Binding and elution of serum glycoproteins from agarose

Evidence in support of previous observations by different authors that agarose is not an entirely inert support in affinity chromatography is presented. In the present communication it is shown that 8% granulated agarose adsorb serum glycoproteins in 10mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.2 and desorb these in 200mM NaCl in 10mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.2. The desorbed glycoproteins retained their abilities to react with antibodies elicited in sheep to normal human serum glycoproteins, despite the loss of mannose and galactose following the agarose treatment.