Chromatofocusing profile of purified human alpha-fetoprotein and albumin differs from those of crude samples: effect of protein concentration of the elution of the sample.

Chromatofocusing was utilized to characterize charge microheterogeneity of purified human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human serum albumin (HSA). Crude cord blood samples yielded three isoforms: AFP-IA, IB, and II, with pIs 4.57 (52%), 4.27 (43%), and less than 4.00 (5%), respectively. In contrast, 10 micrograms of purified AFP or 250,000 cpm of 125I-AFP eluted entirely as isoform AFP-II. 125I-AFP focused in the presence of crude cord blood, amniotic fluid, adult male serum, or 25 mg purified HSA resulted in elution profiles similar to those of crude cord blood. Pure AFP focused along with 0.1, 1.0, 5.0, or 10 mg HSA showed a gradual shift from AFP-II to AFP-I. With greater than or equal to 5 mg HSA, isoform I was further resolve into AFP-IA and IB. Similarly, 250,000 cpm of 125I-HSA, which also eluted entirely as isoform II, showed a gradual shift to isoform I when increasing concentrations of unlabeled HSA were added. The resolution of isoform HSA-I in HSA-IA, IB, and IC was again improved with greater than or equal to 5 mg unlabeled HSA. When carrier proteins of varying pI values were chromatofocused along with purified AFP, it was observed that only those proteins with pIs in the range of AFP caused significant alteration in the relative distribution of AFP. We conclude that sample protein concentration and composition must be carefully considered when chromatofocusing is being used for purified samples and when the elution profiles of samples from different origins and varying protein concentrations are being compared.