Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase shows a high partition coefficient in poly-(ethylene glycol)-dextran aqueous two-phase systems in comparison with those for 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, phosphofructokinase and the bulk of proteins present in rat erythrocyte haemolysates. As a consequence, fractions highly enriched in glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase can be obtained after multiple partitions in the above systems with a counter-current distribution procedure. Phosphofructokinase shows a high affinity for Cibacron Blue and, as a result, the enzyme can be extracted in the top phase of poly(ethylene glycol)-dextran systems containing Cibacron Blue-poly(ethylene glycol) (affinity systems). The efficiency for the purification of the enzymes by partitioning is increased up to 10-fold when enzyme-rich fractions, obtained by precipitation with poly(ethylene glycol), are used instead of original haemolysate. The recovery of enzyme activities is near 100% in both instances.