Computer simulation as a tool for the rapid optimization of the high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of a tryptic digest of human growth hormone.

Computer simulation was used to optimize the separation of a tryptic digest of recombinant human growth hormone using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography in a gradient mode. DryLab G/plus software modelled the retention behavior of the complex tryptic digest mixture as a function of gradient conditions, based on data from two experimental gradient runs. The theoretical optimum separation conditions were rapidly obtained and reproduced experimentally. Resolution did not simply increase as gradient steepness was decreased, rather, an intermediate gradient time provided maximum sample resolution. The simulation results also indicate that the method is reasonably rugged, with little change in the separation expected for different high-performance liquid chromatography systems, and changes in the separation can be compensated by a change in the gradient steepness. Computer simulation can also be useful to quickly reoptimize conditions for a new column, if it fails to provide the same separation.