PURIFICATION OF TGF-BETA SUPERFAMILY PROTEINS

1 . A method of purifying a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) from a fluid, comprising the steps of:

contacting the fluid comprising the BMP with a hydrophobic interaction chromatography medium under conditions in which the BMP is soluble within the fluid, wherein the fluid includes at least one salt at a concentration above a predetermined threshold, thereby facilitating an association of the BMP with the hydrophobic interaction chromatography medium;

contacting the hydrophobic interaction chromatography medium with a first mobile phase comprising a first agent that promotes the solubility of the BMP, the first mobile phase having a salt concentration similar to a salt concentration of the initial fluid;

contacting the hydrophobic interaction chromatography medium with a second mobile phase lacking the first agent that promotes the solubility of the BMP, thereby increasing an association between the BMP with the chromatography medium;

contacting the hydrophobic interaction chromatography medium with a third mobile phase having a dissimilar salt concentration relative to one or more of the fluid, the first mobile phase and the second mobile phase, thereby decreasing an association of a second, non-BMP with the hydrophobic interaction chromatography medium; and

eluting the BMP from the hydrophobic interaction chromatography medium by contacting the hydrophobic interaction chromatography medium with an elution mobile phase comprising a second agent, different from the first agent, that promotes the solubility of the BMP and disrupts the association with the hydrophobic interaction chromatography media.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the second agent is varied over time.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the second agent is constant over time.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic interaction chromatography medium is not functionalized with a peptide affinity ligand.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first agent that promotes the solubility of the BMP is urea.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the urea is present in the first mobile phase at a concentration of 5-8M.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first mobile phase includes 50 mM glycine and 2M sodium chloride.

8 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein urea is present in the fluid at a concentration of at least 3M.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the fluid includes at least 1M sodium chloride.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second agent that promotes the solubility of the BMP is hexylene glycol.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid includes an eluent from an ion exchange chromatography medium.

12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a product BMP yield is at least 60%.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a purity of the BMP is at least 90%.

14 . A method of purifying a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) from a sample, comprising the steps of:

loading an affinity-like chromatography medium with a solution containing BMP under conditions such that at least a portion of the BMP binds to the affinity-like chromatography medium;

eluting at least a portion of the BMP from the affinity-like chromatography medium;

loading a hydrophobic interaction chromatography medium with the BMP-containing eluent from affinity-like chromatography medium under conditions such that at least a portion of the BMP binds to the hydrophobic interaction chromatography medium;

eluting at least a portion of the BMP from the hydrophobic interaction chromatography medium;

loading a cation exchange medium with the BMP-containing eluent from the hydrophobic interaction chromatography medium under conditions such that at least a portion of the BMP binds to the cation exchange medium;

eluting at least a portion of the BMP from the cation exchange medium; and

concentrating the BMP in a suitable buffer.

15 . A method of purifying a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) from a fluid, comprising the steps of:

loading the fluid containing BMP onto a hydrophobic interaction medium, wherein the fluid includes urea and a first salt at a first concentration, and wherein the BMP is in solution in the fluid;

washing the hydrophobic interaction medium with a first solution, wherein a concentration of the salt in the first solution is less than the first concentration, the first solution does not include urea, and the BMP is less soluble in the first solution than in the fluid; and

eluting the BMP with a second solution that does not include the first salt or urea.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the urea is present in the fluid at a concentration of at least 3M.

17 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the fluid includes at least 1M sodium chloride.

18 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the second solution promotes the solubility of the BMP.

19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the second solution includes hexylene glycol.

20 . A method of purifying a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) from a first solution, comprising the steps of:

contacting a hydrophobic interaction chromatography medium with the first solution, wherein the first solution is characterized by a first solubility of the BMP therein;

contacting the hydrophobic interaction chromatography medium with a second solution characterized by a second solubility of the BMP that is less than the first solubility; and

contacting the hydrophobic interaction chromatography medium with a third solution characterized by a third solubility of the BMP that is greater than the second solubility.