Affinity purification of alpha-galactosidase A from human spleen, placenta, and plasma with elimination of pyrogen contamination. Properties of the purified splenic enzyme compared to other forms.

The substrate analog alpha-D-galactosylamine was synthesized, linked to 6-aminohexanoic acid, and coupled to carboxyhexyl-Sepharose. This affinity support permitted the purification of human alpha-galactosidase A (alpha-D-galactoside galactohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.22) from spleen, placenta, and plasma. When used in conjunction with conventional procedures, affinity chromatography enabled the rapid and specific purification of alpha-galactosidase A from each source. Significantly, pyrogenic endotoxins were eliminated from enzyme preparations by the use of the affinity column. Splenic alpha-galactosidase A was purified in high yield (38%) with a specific activity of 1.9 X 10(6) units/mg. The purified enzyme was a homodimer with a native molecular weight of 101,000 and a subunit weight of 49,800. The UV absorption coefficient was E280 1% = 18 and the lambda max was 282 nm. The plasma form was purified with a markedly improved yield to a specific activity (229,000 units/mg) which was 3 times greater than that achieved previously. The enzymes from plasma, spleen, and placenta were immunologically identical. The physical and kinetic properties of the purified enzymes were consistent with and confirmed previous findings.