Refolding proteins by gel filtration chromatography

We have developed a facile means for the refolding of milligram quantities of purified proteins that employs gel filtration chromatography. We demonstrate by electrophoretic mobility shift and NMR spectroscopy that human ETS-1 protein, bovine ribonuclease A and E. coli integration host factor can be refolded into the native conformation using this technique. We have extended this strategy to the preparation of milligram quantities of macromolecular complexes suitable for structural analysis by NMR spectroscopy or X-ray crystallography. The diverse challenges to overcome in refolding these proteins illustrates the potential of this technique as a general approach for recovery of recombinant proteins produced as insoluble inclusion bodies.