The isolation and purification of pre-S2 containing hepatitis B virus surface antigen by chemical affinity chromatography.

A simple, rapid, and efficient method was developed to isolate and purify pre-S2 containing HBsAgs from the plasma of a single chronic carrier of HBsAg (adw) by ammonium sulfate fractionation, hydroxyapatite column chromatography, and polymerized human serum albumin-affinity column chromatography. About 500 micrograms of pre-S2 containing HBsAg was obtained from 140 mL of plasma containing 4,200 micrograms of HBsAg. Two purified pre-S2 containing HBsAgs were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and their molecular weights were determined to be 31,000 and 68,000 respectively. No significant amount of HBsAg or its derivative was detected in the final product.