title: Visual detection of peptidase activity using fluorogenic substrates in a microtiter plate assay.
abstract: A simple, inexpensive, and sensitive assay for peptidase activity has been devised. The assay was performed in a microtiter plate and was based on fluorogenic peptide substrates, many of which are commercially available. 7-Amino-4-methyl coumarin the fluorescent product liberated during an incubation period of between 1 and 16 h, was detected by inspection of the plate under ultraviolet light of wavelength 356 nm. A fluorometer was not required. Using alpha-chymotrypsin as a model enzyme, with succinyl-L-alanyl-L-alanyl-L-prolyl-L-phenylalanine 4-methyl-coumaryl-7-amide as substrate, it was shown that as little as 4 fmol of enzyme could be detected. The method was non-quantitative and was particularly suited to location of enzyme activity in fractions during a purification procedure. The validity of the assay was demonstrated by detection of activity of a known enzyme, alpha-chymotrypsin, after its purification by size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography. The method was used to locate two forms of aminopeptidase activity, in fractions from size-exclusion chromatography of an extract from reproductive tissue of Helix aspersa, using L-leucine 4-methyl-coumaryl-7-amide as substrate.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biochemistry, School of Biology and Biochemistry, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Irvine
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ennis
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000626:Aminopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003374:Coumarins / Q000378:metabolism; D005453:Fluorescence; D006372:Helix, Snails / Q000201:enzymology; D008832:Microchemistry / Q000379:methods; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D003374:Coumarins; D009842:Oligopeptides; C064159:succinylalanylalanyl-prolyl-phenylalanine-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide; D000626:Aminopeptidases; C028743:7-amino-4-methylcoumarin