Purification of the membrane protein enzyme lipoamidase by affinity chromatography

Lipoamidase, a membrane glycoprotein enzyme, was purified from brain membrane by means of various affinity columns. A column with immobilized Arg-Phe-NH2 was found to be the most effective. After loading the crude material of the membrane, and extensive washing of the column with sodium chloride (0.3 M) solution, the enzyme activity was eluted by a solution containing 1% of nonionic detergent (Nonidet P-40). The fractions containing the lipoamidase activity were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, and a single protein band detected in this fraction. On the other hand, lipoyl-affinity columns with various resins were not effective in enzyme purification. Single step chromatography on the Arg-Phe-NH2 column enriched the membrane enzyme lipoamidase by 40-fold. The mechanism by which this affinity resin effectively enriches the enzyme remains to be elucidated.