SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AN ACRYLAMIDE-BASED WATER-SOLUBLE AFFINITY POLYMER FOR TRYPSIN PURIFICATION

An acrylic polymer capable of specifically binding the enzyme trypsin has been synthesized by the copolymerization of acrylamide and N-acryl oyl-m-aminobenzamidine. The object of the study was to discover suitab le conditions for the synthesis of an affinity polymer which could be used in an ultrafiltration system for the biospecific affinity isolati on of trypsin from mixtures containing other proteins. The polymer was purified by washing in an ultrafiltration system using a membrane wit h nominal molecular cutoff of 300 000. The molecular weight of the pol ymer product was varied by varying the concentration of initiator. The products were studied by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, by infrared spectroscopy, by viscometry and by their ability to inhibit t rypsin in the absence and presence of ammonium sulphate at concentrati ons commonly found in crude protein solutions. No inhibition towards c hymotrypsin activity was detected.