title: Determination of pancreatic carboxypeptidase A in human blood serum.
abstract: A method has been designed for the assay of pancreatic carboxypeptidase A in blood serum. It uses Z-Gly-Phe as the substrate and fluorimetric determination of the released phenylalanine in an amino acid analyser, which yields a measure of free carboxypeptidase A. In addition, the sum (free carboxypeptidase A + procarboxypeptidase A) can be determined on a second portion preincubated with trypsin, which converts the proenzyme to the active form. Determinations made in fifteen healthy individuals showed the presence of a measurable concentration of free carboxypeptidase A. In acute pancreatitis, total carboxypeptidase A is raised. An increase in circulating proenzyme is observed in some cases. Data from 46 patients show a good correlation between total carboxypeptidase A, lipase and immunoreactive trypsin. Differential determination of procarboxypeptidase A and free carboxypeptidase A provides an interesting new tool for the diagnosis of pancreatic disorders.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D001322:Autoanalysis / Q000379:methods; D002268:Carboxypeptidases / Q000097:blood*; D043422:Carboxypeptidases A; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008049:Lipase / Q000097:blood; D010179:Pancreas / Q000201:enzymology*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000201:enzymology*; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000378:metabolism; D014357:Trypsin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004151:Dipeptides; D004792:Enzyme Precursors; C019156:carbobenzoxyglycylphenylalanine; D010649:Phenylalanine; D008049:Lipase; D000681:Amylases; D002268:Carboxypeptidases; D043422:Carboxypeptidases A; D014357:Trypsin