Effect of some poly(ethylene glycol)-bound and dextran-bound affinity ligands on the partition of synaptic membranes in aqueous two-phase systems.

Ligands with an apparent affinity for various structural elements on the surface of synaptic membrane fragments have been bound to the polymers poly(ethylene glycol) and dextran. The ligand-polymer derivatives have been included in aqueous two-phase systems composed of water, poly(ethylene glycol) and dextran. The uneven distribution of the polymers resulted in the concentration of the polymer-bound ligand in one of the two phases. The effect of the ligand-polymer on the partition of membranes was studied by using synaptic membranes from calf brain, obtained by standard centrifugation methods. By using ligand-containing two-phase systems for nine-step counter-current distribution of membranes, it was shown that the distribution behaviour of various parts of the membrane preparation could be affected. The distribution was followed by determination of opiate binding, acetylcholinesterase, and total membrane (using protein and light-scattering measurements).