Protein separation by nonsynchronous coil planet centrifuge with aqueous-aqueous polymer phase systems

Counter-current chromatographic separation of proteins was performed using a rotary-seal-free nonsynchronous coil planet centrifuge (CPC) fabricated in our laboratory. This apparatus has a unique feature that allows a freely adjustable rotational rate of the coiled separation column at a given revolution speed. The separation was performed using a set of stable proteins including cytochrome c, myoglobin and lysozyme with two different types of aqueous-aqueous polymer phase systems, i.e., PEG (polyethylene glycol) 1000-dibasic potassium phosphate, and PEG 8000-dextran T500 in 5 mM potassium phosphate buffer. Using a set of multilayer coiled columns prepared from 0.8 mm I.D. PTFE tubing with different volumes (11, 24, 39 ml), the effect of the column capacity on the partition efficiency was investigated under a given set of experimental conditions. Among these experiments, the best separation of proteins was attained using the 39 ml capacity column with a 12.5% (w/w) PEG 1000-12.5% (w/w) dibasic potassium phosphate system at 10 rpm of coil rotation under 800 rpm. With lower phase mobile at 0.2 ml/min in the head-to-tail elution, the resolution between cytochrome c and myoglobin was 1.6 and that between myoglobin and lysozyme, 1.9. With upper phase mobile in the head-to-tail elution, the resolution between lysozyme and myoglobin peaks was 1.5. In these two separations, the stationary phase retention was 35.0 and 33.3%, respectively. Further studies were carried out using a pair of eccentric coil assemblies with 0.8 mm I.D. PTFE tubing at a total capacity of 20 ml. A comparable resolution was obtained using both lower and upper phases as a mobile phase in a head-to-tail elution. The results of our studies demonstrate that the nonsynchronous CPC is useful for protein separation with aqueous-aqueous polymer phase systems.     

New small-scale cross-axis coil planet centrifuge. Partition efficiency and application to purification of bullfrog ribonuclease

The new small-scale cross-axis coil planet centrifuge (X-axis CPC) previously designed and fabricated in our laboratory has a distinctive feature such that four separation columns of similar weight are mounted symmetrically around the rotary frame to achieve stable balancing of the centrifuge under a high revolution speed. In this column layout, neighboring columns must be rotated in the opposite direction if viewed from the center of the centrifuge to avoid twisting the interconnecting flow tubes. The effect of rotational direction of the columns on the partition efficiency was evaluated with separation of a set of test samples such as cytochrome c, myoglobin, and lysozyme using an aqueous-aqueous polymer phase system composed of 12.5% (w/w) polyethylene glycol (PEG) 1000 and 12.5% (w/w) dibasic potassium phosphate under 1000 rpm of column revolution. A series of experiments was performed using a set of two diagonally located columns (connected in series) each consisting of five coiled layers of 1 mm I.D. with a total capacity of 27.0 mL. Both right- and left-handed coils were tested each under the optimized conditions for choice of mobile phase and direction of the column rotation so that the satisfactory volume of the mobile phase was retained in the column by the aid of Archimedean screw effect. The results of these studies showed that one particular combination of handedness of the coil and direction of the rotation yielded the best peak resolution for each mobile phase. In order to demonstrate the capability of the apparatus, the purification of ribonuclease (RNase) from the extract of bullfrog egg, sialic acid binding lectin (cSBL), was carried out using both organic-aqueous and aqueous-aqueous polymer phase systems. When using the 16.0% (w/w) PEG 1000-6.3% (w/w) dibasic potassium phosphate-6.3% (w/w) monobasic potassium phosphate system, cSBL was successfully separated from other proteins present in the extract while commercial RNase A was eluted at near the solvent front by the lower phase mobile. The cSBL retained its native RNase activity. The overall results demonstrated that the present new small-scale X-axis CPC is useful for the purification of bioactive compounds without loss of their native activities.     

Rapid linear scale-up of a protein separation by centrifugal partition chromatography

The scaling up of the separation of two proteins with an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) from 176 mg with a 500 ml laboratory scale centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) column to 2.2g with a 6.25 litre pilot-scale column is presented. A model sample system of a mixture of lysozyme and myoglobin was chosen for this study using an ATPS system comprising 12.5% (w/w) PEG-1000:12.5% (w/w) K2HPO4. It was found that the maximum sample concentration possible without precipitation was 2.2mg/ml for each constituent. The optimisation of rotor speed, mobile phase flow rate and sample loading was performed on a laboratory-scale device. It was found that a centrifuge speed of 2000 rpm (224 'g'), 10 ml/min mobile phase flow rate with a 43 ml (10% of active column volume) sample volume gave optimum operating conditions. This was linearly scaled up to pilot scale by increasing mobile phase flow rate, fraction size and sample loading in the ratio of the system capacities (i.e. 12.5:1). Flow rate was therefore increased from 10 ml/min to 125 ml/min, fraction size from 10 ml to 125 ml and sample loading from 43 ml to 500 ml. Rotor speed however was reduced from 2000 rpm on the laboratory device to 1293 rpm on the pilot-scale device to maintain the same 224 'g' field in each chamber, as the pilot-scale CPC unit has a larger rotor radius than the laboratory one. Resolution increased from Rs=1.28 on the 500 ml rotor to Rs=1.88 on the 6.25 litre rotor, giving potential throughputs in batch mode of over 40 g/day.     

Multiple dual-mode centrifugal partition chromatography, a semi-continuous development mode for routine laboratory-scale purifications

Nowadays, centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) separations can be routinely achieved at the laboratory scale. The solvent system selection has been made easy, as generic sets of solvent systems are described in publications and books. This approach, however, generally reduces the scope of optimization strategies for two important parameters: selectivity and sample solubility. This can be very limiting for the preparative separation of structurally similar compounds. Multiple dual-mode (MDM) CPC has been developed to provide an easy-to-use alternative technique to circumvent this problem. A MDM separation consists of a succession of dual-mode runs (i.e. multiple inversion of stationary and mobile phase) that can only be achieved because both chromatographic phases are liquids. This original elution mode is thus a semi-continuous process with a classical sample injection and which only requires a single CPC column. Underlying mechanisms of MDM were studied using a model mixture of acenaphthylene and naphthalene. A mixture of two synthetic pairs of diastereomers was then successfully submitted to MDM CPC, in the framework of the synthesis of biologically active compounds.     

Improved partition efficiency with threaded cylindrical column in vortex counter-current chromatography

Type-I coil planet centrifuge produces a uniformly circulating centrifugal force field to produce vortex motion of two immiscible solvent phases in a cylindrical cavity of the separation column to perform efficient countercurrent chromatography. The partition efficiency obtained from the original vortex column was substantially improved by threading the cylindrical cavity to increase the area of mass transfer between the two phases. Partition efficiency of the threaded column was evaluated by three different two-phase solvent systems with a broad range of hydrophobicity each with a set of suitable test samples. Overall results of the present studies indicated that the threaded cylindrical column substantially improves the partition efficiency in terms of theoretical plate number, peak resolution, and height equivalent of one theoretical plate. The results also indicated that higher peak resolution is produced by eluting either the upper phase in the head to tail direction or the lower phase in the reversed direction. When there is a choice in the mobile phase, a better separation is achieved by using the less viscous phase as the mobile phase. Since the present system gives extremely low column pressure, it may be a potential alternative to the conventional type-J HSCCC system for a large-scale preparative separation.     

Influence of physical properties and operating parameters on hydrodynamics in Centrifugal Partition Chromatography

Besides the selection of a suitable biphasic solvent system the separation efficiency in Centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC) is mainly influenced by the hydrodynamics in the chambers. The flow pattern, the stationary phase retention and the interfacial area for mass transfer strongly depend on physical properties of the solvent system and operating parameters. In order to measure these parameters we visualized the hydrodynamics in a FCPC-chamber for five different solvent systems with an optical measurement system and calculated the stationary phase retention, interfacial area and the distribution of mobile phase thickness in the chamber. Although inclined chambers were used we found that the Coriolis force always deflected the mobile phase towards the chamber wall reducing the interfacial area. This effect increased for systems with low density difference. We also have shown that the stability of phase systems (stationary phase retention) and its tendency to disperse increased for smaller values of the ratio of interfacial tension and density difference. But also the viscosity ratio and the flow pattern itself had a significant effect on retention and dispersion of the mobile phase. As a result operating parameters should be chosen carefully with respect to physical properties for a CPC system. In order to reduce the effect of the Coriolis force CPC devices with greater rotor radius are desirable.     

Purification of quinoline yellow components using high-speed counter-current chromatography by stepwise increasing the flow-rate of the mobile phase

Quinoline yellow (Color Index No. 47005) consists of multiple components that show a large difference in their partition coefficients (K), ranging from 0.03 to 3.3 in the solvent system tert.-butyl methyl ether (MTBE)-1-butanol-acetonitrile-aqueous 0.1 M trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). Consequently, it requires an excessively long elution time for the simultaneous separation of all components by the standard high-speed counter-current chromatography technique, which uses a constant flow-rate of the mobile phase. In order to overcome this problem, we increased the flow-rate of the mobile phase stepwise from 0.1 to 2.0 mL/min. Using this new procedure, six components (0.2-6.1 mg) were successfully isolated from 25 mg of a commercial quinoline yellow preparation in a single run using a two-phase solvent system composed of MTBE-1-butanol-acetonitrile-aqueous 0.1 M TFA (1:3:1:5, v/v). The purified components were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.     

Flat-twisted tubing: Novel column design for spiral high-speed counter-current chromatography

The original spiral tube assembly for high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) is further improved by a new tube configuration called “flat-twisted tubing” which was made by extruding the tube (1.6 mm I.D.) through a narrow slot followed by twisting along its axis forming about 1 cm twisted screw pitch. This modification interrupts the laminar flow of the mobile phase through the tube and continuously mixes the two phases through the column. The performance of this spiral tube assembly was tested by three types of two-phase solvent systems with different polarities each with a set of suitable test samples such as DNP-amino acids, dipeptides and proteins at the optimal elution modes. In general all these test samples yielded higher resolution with the lower mobile phase than the upper mobile phase. In the most hydrophobic two-phase solvent system composed of hexane–ethyl acetate–methanol–0.1 M hydrochloric acid (1:1:1:1, v/v/v/v), DNP–amino acids were separated with Rs-a (peak resolution based on the same column capacity adjusted for comparison) at 4.40 and 73% of stationary phase retention at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min with the lower mobile phase. In the polar solvent system composed of 1-butanol–acetic acid–water (4:1:5, v/v/v), dipeptide samples were resolved with Rs-a at 4.06, compared to 2.79 with the cross-pressed tube assembly at 45% stationary phase retention, each at a flow rate of 1 ml/min. Finally in the aqueous–aqueous polymer phase systems composed of polyethylene glycol 1000 – dibasic potassium phosphate each 12.5% (w/w) in water, protein samples were resolved with Rs-a at 2.53 compared to 1.10 with the cross-pressed tube assembly at 52% of stationary phase retention, each at a flow rate of 1 ml/min. These results indicate that the present system substantially improves the partition efficiency with a satisfactory level of stationary phase retention by the lower mobile phase.     

Preparative isolation and purification of sinomenine from Sinomenium acutum by centrifugal partition chromatography

Preparative centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) was successfully carried out for the separation of sinomenine from the methanolic extract of Sinomenium acutum stems and rhizomes. The optimum two-phase solvent system of CPC was composed of n-hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water at a volume ratio of 1:6:2:8 (v/v/v/v) with 0.1% triethylamine (TEA). Preparative CPC yielded 44.3 mg of sinomenine from 400 mg of MeOH extract with a purity of 96.9%.     

Scale-up of protein purifications using aqueous two-phase systems: comparing multilayer toroidal coil chromatography with centrifugal partition chromatography

Two different laboratory scale liquid-liquid extraction processes using aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) are compared: centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) and multilayer toroidal coil chromatography (MTCC). Both use the same phase system, 12.5% (w/w) PEG-1000:12.5% (w/w) K(2)HPO(4), the same flow rate of 10 mL/min and a similar mean acceleration field of between 220 × g and 240 × g. The main performance difference between the two processes is that there is a continuous loss of stationary phase with CPC, while for MTCC there is not - even when sample loading is increased. Comparable separation efficiency is demonstrated using a mixture of lysozyme and myoglobin. A throughput of 0.14 g/h is possible with CPC despite having to refill the system with stationary phase before each injection. A higher throughput of 0.67 g/h is demonstrated with MTCC mainly due to its ability to tolerate serial sample injections which significantly reduces its cycle time. While CPC has already demonstrated that it can be scaled to pilot scale, MTCC has still to achieve this goal.     

Partition Efficiency of High-Pitch Locular Multilayer Coil for Countercurrent Chromatographic Separation of Proteins Using Small-Scale Cross-Axis Coil Planet Centrifuge and Application to Purification of Various Collagenases with Aqueous-Aqueous Polymer Phase Systems

Partition efficiency of the high-pitch locular multilayer coil was evaluated in countercurrent chromatographic (CCC) separation of proteins with an aqueous-aqueous polymer phase system using the small-scale cross-axis coil planet centrifuge (X-axis CPC) fabricated in our laboratory. The separation column was specially made by high-pitch (ca 5 cm) winding of 1.0 mm I.D., 2.0 mm O.D. locular tubing compressed at 2 cm intervals with a total capacity of 29.5 mL. The protein separation was performed using a set of stable proteins including cytochrome C, myoglobin, and lysozyme with the 12.5% (w/w) polyethylene glycol (PEG) 1000 and 12.5% (w/w) dibasic potassium phosphate system (pH 9.2) under 1000 rpm of column revolution. This high-pitch locular tubing yielded substantially increased stationary phase retention than the normal locular tubing for both lower and upper mobile phases. In order to demonstrate the capability of the high-pitch locular tubing, the purification of collagenase from the crude commercial sample was carried out using an aqueous-aqueous polymer phase system. Using the 16.0% (w/w) PEG 1000 - 6.3% (w/w) dibasic potassium phosphate - 6.3% (w/w) monobasic potassium phosphate system (pH 6.6), collagenase I, II, V and X derived from Clostridium hystolyticum were separated from other proteins and colored small molecular weight compounds present in the crude commercial sample, while collagenase N-2 and S-1 from Streptomyces parvulus subsp. citrinus were eluted with impurities at the solvent front with the upper phase. The collagenase from C. hystolyticum retained its enzymatic activity in the purified fractions. The overall results demonstrated that the high-pitch locular multilayer coil is effectively used for the CCC purification of bioactive compounds without loss of their enzymatic activities.     

Mathematical model of computer-programmed intermittent dual countercurrent chromatography applied to hydrostatic and hydrodynamic equilibrium systems

Dual high-speed countercurrent chromatography (dual CCC) literally permits countercurrent flow of two immiscible solvent phases continuously through the coiled column for separation of solutes according to their partition coefficients. Application of this technique has been successfully demonstrated by separation of analytes by gas–liquid and liquid–liquid two-phase systems. However, the method cannot be directly applied to the system with a set of coiled columns connected in series, since the countercurrent process is interrupted at the junction between the columns. However, this problem can be solved by intermittent dual CCC by eluting each phase alternately through the opposite ends of the separation column. This mode of application has an advantage over the conventional dual CCC in that the method can be applied to all types of CCC systems including hydrostatic equilibrium systems such as toroidal coil CCC and centrifugal partition chromatography. Recently, the application of this method to high-speed CCC (hydrodynamic system) has been demonstrated for separation of natural products by Hewitson et al. using a set of conventional multilayer coil separation columns connected in series. Here, we have developed a mathematical model for this intermittent dual CCC system to predict retention time of the analytes, and using a simplified model system the validity of the model is justified by a series of basic studies on both hydrodynamic and hydrostatic CCC systems with a computer-programmed single sliding valve. The present method has been successfully applied to spiral tube assembly high-speed CCC (hydrodynamic system) and toroidal coil CCC (hydrostatic system) for separation of DNP-amino acid samples with two biphasic solvent systems composed of hexane–ethyl acetate–methanol–0.1 M hydrochloric acid (1:1:1:1 and 4:5:4:5, v/v).     

Studies on the effect of column angle in centrifugal helix counter-current chromatography

The performance of the coiled column of centrifugal counter-current chromatography was investigated by changing the angle between column axis and centrifugal force in the separation of dipeptides or DNP-amino acids each with suitable two-phase solvent systems. In general, retention of the stationary phase (Sf) decreased, and peak resolution (Rs) increased as the column angle was increased. The first series of experiments was performed using a polar two-phase solvent system composed of 1-butanol–acetic acid–water (4:1:5, v/v/v) to separate two dipeptide samples, Trp-Tyr and Val-Tyr, at a flow rate of 1 ml/min at 1000 rpm. When the column angle was changed from 0° to 90°, Rs increased from 1.05 (Sf = 60.1%) to 1.17 (Sf = 38.7%) with the lower phase mobile and from 1.02 (Sf = 67.8%) to 1.14 (Sf = 47.4%) with the upper phase mobile, respectively. The second series of experiments was similarly performed with a more hydrophobic two-phase solvent system composed of hexane–ethyl acetate–methanol–0.1 M hydrochloric acid (1:1:1:1, v/v/v/v) to separate three DNP-amino acids, DNP-glu, DNP-β-ala and DNP-ala, at a flow rate of 1 ml/min at 1000 rpm. When the column angle was changed from 0° to 90°, Rs increased from 1.38 (1st peak/2nd peak) and 1.20 (2nd peak/3rd peak) (Sf = 61.1%) to 1.66 and 1.45 (Sf = 34.4%) with the lower phase mobile and from 1.14 and 0.63 (Sf = 72.2%) to 1.53 and 0.87 (Sf = 51.1%) with the upper phase mobile, respectively. The overall results of our studies indicate that increasing the column angle against the radially acting centrifugal force enhances the mixing of two phases in the column to improve the peak while decreasing the stationary phase retention by interrupting the laminar flow of the mobile phase.     

Golden rules and pitfalls in selecting optimum conditions for high-speed counter-current chromatography

This paper aims to be an aid to those chemists who are interested in utilizing high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC), which is free of irreversible adsorption and offers high resolution comparable to column chromatography. It explains the selection of HSCCC conditions step by step including the selection of two-phase solvent systems, determination of partition coefficient (K) of analytes, preparation of two-phase solvent system and sample solution, selection of elution mode, flow rate, rotation speed, and on-line monitoring of the eluate. The paper covers both standard HSCCC and pH-zone-refining CCC techniques. Technical terms (italic) unfamiliar to the beginner are comprehensively explained in Glossary. Various examples of two-phase solvent systems used in HSCCC are listed in Appendices A and B. The commercial sources of HSCCC and other CCC instruments are described in detail in the study edited by Berthod [A. Berthod (Ed.), Counter-current Chromatography, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2003].     

Multi-stage mixer-settler planet centrifuge. Preliminary studies on partition of macromolecules with organic-aqueous and aqueous-aqueous two-phase solvent systems

A rotary-seal-free planetary centrifuge holds a separation column which consists of multiple partition units (ca. 200) connected in series with transfer tubes. In the cavity of each partition unit the transfer tube extends to form a mixer which vibrates to stir the contents under an oscillating force field generated by the planetary motion of the centrifuge. Consequently, solutes locally introduced at the inlet of the column are subjected to an efficient partition process in each partition unit and separated according to their partition coefficients. The mixer tube equipped with a flexible silicone rubber joint was found to produce excellent results for partition with viscous polymer phase systems. The capability of the method was demonstrated on separation of cytochrome c and lysozyme using a PEG-aqueous dibasic potassium phosphate-aqueous two-phase solvent system.     

Large-Scale Preparative Counter-Current Chromatography with a Coil Planet Centrifuge

Abstract

Development of the large-scale preparative countercurrent chromatographic schemes has been continued by increasing the diameter of the separation column. A 0.55 cm i.d. FEP tube was coaxially coiled around the holder (7.5 cm, 10 cm or 15 cm in diameter) of a horizontal flow-through coil planet centrifuge (15 cm revolutional radius). Performance of each column was evaluated on the separation of dinitrophenyl amino acid samples with a two-phase solvent system composed of chloroform, acetic acid, and 0.1N hydrochloric acid (2:2:1) by using both aqueous and nonaqueous phases as the mobile phase. Experiments with the short preliminary columns (114 ml capacity) revealed that the hydrodynamic distribution of the two solvent phases was sensitively affected by the helical diameter of the column. However, by choosing the proper elution mode of the mobile phase, satisfactory results were obtained with the helical diameters of 7.5 cm and 15 cm at a high flow rate of 500 ml/h under a moderate revolutional speed of 300 rpm. With the long coiled columns (750 ml capacity), the preparative capability of the present scheme was successfully demonstrated on separations of the 1g-quantity sample mixture under optimized operational conditions. Overall results indicated that the sample-loading capacity of the present scheme can be further increased by the use of longer and/or larger-diameter columns.     

Organic high ionic strength aqueous two-phase solvent system series for separation of ultra-polar compounds by spiral high-speed counter-current chromatography

Existing two-phase solvent systems for high-speed countercurrent chromatography cover the separation of hydrophobic to moderately polar compounds, but often fail to provide suitable partition coefficient values for highly polar compounds, such as sulfonic acids, catecholamines and zwitter ions. The present paper introduces a new solvent series which can be applied for the separation of these polar compounds. It is composed of 1-butanol, ethanol, saturated ammonium sulfate and water at various volume ratios and consists of a series of 10 steps which are arranged according to the polarity of the solvent system so that the two-phase solvent system with suitable K values for the target compound(s) can be found in a few steps. Each solvent system gives proper volume ratio and high density difference between the two phases to provide a satisfactory level of retention of the stationary phase in the spiral column assembly. The method is validated by partition coefficient measurement of four typical polar compounds including methyl green (basic dye), tartrazine (sulfonic acid), tyrosine (zwitter ion) and epinephrine (a catecholamine), all of which show low partition coefficient values in the polar 1-butanol-water system. The capability of the method is demonstrated by separation of three catecholamines.     

Transforming chiral liquid chromatography methodologies into more sensitive liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry without losing enantioselectivity

LC-electrospray ionization (ESI) MS conditions were optimized for the individual chiral separation of 19 compounds of pharmaceutical interest using the macrocyclic glycopeptide-based chiral stationary phases in both polar organic and reversed-phase modes (RPM). The influence of mobile phase composition and MS additive type on sensitivity was investigated for all classes of compounds tested. Compounds with amine or amide groups were efficiently separated, ionized, and detected with the addition of 0.1% (w/w) ammonium trifluoroacetate to the solvent system in either the reversed-phase or polar organic mode (POM). Macrocyclic glycopeptide coupled column technology was initially used to screen all chiral compounds analyzed. Baseline resolution of enantiomers was then achieved with relatively short retention times and high efficiencies on Chirobiotic T, Chirobiotic V or Chirobiotic R narrow bore chiral stationary phases. The polar organic mode offered better limits of detection (as low as 100 pg/ml) and sensitivity over reversed-phase methods. An optimum flow-rate range of 200-400 microl/min was necessary for sensitive chiral LC-ESI-MS analysis.     

Improved spiral tube assembly for high-speed counter-current chromatography

The original spiral tube support (STS) assembly is improved by changing the shape of the tubing, with 1-cm presses perpendicularly along the length. This modification interrupts the laminar flow of the mobile phase. The tubing in the four return grooves to the center of the rotor is flattened by a specially made pressing tool to increase the number of spiral layers and decrease the dead space volume, thus increasing the column efficiency. The performance of this spiral tube assembly was tested in separations of dipeptides and proteins with suitable polar two-phase solvent systems. The results revealed that the present system yields high partition efficiency with a satisfactory level of stationary phase retention in a short elution time. The present high-speed counter-current chromatographic (HSCCC) system will be efficiently applied to a broad spectrum of two-phase solvent systems including aqueous–aqueous polymer phase systems (TPAS) which are used for separation of biopolymers such as proteins and nucleic acids.