THIOPHILIC INTERACTION AND THE SELECTIVE ADSORPTION OF PROTEINS

A new kind of molecular interaction between low molecular weight, sulfur-containing ligands immobilized on agarose and some specific types of proteins was recently discovered. The interaction, tentatively called 'thiophilic,' is salt-promoted but is in many aspects distinct from hydrophobic-type interactions. The practical application of this adsorption method, particularly in the purification of immunoglobulins from the sera of a variety of animal species on an analytical or a preparative scale will be reviewed. Two alternative and feasible models of the ligand-ligate complex will also be presented to illustrate the type of binding forces that operate at the molecular level when adsorption takes place.