Co NTA Beads 6FF Prepacked Column

Co NTA Beads 6FF Prepacked Column (His)                

1. Product Description

Co NTA Beads 6FF is intended for preparative purification of histidine-tagged recombinant proteins from all prokaryotic and eukarotic expression systems. Co NTA Beads 6FF consists of highly cross-linked 6% agarose with an immobilized chelating group. The talon ligand is a tetra-dentate chelator charged with cobalt. Co NTA Beads 6FF offers enhanced selectivity for histidine-tagged proteins compared to nickel-charged medium. The characteristics of Co NTA Beads 6FF are summarized in Table 1.

Co NTA Beads 6FF Column is one of a range of prepacked, ready-to-use columns for affinity chromatography. It is prepacked with 1ml and 5ml of Co NTA Beads 6FF. Five different packing sizes are available. Co NTA Beads 6FF Column has the standard interface and can be operated with a peristaltic pump or liquid chromatography systems, such as ÄKTA.  It is fast, simple and easy operation.

Table 1. Characteristics of Co NTA Beads 6FF

Co NTA Beads 6FF is compatible with all commonly used aqueous buffers, denaturants such as 6 M Gua-HCl and 8 M urea, and a range of other additives (see Table 2).

Table 2. Chemical compatibilities for Co NTA Beads 6FF

Note:1.Use Co NTA Beads 6FF immediately after equilibrating with buffers containing  β-Mercaptoethanol. Otherwise, the medium will change color. Do not store the medium in buffers containing β-Mercaptoethanol.
2.Imidazole at concentrations higher than 5-10 mM may cause lower yields of histidine-tagged proteins, because it competes with the histidine side chains (imidazole groups) for binding to the immobilized metal ions.
3.Ethanol may precipitate proteins, causing low yields and column clogging.
4.Tris coordinates weakly with metal ions, causing a decrease in capacity.

Avoid using the following reagents

DTT (dithiothreitol), DTE (dithioerythritol) and TCEP (TRIS (2-carboxyethyl) phosphine). Protein binding capacity will decrease rapidly.

EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) and EGTA (ethylene Glycolbis ([β-amino-ethyl ether]). These chelators will strip off the cobalt ions from the medium. 

2. Purification Procedure

2.1 Buffer Preparation

We recommend binding at neutral to slightly alkaline pH (pH 7 to 8) in the presence of 0.3 M to 0.5 M NaCl. Sodium phosphate buffers are often used.

• Tris-HCl can generally be used, but should be avoided in cases where the metal-protein affinity is very weak, since it may reduce binding strength. Avoid chelating agents such as EDTA or citrate in buffers. In general, imidazole is used for elution of histidine-tagged proteins.
• • Below pH 4, metal ions will be stripped off the medium.

Native protein purification

Binding buffer: 50 mM sodium phosphate, 300 mM NaCl, pH 7.4

Wash buffer: 50 mM sodium phosphate, 300 mM NaCl, 5-20 mM imidazole, pH 7.4

Elution buffer: 50 mM sodium phosphate, 300 mM NaCl, 250 mM imidazole, pH 7.4

Denaturing protein purification

If the recombinant histidine-tagged protein is expressed as inclusion bodies, include 6 M Guanidine-HCl (Gua-HCl) or 8 M urea in all buffers and sample to promote protein unfolding. On-column refolding of the denatured protein may be possible, but depends on the protein.

2.2 Sample Preparation

2.2.1 Recombinant native protein expressed in E.coli or yeast 

1) Single colonies were cultured in LB medium. According to the instruction, adding the inducers for a period of time.

2) Harvest cells from an appropriate volume of bacterial culture by centrifugation at 7,000rpm(7,500×g) for 10-15min at 4℃. Discard supernatant and determine weight of pellet. Resuspend pellet in 1:10 ration (w/v) in lysis buffer and add lysozyme (0.2-0.4mg/ml cell paste, if the host cell containing pLysS or pLysE, it can be without lysozyme) and PMSF (1mM/ml cell paste).

3) If high concentration of cell suspension, it is consider to add 10μg/ml RNase A and 5μg/ml DNase I. Sonicate the cell suspension/lysate on ice.

4) Centrifuge the homogenized lysate at 10,000rpm(15,000×g) for 20min at 4℃ to clarify sample. Save supernatant.

2.2.2 Native protein expressed in yeast, insect or mammalian cells 

1) Harvest the cells from an appropriate volume of culture by centrifugation at 5,000rpm(3,800×g) for 10-15min at 4℃. Save supernatant. If the supernatant without EDTA, histidine and reductant, it can be purified directly, otherwise it need dialysis to 1XPBS under 4℃ . 

2) for a large volume of supernatant, it need precipitation by adding ammonium sulfate and dialysis to1XPBS under 4℃.

2.2.3 Inclusion bodies from E.coli

1) Harvest cells from an appropriate volume of bacterial culture by centrifugation at 7,000rpm(7,500×g) for 10-15min at 4℃. Discard supernatant and determine weight of pellet.

2) Resuspend pellet in 1:10 ration (w/v) with Lysis Buffer. Sonicate the cell suspension/lysate on ice.

3) Centrifuge the homogenized sample at 10,000rpm(15,000×g) for 20min at 4℃ to pellet the inclusion.

4) Resuspend pellet in 1:10 ration (w/v) with denaturing Lysis Buffer(containing 8M urea). Sonicate, as needed, to redissolve the pellet.

5) Analyze the concentration of the target protein and continue with purification protocols under denaturing conditions.

2.3 Sample Purification

1) Fill the syringe or pump tubing with distilled water. Remove the stopper and connect the column to the syringe (with the provided connector), or pump tubing, “drop to drop” to avoid introducing air into the column. Remove the snap-off end at the column outlet.

2) Wash the column with 3-5 column volumes of distilled water.

3) Equilibrate the column with at least 5 column volumes Lysis Buffer.

4) Apply the pre-treated sample, using a Loop fitted to the connector or by pumping it onto the column.

5) Wash with Wash Buffer until the absorbance reaches the baseline or no material appears in the effluent(Generally at least 10-15 column volumes).

6) Elute with elution buffer using a stepwise or linear gradient. For one-step elution,  5 column volumes are usually enough. Other volumes may be required if the interaction is difficult to break. Linear gradient elution can be used to separate proteins of different binding strengths with a small gradient, such as 20 column volumes or more.

2.4 Analysis

Identify the fractions containing the His-tagged protein. Use UV absorbance, SDS-PAGE, or western blot.

3. Regeneration

In general, Co NTA Beads 6FF may be used a number of times before it becomes necessary to recharge them with metal ions. When the back pressure is too highor the capacity significantly lower, it need to strip the metal ions and recharge the Co NTA Beads 6FF as the following procedure.

Wash the column with one of the following solutions.

• Rinse with 5 column volumes of distilled water；
• 100 mM EDTA (pH 8.0), 5 column volumes；
• Rinse with 10 column volumes of distilled water；
• 5M NaOH ,5 column volumes, contacting for 10-15 min；
• Rinse with 10 column volumes of distilled water；
• 100mM NiSO₄, 3-5 column volumes；
• Rinse with 10 column volumes of distilled water；

After regeneration, the medium can be used immediately, otherwise, it need to be suspended in an equal volume of 1X PBS containing 20% ethanol at 4℃.

4. Troubleshooting

5. Related Products