Two-step affinity-chromatographic purification of cathepsin D from pig myometrium with high yield.

Cathepsin D was purified by two-step affinity chromatography on concanavalin A-- and pepstatin--Sepharose. The main purification was achieved by washing the enzyme bound to the pepstatin--Sepharose column with buffered 6 M-urea. This step separated cathepsin D from all low- and high-molecular-weight impurities. Although the 1700-fold purified acid proteinase was homogeneous on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, it still showed microheterogeneity.