Purification of phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus by hydrophobic chromatography on palmitoyl cellulose

Phospholipase C (phosphatidylcholine choline-phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.E) from Bacillus cereus (IAM-1208) was adsorbed to palmitoyl cellulose from a crude enzyme solution at pH 5--9. The adsorption was not influenced by ionic strength up to 2 M NaCl. The adsorbed enzyme was eluted almost completely by washing the cellulose with a suitable detergent, such as Triton X-100, Adekatol SO-120, Cation DT-205, or sodium deoxycholate. The enzyme was then purified by column chromatography on a palmitoylated textile (palmitoylated gauze) with an overall recovery of 91% and a 467-fold increase in specific activity over that of enzyme in the crude culture supernatant. Subsequent fractionation with acetone and chromatography on a Sephadex G-75 column separated two nearly homogeneous phospholipase C's. The enzyme adsorbed on palmitoyl cellulose was active, although its activity was about one-fourth that of free phospholipase C. Therefore, the enzyme appeared to be adsorbed to the cellulose through a hydrophobic site that was distinct from the catalytic site on the enzyme molecule.