Separation of peptides on a polystyrene resin column.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic column of porous spherical polystyrene--divinylbenzene copolymer (Hamilton PRP-1) was found to be useful for reversed-phase resolution of a wide range of peptides. Recoveries and resolution were comparable with those from more widely used alkyl silica-based columns. Tests involving more than 40 peptides, ranging from 2 to 34 residues, and 3 proteins, indicated wide applicability of this column. The retention times of peptides of known composition are predicted. The stability of the resin at high pH permits protocols of separation involving successive chromatograms at widely different pH values, and offers a second dimension to the resolving power of a single column.