Chromatography of microbial lipids by centrifugation through microparticulate gel

An improved apparatus and a procedure are described by which the migration of sample components in column chromatography is accelerated by centrifugal force, thereby making it possible to use beds of densely packed gel prepared with ultrafine silica. This technique was used to resolve components of certain lipid mixtures where other methods have failed, and it has been found generally useful as an adjunct to other methods for the fractionation of lipids. Biologically active phosphoglycolipids from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and a phosphatidylglycerol-like substance from Mycoplasma pneumoniae which formed single spots on thin-layer chromatographic plates were each found to contain a major and several minor components by centrifugal chromatography. The method enabled us to isolate individual components of Wax D from M. tuberculosis rather than a spectrum of components. Minor components were resolved which, although present in insufficient quantity to influence results of chemical analyses, may be responsible for biological activity. The apparatus provides an essentially closed system which reduces highly volatile solvents to minimal evaporation during the chromatographic process. Samples are applied in solution and are not allowed to dry on the columns until after separation has been achieved. Consequently, polar, labile microbial lipids can be resolved without the use of harsh reagents which destroy some of their properties. Single components may be harvested by cutting and removing appropriate segments of the larger chromatograms or by eluting them from the columns.