Two step procedure for purification of enzymatically active prostate-specific antigen from seminal plasma

The role of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) during the onset of prostate cancer and subsequent tumor growth and metastasis is not well understood. We have developed a simple two step procedure, based on principles of hydrophobic charge-induction chromatography and molecular size chromatography to provide pure free-PSA (f-PSA) preparation that is free from all other known PSA complexes as well as human kallikrein 2 (hK2). The overall recovery of f-PSA is 72%. The isolated f-PSA consists of three known isoforms that corresponds to p I of 6.2, 6.4 and 7.2. f-PSA is enzymatically active and its enzymatic activity can be effectively neutralized by a serine protease inhibitor.