Rapid protein profiling with a novel anion-exchange material.

A new anion-exchange material has been developed which allows very rapid resolution of protein mixtures. The Microanalyzer MA7P matrix consists of small (7 micron), spherical, non-porous, polymethacrylate beads with polyethyleneimine (PEI) covalently coupled to the surface. When packed 30 X 4.6 mm I.D. columns, this matrix is particularly well suited for applications in which 1-300 micrograms of a protein mixture must be resolved in a minimum of time. Recoveries of injected proteins are usually quantitative, even when the amounts of individual proteins are in the submicrogram range. Chromatography on Microanalyzer MA7P columns is characterized by very narrow bandwidths, even at relatively high flow-rates. This is due to the combined effects of short column length, high selectivity, and the lack of velocity-dependent bandbroadening attributable to diffusion into and out of pores. These columns have no discernable gel filtration effects in the molecular weight range from 10(3) to 10(6) daltons. Columns are very rapidly equilibrated with new solvents, further reducing cycle-to-cycle times.