Lipase-colipase interactions during gel filtration. High and low affinity binding situations

The interaction of porcine pancreatic lipase and colipase was studied during gel filtration in columns eluted with a variety of buffers. High and low affinity binding situations were observed under different conditions. Low affinity binding could only be detected at the high lipase-colipase concentrations encountered during batch purification (10(-3)-10(-4) M). Even in this situation the rapid dissociation of the weak complex during filtration resulted in considerable separation of the two proteins. High affinity binding of lipase to colipase was observed at protein eluant concentrations as low as 10(-8) M on columns equilibrated with oleic acid-taurodeoxycholate mixed micelles. This binding did not take place on columns equilibrated with simple bile salt and mixed phosphatidylcholine-cholesterol-bile salt micelles. Colipase alone exhibited strong binding to phosphatidylcholine and fatty acid mixed bile salt micelles when applied together in a sample on columns eluted with pure bile salt micelles, lipase did not. The relevance of the high affinity complex to the lipase . colipase . substrate complex is discussed.