"Affinity" chromatography of steroid-transforming enzymes with a non-steroidal ligand

The chromatographic behaviour of an avian oestradiol-17 beta dehydrogenase, the 3(17) beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas testosteroni and cortisone reductase from Streptomyces dehydrogenans was studied on columns of p-(phenoxypropoxy)aniline attached to CNBr-activated Sepharose. The ligand was effective in adsorbing the oestradiol dehydrogenase from a partially purified extract of chicken liver, and the cortisone reductase was perferentially retained when mixtures of the three dehydrogenases were applied to columns in 10mM-buffer. Under these conditions the 3(17)beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase was eluted in the front, but was adsorbed in the presence of 3 M-KCl. beta-N-Acetylglucosaminidase present in the liver preparation was not retained by the ligand, whereas lactate dehydrogenase from rabbit muscle was adsorbed in a manner similar to the retention pattern found on affinity chromatography with 2',5'-ADP--Sepharose. The mean overall purification of the oestradiol dehydrogenase was 13-fold, with a mean recovery of 53%. p-(Phenoxypropoxy)aniline offers promise for the purification of steroid-transforming enzymes where elution with substrate or cofactor is not wanted. It is also suggested that the ligand may be of service in the purification of receptors of hormonal steroids.