Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

The Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology (한국미생물·생명공학회)
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Purification and Characterization of Recombinant Human Follicle Stimulating Hormone Produced by Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells

  • NA KYU HEUM (Research Laboratories, Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Drug Targeting Laboratory, College of Pharmacy, SungKyunKwan University) ;
  • KIM SEUNG CHUL (Research Laboratories, Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) ;
  • SEO KWANG SEOK (Research Laboratories, Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) ;
  • LEE SUNG HEE (Research Laboratories, Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) ;
  • KIM WON BAE (Research Laboratories, Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) ;
  • LEE KANG CHOON (Drug Targeting Laboratory, College of Pharmacy, SungKyunKwan University)
  • Published : 2005.04.01
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Abstract

Biologically active recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (rhFSH) was produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells and purified by a series of chromatographic steps. The chromatographic steps included anion-exchange chromatography (DEAE Sepharose F/F, Q Sepharose F/F), hydrophobic interaction chromatography (Source 15 PHE), and hydroxyapatite chromatography (Macro-Prep ceramic hydroxyapatite type I). A distinctive step of the purification process developed was the use of ZnCl$_2$ for the removal of non-glycosylated or lowly-glycosylated FSH and impurities through co-precipitation with Zn$^{2+}$. Purified rhFSH was identified and characterized by several physicochemical and biological methods such as gel electrophoresis, high-performance liquid chromatography, amino acid analysis, carbohydrate analysis, and biological activity. The overall yield of the purification was ~$30\%$. The rhFSH preparation obtained showed high purity (>$99\%$) and high in vivo potency (>16,000 IU/mg). Carbohydrate analysis suggested that the purified rhFSH contained approximately $40\%$ (w/w) carbohydrate with di­or tri-antennary structure on average, which is somewhat more heavily sialylated than commercially available rhFSH. In conclusion, the results of these analyses established an identity of the purified rhFSH with natural FSH from human pituitary glands, and furthermore, the purified rhFSH preparation showed higher in vivo potency and was slightly more heavily sialylated than commercially available rhFSH.

Keywords

References

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