NEW FAMILY OF HIGH-RESOLUTION ION-EXCHANGERS FOR PROTEIN AND NUCLEIC-ACID PURIFICATIONS FROM LABORATORY TO PROCESS SCALES

A new family of polymer-based ion exchangers was tested for the purification of acidic and basic proteins on both the analytical and preparative scales. Protein-Pak(TM) HR series packings are available as strong cation (SP) and weak anion (DEAE) exchangers, allowing the development of a purification method regardless of the isoelectric point of protein. Three particle sizes, 8, 15 and 40-mu-m, are offered in scalable Advanced Purification (AP) glass columns or as bulk packings. The lower back pressures of the 15- and 40-mu-m packings compared to that of the 8-mu-m material allow rapid throughout of large volumes without exceeding the pressure limitations of the resin or the column. The capacity of the AP1 (100 mm x 10 mm) glass columns, containing these ion-exchange packings, is comparable to other ion-exchange columns. The resolution of mouse serum, plasmids, and a standard protein mixture was demonstrated and compared with the results obtained with other resin-based ion exchangers of similar particle size. Proteins were purified without significant loss of biological activity or mass.