Enzymatic preparation and purification of prostaglandin E2

An enzymatic system has been developed for the production of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) from arachidonic acid by extracts of sheep seminal vesicular glands. The presence of glutathione insures high yields. A new procedure for the purification of PGE(2) was also developed, based on the dialysis of the biosynthesized product at pH 8 and extraction of the dialysate at pH 3 with chloroform. This procedure routinely gives yields of PGE(2) of 25-37% (from arachidonic acid) with a purity of 90-100%. Additional analytical proof of the identity of PGE(2) was provided by physicochemical characteristics of the crystalline thiosemicarbazide derivative, which can be readily prepared under mild conditions.