A biophysical study of integral membrane protein folding.

In order to characterize the thermodynamic constraints on the process of integral membrane protein folding and assembly, we have conducted a biophysical dissection of the structure of bacteriorhodopsin (BR), a prototypical alpha-helical integral membrane protein. Seven polypeptides were synthesized, corresponding to each of the seven transmembrane alpha-helices in BR, and the structure of each individual polypeptide was characterized in reconstituted phospholipid vesicles. Five of the seven polypeptides form stable transmembrane alpha-helices in isolation from the remainder of the tertiary structure of BR.

Effect of mobile phase additives on peptide retention in reversed-phase chromatography with pellicular and totally porous sorbents.

The effect of two mobile phase additives, trifluoroacetic acid and phosphoric acid, on the energetics of peptide retention in reversed-phase chromatography was investigated using Hy-Tach C18 micropellicular and Vydac C4 and C18 totally porous stationary phases. The effect of the relatively low phase ratio of columns packed with micropellicular sorbents was also examined. The logarithmic retention factors, of two model peptides, Ac-RGGGGLGLGK-amide and Ac-RGAGGLGLGK-amide, were evaluated with different columns and additives in a practical range of eluent strength.

Rapid displacement chromatography of melittin on micropellicular octadecyl-silica.

Rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis and displacement purification of melittin and its variants were carried out by reversed-phase chromatography. High speed of separation was achieved by the use of columns packed with a micropellicular stationary phase consisting of a thin C18 hydrocarbonaceous layer on the surface of 2-microns fluid-impervious silica microspheres at elevated temperature. In the case of melittin from bee venom or its synthetic variants the plots of the logarithmic retention factor against acetonitrile concentration in the eluent were straight lines whereas the van't Hoff plots in the temperature range from 20 to 80 degrees C were non-linear.

Micropellicular stationary phases for rapid protein analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography.

The high separating speed, efficiency and operational stability of various micropellicular stationary phases are demonstrated in the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of biopolymers. The micropellicular sorbents were prepared from 2-microns fluid-impervious silica microspheres as the support, with a thin layer of different retentive materials at the surface. These include a molecular fur of octyl or stearyl chains for reversed-phase chromatography as well as a hydrophilic layer with amino groups and polyethyleneglycol chains for anion-exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography, respectively.

Rapid high-performance affinity chromatography on micropellicular sorbents.

Short columns (30 x 4.6 mm I.D.