CHONDROITINASES I AND II, METHODS OF PREPARATION, AND USE THEREOF

摘要

Chondroitinase II, a protein having an isoelectric point of approximately 8.4-8.45 and an apparent molecular mass of 112 kDa when electrophoresed in a 4 to 20% gradient acrylamide gel in 25 mM Tris/192 mM glycine buffer at pH 8.5 in the presence of about 0.1% (w/v) SDS, has been isolated and purified. A process for the copurification by affinity chromatography of the chondroitinase I and chondroitinase II proteins produced by Proteus vulgaris is also provided. The proteins can be further purified by metal chelating chromatography. Therapeutic or surgical compositions of isolated chondroitinases I and II or the copurified mixture of chondroitinase I and II are also disclosed. These compositions are used in a method for selectively and completely disinserting the vitreous body from the neural retina of an eye.