Protein impurities

In addition to protein impurities emanating directly from the source material, other proteins may be introduced during upstream or downstream processing. For example, animal cell culture media are typically supplemented with bovine serum/foetal calf serum (2-25 per cent), or with a defined cocktail of various regulatory proteins required to maintain and stimulate growth of these cells. Downstream processing of intracellular microbial proteins often requires the addition of... 

SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) represents the most commonly used analytical technique in the assessment of final product purity (Figure 7.1). This technique is well established and easy to perform. It provides high-resolution separation of polypeptides on the basis of their molecular mass. Bands containing as little as 100 ng of protein can be visualized by staining the gel with dyes such as Coomassie blue. Subsequent gel analysis by scanning laser densitometry allows quantitative determination of the protein content of each band (thus allowing quantification of protein impurities in the product). 

Smirnova et al. [5] have described a simple non-enzymatic method of quantitative determination of adenosine triphosphate in activated sludge from aeration tanks. Extraction of the nucleotides in boiling distilled water was followed by removal of the protein impurities by acidification. Barium salts of di- and triphosphates of the nucleotides were precipitated and the precipitate was washed and dissolved in acid to convert the barium salts to sodium salts. The quantity of adenosine triphosphate was determined quantitatively by inorganic phosphorus in the liquid over the precipitate before and after acid hydrolysis, and by ultraviolet absorption spectra. The method was tested in activated sludge from operational sewage works. There was good agreement between the adenosine triphosphate content determined spectrophotometrically and by phosphorus, despite the presence of small quantities of secondary impurities. 

Hoffman advises, Relying solely on a process-specific assay is ill advised and can result in failure to detect atypical process contaminants. In cases with a defined, persistent, and problematic host cell protein impurity, a down-stream process-specific assay may be justified. It is critical that the immunoassay be capable of detecting every possible host cell protein contaminant. 13... 

Cell Culture-Derived Media-Derived Protein Impurities. Immunoassays can detect low impurity levels (<1 ppm).4 The ELISA is probably one of the most sensitive analytical methods. If bovine serum is used as a media component, then testing should include ELISAs for bovine serum albumin (BSA), bovine transferrin, bovine fetuin, and bovine IgG. Often hormones and growth factors, such as insulin or insulinlike growth factor, are used as media components. ELISAs should be used to detect and quantitate these residuals in the various production steps as well as in the final product. There are commercially available antibodies to most commonly used media components. If proprietary media components are used, then the same investment in time and effort is required for the production of specific antibodies, as described above for host cell impurities. 

The Western blot method is often used in the analysis of host cell impurities. It can be used to identify a recurring impurity. O Keefe et al. used a Western blot to identify an E. coli protein impurity in the preparation of the recombinant fibroblast growth factor (aFGF).29 By using specific antisera to the E. coli host cell proteins, they were able to isolate the impurity and determine its N-terminus amino acid sequence to confirm its identity. Antibodies could be used to determine the concentration of this impurity in sample preparations. 

The active aconitase preparations were 90% active and -80% pure. The Fe and 8= contents were calcula on the assumption that the protein impurities do not contain Fe or S=. 

Briggs, J. and Panfili, P R (1991) Quantitation of DNA and protein impurities in biopharmaceuticals Anal Chem 63, 850-859... 

After homogenization, it is often advantageous to perform a salt precipitation, most commonly with ammonium sulfate. The purpose of this precipitation is the separation of cell debris and nucleic acids rather than the purification of the target protein from impurities. Whereas the purification factor of ammonium sulfate precipitation is usually around only 1.5 to 2, the separation of non-proteineous impurities and stabilization of the target protein in ammonium sulfate usually provide sufficient benefit to include this step in any purification protocol. 

Improvement and Experimental Validation of Protein Impurity Immunoassays for Recombinant DNA Products... 

Figure 1. Key steps in the development of protein impurity assays. The reference impurities may be obtained by a process specific purification of host cell proteins arising from a blank run or a production run. While the production run is a more accurate population of potential impurities, the product removal step involves significant technical difficulty.

The validity of any statement about the purity of a protein is directly linked to the quality of the analytical method used. The validation of immunoassay systems to detect protein impurities in rDNA pharmaceuticals must be achieved by careful production and characterization of the assay reagents. The studies presented here demonstrate that the blank run approach is reasonable for the isolation of reference materials and that high quality broad spectrum antisera can be produced to these mixtures. Significant improvements in assay sensitivity approaching the ppb level are attainable and should provide the methods to further improve product purity. 

Impurities Endotoxins Host cell proteins Other protein impurities DNA... 

ANALYSIS OF PROTEIN IMPURITIES IN PHARMACEUTICALS DERIVED FROM RECOMBINANT DNA ... 

A. Identification of a Host-Cell Protein Impurity in Recombinant Acidic Fibroblast Growth Factor... 

B. Selective Resolution of a Protein Impurity Using RP-HPLC and Fluorescence Derivatization... 

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