Hydrophobic displacement chromatography of proteins

Displacement chromatography of proteins was successfully carried out in bot h hydrophobic interaction and reversed-phase chromatographic systems using low-molecular weight displacers. The displacers employed for hydrophobic di splacement chromatography were water soluble, charged molecules containing several short alkyl and/or aryl groups. Spectroscopy was employed to verify the absence of structural changes to the proteins displaced on these hydro phobic supports. Displacement chromatography on a reversed-phase material w as employed to purify a growth factor protein from its closely related vari ants, demonstrating the high resolutions that can be achieved by hydrophobi c displacement chromatography. This process combines the high-resolution/hi gh-throughput characteristics of displacement chromatography with the uniqu e selectivity of these hydrophobic supports and offers the chromatographic engineer a powerful tool for the preparative purification of proteins. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.