Robust quantitation of basic-protein higher-order aggregates using size-exclusion chromatography.

Detection of higher-order aggregates (HOA) using size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) was found to be variable for a basic protein, using exposed-silanol or diol-silica-based SEC columns. Preparations of the tetrameric biopharmaceutical enzyme Erwinia chrysanthemil-asparaginase (ErA), which has an isoelectric point of 8.6, were analysed using a diol-silica SEC column.

Structural Characterisation of Non-Deamidated Acidic Variants of Erwinia chrysanthemi L-asparaginase Using Small-Angle X-ray Scattering and Ion-Mobility Mass Spectrometry.

Purpose: Erwinia chrysanthemi L-asparaginase (ErA) is an enzyme commonly used in the treatment regimen for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL). Biopharmaceutical products such as ErA must be monitored for modifications such as deamidation, typically using ion-exchange chromatography (IEX). Analysis of clinical-grade ErA using native IEX resolves a number of enzymatically-active, acidic variants that were poorly characterised.

Capillary isoelectric focusing of a difficult-to-denature tetrameric enzyme using alkylurea-urea mixtures.

Capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF) is normally run under denaturing conditions using urea to expose any buried protein residues that may contribute to the overall charge. However, urea does not completely denature some proteins, such as the tetrameric enzyme Erwinia chrysanthemil-asparaginase (ErA), in which case electrophoresis-compatible alternative denaturants are required. Here, we show that alkylureas such as N-ethylurea provide increased denaturation during cIEF.