An easy and rapid separation method for five major proteins from egg white: Successive extraction and MALDI-TOF-MS identification

Five major proteins from egg white were separated using a successive extraction/precipitation protocol. The yield and purity of the separated proteins were measured. The separated proteins were confirmed by MALDI-TOF-MS, and their structures were characterized by CD spectrum. Lysozyme was first separated using FPC 3500 resin and then ovomucin from the lysozyme-free egg white. Ammonium sulfate and citric acid were added to the resulting lysozyme- and ovomucin-free egg white solution to precipitate ovotransferrin. Ovomucoid and ovalbumin were separated from the resulting supernatant using ethanol. The separated proteins were further purified and the optimal conditions for the further purifications were suggested. The purity and yield of lysozyme, ovotransferrin, ovalbumin, and ovomucoid were higher than 90% and 77%, while those of ovomucin were about 72% and 75%, respectively. This study separated five major proteins in egg white successively using resin adsorption, pH adjustment, salt/ethanol precipitation, and ultrafiltration.