Ion Exchange Chromatography
The most popular method for the purification of proteins and other charged molecules is ion exchange chromatography. In cation exchange chromatography positively charged molecules are attracted to a negatively charged solid support. Conversely, in anion exchange chromatography, negatively charged molecules are attracted to a positively charged solid support.
Mechanism
To optimize binding of all charged molecules, the mobile phase is generally a low to medium conductivity (i.e., low to medium salt concentration) solution. The adsorption of the molecules to the solid support is driven by the ionic interaction between the oppositely charged ionic groups in the sample molecule and in the functional ligand on the support. The strength of the interaction is determined by the number and location of the charges on the molecule and on the functional group. By increasing the salt concentration (generally by using a linear salt gradient) the molecules with the weakest ionic interactions start to elute from the column first. Molecules that have a stronger ionic interaction require a higher salt concentration and elute later in the gradient. The binding capacities of ion exchange resins are generally quite high. This is of major importance in process scale chromatography, but is not critical for analytical scale separations.
Buffer pH
As a rule, the pH of the mobile phase buffer must be between the pI (isoelectric point) or pKa (acid dissociation constant) of the charged molecule and the pKa of the charged group on the solid support. For example, in cation exchange chromatography, using a functional group on the solid support with a pKa of 1.2, a sample molecule with a pI of 8.2 may be run in a mobile phase buffer of pH 6.0. In anion exchange chromatography a molecule with a pI of 6.8 may be run in a mobile phase buffer at pH 8.0 when the pKa of the solid support is 10.3.
Salt Gradients
As in most other modes of chromatography (SEC being the exception) a protein sample is injected onto the column under conditions where it will be strongly retained. A gradient of linearly increasing salt concentration is then applied to elute the sample components from the column. An alternative to using a linear gradient is to use a step gradient. This requires less complicated equipment and can be very effective to elute different fractions if the appropriate concentrations of salt are known, usually from linear gradient experiments.
Varying pH
Many chromatographers also use changes in pH to affect a separation. In cation exchange chromatography, raising the pH of the mobile phase buffer will cause the molecule to become less protonated and hence less positively charged. The result is that the protein no longer can form an ionic interaction with the negatively charged solid support, which ultimately results in the molecule to elute from the column. In anion exchange chromatography, lowering the pH of the mobile phase buffer will cause the molecule to become more protonated and hence more positively (and less negatively) charged. The result is that the protein no longer can form an ionic interaction with the positively charged solid support which causes the molecule to elute from the column.
Find out more
TSKgel ion exchange columns
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Toyopearl and TSKgel ion exchange resins
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