Purification of human thyroid peroxidase using ion exchange liquid chromatography

We have utilized a one step ion-exchange (FPLC Mono Q) purification procedure for the isolation of human thyroid peroxidase (TPO). The purified TPO had the properties of a major microsomal antigen and inhibited the binding of human microsomal autoantibodies to thyroid microsomal membranes. The isolated TPO was free from thyroglobulin and showed, compared with crude microsomal proteins, a reduced background binding with control sera in enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). SDS-gel electrophoresis of the isolated TPO detected one major band with an apparent molecular weight of 105 kD. The antigenicity of the protein was demonstrated by immunoblotting using sera from patients with autoimmune thyroiditis. These results demonstrate that FPLC Mono Q chromatography offers a rapid, quantitative and precise method for large scale purification of TPO with retained enzymatic and antigenic activity for use in ELISA and for further studies on the structure and function of this protein.