Crown ethers as ligands for high-performance liquid chromatography of proteins and nucleic acids.

By immobilization of the crown ether 1,10-diaza-18-crown-6 to different porous and non-porous, epoxy-activated supports, a chromatographic sorbent was prepared, which, mediated by potassium ions, can be used for the separation of both nucleic acids and proteins. Model experiments have been carried out with ribonucleic and deoxyribonucleic acids. In experiments with standard proteins the influence of pH and the role of loading of the column with potassium ions were demonstrated. The column was used for separating complex protein mixtures, such as serum and plasma membrane extracts, in the presence of detergents.