An effective method for the separation of insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2 during the purification process.

The separation of human insulin-like growth factors hIGF-1 and hIGF-2 was greatly improved by an additional purification step using the cation exchanger Mono-S (FPLC) compared to previous studies. Cross-reactions between hIGF-1 and hIGF-2 were strongly reduced. The more highly purified hIGF-1 had a cross-reaction of less than 1% in the RIA for hIGF-2, and was equivalent to recombinant hIGF-1. The pure hIGF-2 had a cross-reaction of less than 1% in the RIA for hIGF-1. In the human placental hIGF-2 radioreceptor assay, the hIGF-1 polypeptide completed less than 1% with hIGF-2 when the type 1 IGF receptor was blocked with insulin.