Liquid-liquid/solid three-phase high-speed counter-current chromatography, a new technique for separation of polyphenols from Geranium wilfordii Maxim.

High-speed counter-current chromatography using a new liquid-liquid/solid three-phase system was used for the separation of the polyphenols corilagin and geraniin from a crude extract of Geranium wilfordii Maxim in one step. The optimized three-phase system was composed of n-hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/acetic acid/water and to which was added 10-µm average diameter microspheres of cross-linked 12% agarose at the ratio of 0.2:10:2:1:5 and 0.1 g/mL, respectively. The purities of geraniin and corilagin were 82 and 90%, which were determined by HPLC at 280 nm. A 14.5 and 7 mg of geraniin and corilagin were purified from 160 mg crude extract with the yields of 70 and 78%, respectively.

Separation of polyphenols using porous polyamide resin and assessment of mechanism of retention.

A porous polyamide resin is shown to possess hydrogen bond acceptor properties suitable for the separation of polyphenolic solutes such as phenolic acids, flavonols and flavonoids. The separation is achieved in the presence of solvent mixtures of acetic acid and ethanol. The extent of hydrogen bond adsorption is reviewed based on data obtained from the elution behaviour of a variety of simple polyphenolic solutes. Polyamide adsorption chromatography was applied for the purification of resveratrol and polydatin from Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. & Zucc.

One-step separation and purification of hydrolysable tannins from Geranium wilfordii Maxim by adsorption chromatography on cross-linked 12% agarose gel.

The hydrolysable tannins corilagin and geraniin, the major active components of the traditional Chinese medicine Geranium wilfordii Maxim, have been separated and purified from crude extracts in one step by adsorption chromatography on cross-linked 12% agarose gel (Superose 12 10/300 GL). The separation was achieved by gradient elution using mobile phase A composed of 5% ethanol and 5% acetic acid and mobile phase B composed of 30% ethanol and 30% acetic acid. The gradients were composed as follows: 0-240 mL, 0-25% B; 240-480 mL, 25-40% B; after 480 mL, 100% B. The purities of the collected corilagin and geraniin were 92.4 and 87.2%, and the corresponding yields were 88.0 and 76.8%, respectively.

Cross-linked agarose for separation of low molecular weight natural products in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography.

Following its market introduction in 1982, the cross-linked 12% agarose gel media Superose 12 has become widely known as a tool for size exclusion chromatography of proteins and other biological macromolecules. In this review it is shown that, when appropriate mobile phases are used, Superose possesses adsorption properties similar to that of traditional media for hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC). This is illustrated by the separation and purification of low molecular weight compounds such as polyphenols including active components of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and green tea. Structural features of the cross-linked agarose that likely cause the observed adsorption effects are discussed as well. These are identified as being primarily ether bonds acting as strong hydrogen bond acceptors as well as hydrophobic residues originating from the cross-linking reagents.

Investigation of the adsorption behavior of glycine peptides on 12% cross-linked agarose gel media.

The highly cross-linked 12% agarose gel Superose 12 10/300 GL causes retardation of glycine peptides when mobile phases containing varying concentrations of acetonitrile in water are used. An investigation has been made into the retention mechanism behind this retardation using the glycine dipeptide (GG) and tripeptide (GGG) as models. The dependence of retention times of analytical-size peaks under different experimental conditions was interpreted such that the adsorption most probably was caused by the formation of hydrogen bonds but that electrostatic interactions cannot be ruled out. Thereafter, a nonlinear adsorption study was undertaken at different acetonitrile content in the eluent, using the elution by characteristic points (ECPs) method on strongly overloaded GG and GGG peaks. With a new evaluation tool, the adsorption energy distribution (AED) could be calculated prior to the model selection. These calculations revealed that when the acetonitrile content in the eluent was varied from 0% to 20% the interactions turned from (i) being homogenous (GG) or mildly heterogeneous (GGG), (ii) via a more or less stronger degree of heterogeneity around one site to (iii) finally a typical bimodal energy interaction comprising of two sites (GG at 20% and GGG at 10% and 20%). The Langmuir, Tóth and bi-Langmuir models described these interesting adsorption trends excellently. Thus, the retardation observed for these glycine peptides is interpreted as being of mixed-mode character composed of electrostatic bonds and hydrogen bonds.

One-step rapid determination and purification of puerarin from Radix puerariae by n-octylamine-modified poly(methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) monolith.

n-Octylamine-modified poly(methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) monoliths were prepared for rapid screening, determination and one-step purification of puerarin from Radix puerariae (a crude extract of the root of Pueraria lobata). The modified monolith showed a specific surface area of 17.8 m(2) g(-1), an average pore size of 0.76 microm and a total porosity of 60.8%. Fast separation of R. puerariae crude extract was achieved within 5 min at a flow velocity of 722 cm h(-1) resulting in a puerarin purity of 97%, with a recovery of 85%. This demonstrates the potential of n-octylamine-modified poly(methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) monolith for the rapid analysis and separation of isoflavonoids. Preparative scale sample loading (12 mg in 2 mL) resulted in a purity of 95%, and a recovery of about 69%. HPLC, FTIR, MS and (1)H NMR spectroscopy were used for the characterization and quantification of puerarin in isolated fraction.

One-step purification of epigallocatechin gallate from crude green tea extracts by mixed-mode adsorption chromatography on highly cross-linked agarose media.

(-)-Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) was purified in one step from a green tea polyphenol (GTP) crude extract by adsorption chromatography on a Superose 12 HR 10/30 column. The mobile phase used was a mixture of acetonitrile and water with an optimum mobile phase compositions regarding purity, recovery and separation time of 78/22 (v/v). Maximum practical sample loading was 100 mg GTP per run (corresponding to 4.2 mg/ml Superose). An EGCG purity of 99% with recoveries in the range 60-65% was achieved in one step directly from the crude GTP extract. Full column regeneration was obtained using solvents in the following order: 0.5 M NaOH, distilled water and 30% acetic acid.

NMR studies on the interaction between (-)-epigallocatechin gallate and cyclodextrins, free and bonded to silica gels.

The interaction between (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and beta- or gamma-cyclodextrin (CD), in free solution and bonded to silica beads, has been studied by (1)H HR-MAS NMR spectroscopy. The chromatographic retardation of EGCG on columns packed with CD-silica beads was shown to be due to the interaction of EGCG with the CD ligands because no nonspecific interaction with the silica gel could be observed. EGCG forms a tighter complex with beta-CD than with gamma-CD and NMR data obtained from hydroxy protons together with MM2 calculations suggest that for beta-CD intermolecular hydrogen bonding, in addition to hydrophobic interaction, stabilizes the complex.

Assessment of 4-nitro-1,8-naphthalic anhydride reductase activity in homogenates of bakers' yeast by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

A simple reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of yield and conversion ratio of 4-nitro-1,8-naphthalic anhydride to 4-amino-1,8-naphthalic anhydride following incubation with a crude bakers' yeast homogenate. The analytes were separated on a C18 column in gradient mode. The detection limit of 4-amino-1,8-naphthalic anhydride is 10ng/microl when using a 10microl sample injection volume. The nitroreductase activity in the homogenate system can be assessed during the bioconversion process. The method can be used for the simultaneous detection of 4-hydroxylamino-1,8-naphthalic anhydride, an intermediate with limited stability.

Mixed-mode retention mechanism for (-)-epigallocatechin gallate on a 12% cross-linked agarose gel media.

The adsorption behaviour of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the major polyphenolic substance in green tea extracts, on the cross-linked agarose gel Superose 12 HR 10/30, has been studied using a variety of solvent systems and shown to be based on a mixture of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction. The hydrogen bonding was studied in acetonitrile in the presence of different co-solvents possessing varying hydrogen bond donor (HBD) and/or hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) characteristics. The HBA-value of the co-solvent had the highest effect whereas the HBD-value played a subordinate role. Retention due to hydrophobic interaction could be demonstrated when mobile phases containing high water content were applied. The retention of EGCG, and its analogues (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC) and (-)-catechin (C) were thus shown to be dependent on the polarity of the organic modifiers added. However, the elution order of EGC and C, was inversed to that observed in reversed phase chromatography, indicating that some hydrogen bonding was still in effect. The retardation of EGCG in the presence of a wide concentration range of acetonitrile in water confirmed the interpretation that the retention mechanism is of mixed-mode character based on both hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction.

Molecular characterization of recombinant Hepatitis B surface antigen from Chinese hamster ovary and Hansenula polymorpha cells by high-performance size exclusion chromatography and multi-angle laser light scattering.

The molecular weight and size of recombinant Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) derived from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and the Hansenula polymorph have been characterized by high-performance size exclusion chromatography with multi-angle laser light scattering (HPSEC-MALLS). The average molecular weight of CHO-derived HBsAg particle (CHO-rHBsAg) (4921 kDa) was higher than that of H. polymorpha yeast strain (Hans-rHBsAg) (3010 kDa). The size of CHO-rHBsAg (22.1 nm) is nearly the same as that of native HBsAg compared to 18.1 nm for Hans-rHBsAg. The average monomer numbers were found to be 155 for CHO-rHBsAg and 86 for Hans-rHBsAg, respectively. The data obtained support the assumption that the higher immunogenicity of CHO-derived HBsAg is related to its more favorable macromolecular assembly structure.

Three-dimensional crystal structure and enzymic characterization of beta-mannanase Man5A from blue mussel Mytilus edulis.

Endo-beta-1,4-d-mannanase is the key depolymerizing enzyme for beta-1,4-mannan polymers present in the cell walls of plants and some algae, as well as in some types of plant seeds. Endo-1,4-beta-mannanase from blue mussel Mytilus edulis (MeMan5A) belongs to the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 5 enzymes. The MeMan5A structure has been determined to 1.6A resolution using the multiple-wavelength anomalous dispersion method at the selenium K edge with selenomethionyl MeMan5A expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris. As expected for GH 5 enzymes, the structure showed a (betaalpha)(8)-barrel fold. An unusually large number of histidine side-chains are exposed on the surface, which may relate to its location within the crystalline style of the digestive tract of the mussel. Kinetic analysis of MeMan5A revealed that the enzyme requires at least six subsites for efficient hydrolysis. Mannotetraose (M4) and mannopentaose (M5) were shown to interact with subsites -3 to +1, and -3 to +2, respectively. A clear kinetic threshold was observed when going from M4 to M5, indicating that the +2 subsite provides important interaction in the hydrolysis of short oligomeric mannose substrates. The catalytic centre motif at subsite -1 found in superfamily GH clan A is, as expected, conserved in MeMan5A, but the architecture of the catalytic cleft differs significantly from other GH 5 enzyme structures. We therefore suggest that MeMan5A represents a new subfamily in GH 5.

Size characterization of green fluorescent protein inclusion bodies in E. coli using asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation-multi-angle light scattering.

The goal of this study was to investigate the applicability of asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation-multi-angle light scattering (AsFlFFF-MALS) for size analysis of green fluorescent protein inclusion bodies (GFPIBs). The size distributions of GFPIBs prepared by various culture conditions were determined. For GFPIBs prepared at 37 degrees C the peak maximum hydrodynamic diameter (d(H)) first increased and then decreased with the increase of the induction times in the presence of 0.1 and 2 mM isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG). For GFPIBs prepared at 30 degrees C the peak maximum d(H) was constant at about 700 nm irrespectively of the induction times and IPTG concentrations.

Immobilized beta-cyclodextrin polymer coupled to agarose gel properly refolding recombinant Staphylococcus aureus elongation factor-G in combination with detergent micelle.

A novel artificial chaperone system using a combination of interactions between the unfolded protein, a detergent and a chromatographic column packed with immobilized beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) polymer coupled to an agarose gel, was introduced to refold recombinant Staphylococcus aureus elongation factor-G (EF-G). Pre-mixing of 10% Triton X-100 and unfolded EF-G at 24 mg/ml followed by a 20-fold dilution into refolding buffer led to successful capturing of EF-G by Triton X-100 resulting in formation of a detergent-protein complex at 1.2mg/ml of final protein concentration. The complex was subsequently applied to the immobilized beta-CD polymer column resulting in correct refolding of EF-G at a concentration of 530 microg/ml with 99% mass recovery. Detergent concentrations above critical micelle concentration were required for efficient capturing of EF-G at high protein concentration. Other detergents with hydrophile-lipophile-Balance values similar to that of Triton X-100 (Triton N-101, Noindet P40 (NP40), and Berol 185) also produced similar result. Soluble polymerized beta-CD was more efficient than the monomer to remove the detergent from the protein complex in a batch system. Immobilized beta-CD polymer column further improved the capability of detergent removal and was able to prevent aggregation that occurred with the addition of soluble beta-CD polymer at high protein concentration in the batch system. The mechanism for this system-assisted refolding was tentatively interpreted: the released protein could correctly refold in an enclosed hydrophilic environment provided by the integration of matrix and beta-CD polymer, and thus avoided aggregation during detergent removal.

Ion-exchange chromatography of hepatitis B virus surface antigen from a recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cell line.

About 10% of the Chinese population are chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Thus, the development of a highly efficient process for the preparation of a vaccine based on a recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is very important to the Chinese national immunization program. To this end, the ion exchange chromatography recovery of CHO-HBsAg from a recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cell line was shown to increase from about 55 to 80% by the addition of 1% poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG 10,000) to the mobile phase. Furthermore, based on analysis by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), the intact glycoprotein form of CHO-HBsAg was completely preserved by the addition of PEG. In the absence of PEG the glycoprotein form of CHO-HBsAg was also spread out into the high salt elution fraction. High-performance size-exclusion chromatography with on-line multiangle-laser-light scattering (HPSEC-MALLS) analysis was performed to monitor the status of the CHO-HBsAg aggregate structure assembly, particle size and molecular weight distribution after each purification step, and the results showed further that the presence of PEG facilitated the separation and recovery of intact glycoprotein form of CHO-HBsAg and promoted their assembly to proper virus-like particles, which are both important features and prerequisites of their immunogenicity.

One-step purification of epigallocatechin gallate from crude green tea extracts by isocratic hydrogen bond adsorption chromatography on beta-cyclodextrin substituted agarose gel media.

An oligomerized beta-cyclodextrin ligand coupled to brominated allyl-group substituted Sepharose HP has been used for the one-step purification of polyphenolic epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), an important antioxidant, by isocratic hydrogen bond adsorption chromatography. With a sample load of 1.33 mg crude green tea polyphenolic extract per ml column packing and with water/ethanol/acetonitrile (57/30/13, v/v) as the optimum mobile phase, an EGCG purity of about 98% with a recovery of approximate 73% could be achieved by proper peak cutting. After about 10 sample applications, the column performance started to deteriorate but could be regenerated to its original function by cleaning with 0.35 M NaOH.