Experimental Studies with a Bonded N-acetylaminopropylsilica Stationary Phase for the Aqueous High Performance Exclusion Chromatogrpahy of Polypeptides and Proteins

Abstract

The potential of the micoparticulate, chemically bonded N-acetylaminopropylsilica stationary phase of nominal pore diameter of 100 angstroms in the high speed gel permeation chromatography of polypeptides and small proteins has been further investigated. The influence of ionic strength on the elution behaviour of a selected group of polypeptides and proteins on this bonded hydrophilic support has been examined. The results obtained with this porous, microparticulate bonded ‘amide’ phase silica support, packed into standard analytical-size stainless steel HPLC columns, indicate that milligram quantities of polypeptides and protein swith molecular mass up to 45,000-50,000 daltons can be efficiently fractionated with excellent recoveries of biological activities. The role of silica-based sorbents in the gel permeation fractionation of polypeptide and protein hormones, including those of pituitary and hypothalamic origin, is discussed.