Separation and purification of porcine pancreatic enzymes by serial operation of ion-exchange and affinity columns

Summary

In order to separate and purify some of the enzymes contained in porcine pancreas, operation of an ion-exchange column in series with an affinity column has been used. The enzymes dealt with possess very similar molecular weights, isoelectric points and active sites. Hence they are difficult to separate and purify by traditional separation and/or purification methods. CM-Sepharose anion-exchange resin adsorbs elastase and trypsin at low pH (4.5) and desorbs them at high pH (9.0) and high ionic strength. Chitin-CHOM affinity adsorbent adsorbs trypsin at high pH (8.0) and desorbs it at low pH (2.5). By virtue of this complementary relationship two chromatographic columns were connected in series for facilitating the separation and purification of elastase and trypsin from porcine pancreas. The result showed that the specific activities of elastase and trypsin had been increased 16 and 22 fold respectively.