Isolation of the C3 complement component and its C3d subunit from IY-1 fraction of Cohn's fractionation of human plasma

Abstract C3 complement component and its C3d subunit were isolated from the IY-1 Cohn's fraction, which is the waste of industrially produced albumin and immunoglobulins. The first step was the fractionation of precipitate IY-1 by polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 to a final concentration of 16% PEG. The precipitate formed was separated by centrifugation. The supernatant contained the C3d subunit of C3, and the redissolved 16% PEG precipitate contained the C3 component. Then the supernatant and the dissolved precipitate were subjected to anion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Toyopearl 650 M. In the last step fractions containing C3 and C3d concentrated by ultrafiltration were chromatographed on Sephacryl S-200.