title: Evaluation of silyl-blocked p-nitrophenylmaltoheptaoside as a substrate for alpha-amylase reagents.
abstract: We describe a reagent for measuring alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) activity in serum with use of a thexyldimethylsilyl ether of p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-maltoheptaoside (SB7) as substrate. This substrate differs from Genzyme's benzylidene-blocked p-nitrophenylmaltoheptaoside substrate (B-PNPG7). The reagent, optimized for the characteristics of the silyl-blocked substrate, contains 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethane sulfonate buffer at pH 7.3, alpha-glucosidase (maltase; EC 3.2.1.20), and glucoamylase (EC 3.2.1.3). Comparison with Ciba Corning Diagnostics Corp.'s, amylase reagent with B-PNPG7 as substrate (x) yielded a regression equation of y = 1.20x-2.7 (r = 0.9997). The linear range exceeded amylase concentrations > 2500 U/L and total precision (CV) was 2.3% at an amylase concentration of 112 U/L with the Ciba Corning 550 Express analyzer. Reconstituted reagent is stable for 30 days at 5 degrees C and 7 days at ambient (18-25 degrees C) temperatures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, 810 S.D. Corporation, Westlake, OH 44145.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Elbin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Becks
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lepp
mesh_terms: D004355:Drug Stability; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D009578:Nitrobenzenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009596:Nitrophenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*; D011786:Quality Control; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013816:Thermodynamics; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D009578:Nitrobenzenes; D009596:Nitrophenols; D009844:Oligosaccharides; C075379:4-nitrophenyl maltopentaoside; D000516:alpha-Amylases; C024836:4-nitrophenol