An Enzyme Immunoassay of Catalytically Active Proteases

Abstract

A method is proposed to assay catalytically active protease. The method is based on the subsequent inter action of the enzyme with a protein inhibitor immobi lized on polysterene and with antibodies labelled with a high-activity enzyme. Optimal conditions have been chosen for assaying alkaline protease from Bacillus subtilis (subtilisin) by ELISA with peroxidase as label, employing two protein serine protease inhibitors isolated from duck egg white and maize seeds. The proposed method enables the detection of the catalyti cally active enzyme at concentrations as low as 1 ng/ml for 1.5 hr. The c. v. of the assay is less than 5%. The method can be used to determine the equilibrium con stant of the enzyme-inhibitor reaction in solution.

Key Words:

• catalytically active enzyme
• bacillar alkaline protease
• enzyme immunoassay
• protein protease inhibitors