High-performance size-exclusion chromatography of polypeptides on a TSK G2000SW column in acidic mobile phases

Polypeptides subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography on a TSK G2000SW column in acidic mobile phases of low ionic strength underwent a combination of size exclusion and ion exclusion from the matrix. The distribution coefficient (Kd) of each polypeptide was dependent upon the concentration of ion-pairing agent present and increased as the concentration of ion-pairing agent increased. The fractionation range of the column could thus be manipulated by altering the concentration of acid in the mobile phase. The nature of the ion-pairing acid, in terms of hydrophilic or hydrophobic ion pairing, also had an effect on the chromatography, such that hydrophobic ion-pairing agents lead to increased Kd values, especially in the case of the most basic polypeptides. To account for these results it is proposed that the TSK GSW matrix is cationic at low pH, and that ion pairing suppresses the ion exclusion experienced by cationic polypeptides under these conditions.