Method of preparing lysozyme dimers

US5989880A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Nika Health Products Limited · LI

Inventors

• Peter Herrmann · Mannheim, DE
• Peter Klein · Itzehoe, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 16, 1994
• Grant date: Nov 23, 1999
• Expiry date: Feb 16, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12N9/2462
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method is provided for preparing a highly purified lysozyme dimer product which comprises dimerizing the lysozyme monomer with a suberimidate coupling reagent in a buffer solution adjusted to pH 10, stopping the dimerization at a given point by lowering the pH to 7 via addition of HCl or other suitable acid solution, and purifying the dimeric lysozyme by a series of elution steps carried out using ion exchange resin column chromatography. Monomeric lysozyme remaining undimerized by the initial dimerization step is recycled into the process in order to increase yield. The present system is advantageous in that large amounts of purified lysozyme dimer can be prepared efficiently and relatively inexpensively, and the lysozyme dimer so produced is useful in treating viral and/or bacterial diseases without causing the cytotoxic effects associated with the lysozyme monomer.