Anion Exchange Chromatography for Polypeptide Gamma-Carboxylation Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for purifying polypeptides with varying levels of gamma-carboxylation are inefficient, as they fail to effectively separate and enrich specific forms with desired levels of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues, affecting the activity and specificity of proteins like Factor IX, Factor VII, and Factor X.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing anion exchange chromatography with specific pH and salt conditions, such as using ammonium acetate, ammonium chloride, or sodium acetate, to selectively elute and purify polypeptides based on their gamma-carboxylation levels, allowing for the increase or decrease of specific gamma-carboxylated species, thereby enhancing the specific activity of the purified formulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional purification methods are used, then the purification process is simple, but the separation efficiency of different gamma-carboxylated polypeptide species is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidchromatography condition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the pH parameter of the elution buffer to below 9.0 (specifically pH 7.0-8.5) and selects specific salt types (ammonium acetate, ammonium chloride, or sodium acetate) to achieve effective separation of different gamma-carboxylated polypeptide species. This parameter optimization enables resolution of species with varying Gla residue contents that cannot be separated by conventional methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If conventional elution buffers are used, then the buffer composition is simple, but the ability to selectively elute specific gamma-carboxylated species is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespecies selectivityVSAvoidbuffer composition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention specifies precise buffer composition parameters: pH below 9.0 (optimally 7.0-8.5) and specific salt types (ammonium acetate, ammonium chloride, or sodium acetate) at concentrations of 0.1-2.0 M. These controlled parameters enable selective elution of polypeptide species with specific gamma-carboxylation levels, achieving separation that conventional buffers cannot provide.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the polypeptide sample contains mixed gamma-carboxylated species, then the sample represents natural variability, but the specific activity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespecific activityVSAvoidpurification complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the mixed polypeptide sample into distinct fractions based on their gamma-carboxylation levels through chromatographic separation. Different species (e.g., #1-9-Gla, #1-10-Gla, #1-11-Gla, #1-12-Gla forms) are separated into different elution fractions, allowing selection of fractions with higher specific activity and enrichment of fully or highly carboxylated species.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach effectively increases the proportion of more active polypeptide species and decreases less active species, resulting in a purified formulation with improved specific activity and enhanced biological performance.

Implementation Method 1

loading said sample onto an anion exchange chromatography material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon exchange: Ion Exchange

Implementation Method 2

eluting said polypeptide using a solution at a pH of less than pH 9.0 comprising at least one salt selected from ammonium acetate, ammonium chloride and sodium acetate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIonic competition: Ion Exchange

Data Source

PatentEP2373677B1Polypeptide purification
Publication Date: 2016.03.23 NOVO NORDISK HEALTH CARE AG
  • EP2373677B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2373677B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2373677B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to the purification of different gamma carboxylated forms of a polypeptide using ion exchange chromatography. In particular, the invention provides a method for purifying a polypeptide having a desired content of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid from a sample comprising mixture of species of said polypeptide having different contents of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid, said method comprising the steps of: (a) loading said sample onto an anion exchange chromatography material; (b) eluting said polypeptide using a solution at a pH of less than pH 9.0 comprising at least one salt selected from ammonium acetate, ammonium chloride and sodium acetate; and (c) selecting a fraction obtained from said elution wherein the polypeptides in the fraction have the desired content of gamma-carboxyglutamic acids.