Nucleic acid separation using immobilized metal affinity chromatography

A method for separating compounds comprising the steps of:

• contacting a mixture comprising cell lysate or enzyme and a target protein, and a contaminant compound which includes at least four non-shielded purine or pyrimidine moieties, and other compounds, with a solid composition including immobilized metal ions capable of binding compounds containing a non-shielded purine or pyrimidine moiety, to form a liquid product containing a reduced amount of the contaminant polynucleotide;
• and collecting the target protein substantially free of polynucleotides.

A substrate comprising a plurality of ligands bonded thereto, each ligand immobilizing a metal atom and/or ion capable of binding compounds containing at least 4 non-shielded purine or pyrimidine moieties or groups, and a compound containing at least 4 non-shielded purine or pyrimidine moieties or groups bound to a portion of the metal atoms and/or ions wherein the compound is selected from the group of RNA, single stranded DNA, and other molecules having at least 4 non-shielded purine and/or pyrimidine moieties or groups;

• or wherein the substrate comprises a polymeric material including a plurality of ligands bonded thereto, each ligand immobilizing a metal ion selected from the group consisting of Cu.sup.2+, Zn.sup.2+, Ni.sup.2+, Fe.sup.3+, Fe.sup.2+, Co.sup.2+, Sc.sup.2+, Ti.sup.2+, V.sup.2+, Cr.sup.2+, Mn.sup.2+, Ca.sup.2+, Cd.sup.2+ or Hg.sup.2+ or mixtures or combinations thereof;
• or wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a column inner wall, a membrane, an inorganic support, a metallic support, and a surface of an electronic chip.

A method of claim 110 wherein the contaminant compound comprises RNA.