Increased yield of high purity recombinant human interferon-γ utilizing reversed phase column chromatography

Increasing therapeutic applications for recombinant human interferon-γ (rhIFN-γ), an antiviral proinflammatory cytokine, has broadened interest in optimizing methods for its production and purification. We describe a reversed phase chromatography (RPC) procedure using Source-30 matrix in the purification of rhIFN-γ from Escherichia coli that results in a higher yield than previously reported. The purified rhIFN-γ monomer from the RPC column is refolded in Tris buffer. Optimal refolding occurs at protein concentrations between 50 and 100 μg/ml. This method yields greater than 90% of the dimer form with a yield of 40 mg/g cell mass. Greater than 99% purity is achieved with further purification over a Superdex G-75 column to obtain specific activities of from 2 × 107 to 4 × 107 IU/mg protein as determined via cytopathic antiviral assay. The improved yield of rhIFN-γ in a simple chromatographic purification procedure promises to enhance the development and therapeutic application of this biologically potent molecule.