A procedure for removal of interfering phospholipids in the separation and analysis of proteins

A procedure for removal of phospholipids from aqueous samples is described. It is simple and rapid and can be used generally in cases where phospholipids interfere with spectrophotometric, chromatographic, electrophoretic, or other methods. The procedure is based on the hydrolysis of phospholipids by phospholipase C and removal of the formed diacylglycerol by centrifugation or extraction into an inert, apolar solvent, like petroleum ether, which does not solve or have a denaturating effect on most proteins.