Affinity Chromatography Handbook
Affinity Chromatography Handbook
Affinity Chromatography Handbook
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26<br />
Characteristic IgG<br />
Antibody classes<br />
IgM<br />
IgA<br />
IgE IgD<br />
Heavy chain<br />
g<br />
m<br />
a<br />
e<br />
d<br />
Light chain k or l k or l k or l k or l k or l<br />
Y structure<br />
Fig. 10. Antibody classes.<br />
IgG, IgG fragments and subclasses<br />
The basis for purification of IgG, IgG fragments and subclasses is the high affinity of protein A<br />
and protein G for the Fc region of polyclonal and monoclonal IgG-type antibodies, see<br />
Figure 9.<br />
Protein A and protein G are bacterial proteins (from Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus,<br />
respectively) which, when coupled to Sepharose, create extremely useful, easy to use media<br />
for many routine applications. Examples include the purification of monoclonal IgG-type<br />
antibodies, purification of polyclonal IgG subclasses, and the adsorption and purification<br />
of immune complexes involving IgG. IgG subclasses can be isolated from ascites fluid, cell<br />
culture supernatants and serum.<br />
Table 2 shows a comparison of the relative binding strengths of protein A and protein G to<br />
different immunoglobulins compiled from various publications.<br />
A useful reference on this subject is also: Structure of the IgG-binding regions of streptococcal<br />
Protein G, EMBO J., 5, 1567–1575 (1986).<br />
Binding strengths are tested with free protein A or protein G and can be used as a guide to<br />
predict the binding behaviour to a protein A or protein G purification medium. However,<br />
when coupled to an affinity matrix, the interaction may be altered. For example, rat IgG 1<br />
does not bind to protein A, but does bind to Protein A Sepharose.