Patent ID: 11926854
Assignee: MERCK PATENT GMBH
Field: Biotechnology (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC C | IPC C

Claim 10:
11. A method of affinity purifying a target molecule in a sample using the split intein-based affinity chromatography system of claim 1, the method comprising:
a) providing a sample containing a fusion protein comprising a C-intein polypeptide joined to a target molecule by a peptide bond;
b) contacting the sample with an affinity chromatograph matrix comprising the N-intein polypeptide of claim 1, under conditions in which the C-intein polypeptide in the fusion protein selectively binds to the N-intein polypeptide to form an intein complex that is inactive;
c) washing the affinity chromatography matrix containing the inactive intein complex to remove unbound contaminants;
d) exposing the intein complex to conditions under which the intein complex is active and cleaves the target molecule from the C-intein polypeptide; and
e) recovering the cleaved target molecule.