Purification of the (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase from human erythrocyte membranes using a calmodulin affinity column.

The (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase from human erythrocyte membranes has been solubilized in Triton X-100 and purified on a calmodulin affinity chromatography column in the presence of phosphatidylserine, to limit the inactivation of the enzyme. The enzyme was purified at least 150 times when compared with the original ghosts and showed a specific activity of 3.8 mumol.mg-1.min-1. In sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, a single major band was visible at a position corresponding to a molecular weight of about 125,000; a minor band (11% of the total protein) was present at a position corresponding to Mr = 205,000. Upon incubation of the purified preparation with [32P]ATP, both bands were phosphorylated in proportion to their mass, suggesting that both were active forms of purified ATPase.