Anion-exchange chromatography using short monolithic columns as a complementary technique for human serum albumin depletion prior to human plasma proteome analysis.

In order to enable the detection of low abundance proteins from human plasma, it is necessary to remove high abundance proteins. Among them, human serum albumin and immunoglobulin G represent more than 75% of all such proteins. In this paper, the characterization of short monolithic columns was performed followed by the optimization of a multidimensional approach, known as conjoint liquid chromatography, to deplete human serum albumin and immunoglobulin G from a human plasma sample. Two different chromatographic modes were used: ion-exchange chromatography and affinity chromatography. A monolithic stationary phase (convective interaction media disk) bearing strong anion-exchange groups and another immobilized with protein G were placed in series into one housing. The optimal binding conditions were found that removed a majority of human serum albumin and immunoglobulin G from the human plasma sample. This method was compared to the depletion using a combination of pseudo-affinity and affinity columns. The results of the human serum albumin and immunoglobulin G depletion were confirmed by 2D electrophoresis. It has been shown that anion-exchange and affinity chromatography using convective interaction media monolithic columns can represent an efficient complementary technique for human serum albumin and immunoglobulin G removal from human plasma.

Depletion of high-abundance proteins from human plasma using a combination of an affinity and pseudo-affinity column.

Human serum albumin (HSA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) represent over 75% of all proteins present in human plasma. These high-abundance proteins prevent the detection of low-abundance proteins which are potential markers for various diseases. The depletion of HSA and IgG is therefore essential for further proteome analysis. In this paper we describe the optimization of conditions for selective depletion of HSA and IgG using affinity and pseudo-affinity chromatography. A BIA Separations CIM (convective interaction media) Protein G disk was applied for the removal of IgG and the Mimetic Blue SA A6XL stationary phase for the removal of HSA. The binding and the elution buffer for CIM Protein G disk were chosen on the basis of the peak shape. The dynamic binding capacity was determined. It was shown to be dependent on the buffer system used and independent of the flow rate and of the concentration of IgG. Beside the binding capacity for the IgG standard, the binding capacity was also determined for IgG in human plasma. The Mimetic Blue SA A6XL column was characterized using human plasma. The selectivity of the depletion was dependent on the amount of human plasma that was loaded on the column. After the conditions on both supports had been optimized, the Mimetic Blue SA A6XL stationary phase was combined with the CIM Protein G disk in order to simultaneously deplete samples of human plasma. A centrifuge spin column that enables the removal of IgG and HSA from 20 microL of human plasma was designed. The results of the depletion were examined using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.