Separation of plasma membrane proteins of cultured human fibroblasts by affinity chromatography on bonded microparticulate silicas.

Adsorbents for high-performance affinity chromatography were prepared by bonding proteins and reactive Procion triazine dyes to 3-isothiocyanatopropyl- and 3-aminopropylsilicas. The materials prepared were used successfully in the separation of hydrophobic plasma membrane proteins of cultured human fibroblasts. The data obtained show that the reaction of 3-isothiocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane (ITCPS) with the surface hydroxyl groups of silica yields a new and convenient route to preparing an "activated carrier" that is capable of coupling with potential affinity ligands containing amino functional groups. The reaction and bonding procedures of 3-isothiocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane with silica were optimized with regard to a controlled and reproducible ligand density by adjusting the type of solvent and organic base as reaction catalyst. The ligand content of reactive triazine dyes directly coupled to 3-aminopropylsilica was significantly higher than that of the 6-aminohexyl derivatives coupled to 3-isothiocyanatopropylsilica. The stability of Procion Blue MX-R bonded to 3-aminopropylsilica and 3-isothiocyanatopropylsilica in phosphate-buffered aqueous solution at pH 5.0 and 8.0 was examined.