Immobilization of oligonucleotides on a large pore support for plasmid purification by triplex affinity interaction

High-throughput microtitre plate-based assay for DNA topoisomerases

We have developed a rapid, high-throughput assay for measuring the catalytic activity (DNA supercoiling or relaxation) of DNA topoisomerases. The assay utilizes intermolecular triplex formation between an immobilized triplex-forming oligo (TFO) and a triplex-forming region inserted into the plasmid substrate (pNO1), and capitalizes on the observation that supercoiled DNA forms triplexes more readily than relaxed DNA. Thus, supercoiled DNA is preferentially retained by the TFO under triplex-forming conditions while relaxed DNA can be washed away. Due to its high speed of sample analysis and reduced sample handling over conventional gel-based techniques, this assay can be used to screen chemical libraries for novel inhibitors of topoisomerases.

Chromatography of plasmid DNA

Liquid chromatography plays a central role in process-scale manufacturing of therapeutic plasmid DNA (pDNA) for gene therapy and DNA vaccination. Apart from its use as a preparative purification step, it is also very useful as an analytical tool to monitor and control pDNA quality during processing and in final formulations. This paper gives an overview of the use of pDNA chromatography. The specificity of pDNA purification and the consequent limitations to the performance of chromatography are described. Strategies currently used to overcome those limitations, as well as other possible solutions are presented. Applications of the different types of chromatography to the purification of therapeutic pDNA are reviewed, and the main advantages and disadvantages behind each technique highlighted.

Process chromatography: current constraints and future options for the adsorptive recovery of bioproducts

A contemporary review of adsorption chromatography must embrace aspects of fixed-bed, batch suspension and fluidised-bed contacting of complex feedstocks with adsorbents chemically derivatised with ligands with binding specificities for target bioproducts. Advances in the design of adsorbents, ligands and contactors have facilitated opportunities for integrated processing of unclarified feedstocks to benefit purity and yield of macromolecular products. In the face of competition from apparently simpler, yet productive, technologies (e.g. precipitation, crystallisation and aqueous solvent extraction), further advances in chromatographic purification of macromolecules and nanoparticulates demand close collaboration between inventors and/or manufacturers of new products and the suppliers of chromatographic hardware and consumables.

Impact of the physical and topographical characteristics of adsorbent solid-phases upon the fluidised bed recovery of plasmid DNA from Escherichia coli lysates

A comparison is made of the performance of two types of adsorbent solid phases (commercially sourced Streamline composites and custom-assembled Zirblast pelliculates), derivatised with similar anion exchange chemistries and applied to the recovery of plasmid DNA from Escherichia coli extracts prepared by chemical lysis and coarse filtration. Streamline and Zirblast adsorbents were characterised by average particle diameters of 200 and 95 microm, densities of 1.16 and 3.85 g/m2, and small ion capacities of 170 and 8 micromol/ml settled adsorbent, respectively. Detailed analysis of products and impurities in a full operational cycle of adsorption, washing, pre-elution, elution and regeneration processes was enabled by the harnessing of a battery of analyses for nucleic acid and organic solute content of feedstocks and bed effluents exploiting ultra-violet spectrophotometry, agarose gel electrophoresis and specific reactions with the fluorescent probe PicoGreen. In comparative tests operated under near identical conditions, Streamline and Zirblast adsorbents exhibited plasmid recoveries of 76 and 90% of bound product characterised by purity ratios (relative PicoGreen and A254 estimates of mass) of 9 and 32, respectively. Conclusions are drawn regarding the specific impact of the physical and topographical characteristics of solid-phase geometry upon product throughput, achievable product purity, process time-scales and operational economics for the manufacture of plasmid DNA.