Monitoring fusion protein cleavage by capillary electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis was successfully utilized to monitor the proteolytic cleavage of two fusion proteins; maltose binding protein-sugarcane mosaic potyvirus coat protein and maltose binding protein-paramyosin. The course of proteolysis by factor Xa was monitored with high sensitivity and virtually in real time. Capillary electrophoresis conditions were optimized to clearly resolve the fusion proteins, factor Xa, lysis products and buffer components. Rapid elucidation of time to complete digestion was possible and fate of released proteins could also be examined.