Semi-preparative purification of an endogenous ligand for brain serotonin-2 receptors by coil planet centrifuge counter-current chromatography.

A horizontal flow-through coil planet centrifuge equipped with a rotatory frame holding three sets of composite column assemblies was used for purification of an endogenous ligand (ketanserin binding inhibitor) for the [3H]-ketanserin (3H-KET) recognition site. The protein mixture containing the endogenous material was successfully resolved by using a two-phase solvent system consisting of 95% ethanol-31.5% ammonium sulphate (1:2). The active fractions on 3H-KET binding obtained after counter-current chromatography (CCC) were further purified through a C18 microBondapak reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatographic column. The introduction of this advanced CCC technique represents an important step in the application of CCC for the separation of polar proteins from protein mixtures.