Arginase assay utilizing a fluorometric-based coupled enzyme system
USC TCO TECH BRIEF: SCRF# 1752 - Arginase Assay Utilizing a Fluorometric-Based Coupled Enzyme System
Reference #: 1752 The University of South Carolina is offering licensing opportunities for Arginase Assay Utilizing a Fluorometric-Based Coupled Enzyme System.
Background: Existing arginase assays use the Archibald colorimetric method to detect arginase where the color development procedure takes up to an hour and requires concentrated assay to terminate the activity. This assay is too slow and has a very high acidity to be utilized in high-throughput screening applications.
Invention Description: This invention is a rapid, novel, and sensitive fluorometric-based kinetics assay procedure that detects arginase activity. A urease and glutamate coupled enzyme system is used. Human arginase I (HAI) was selected as a model system to represent the arginase reaction, in which L-arginine is converted into products L-ornithine and urea. The enzymes chosen use NADPH as a substrate along with ammonia and one other substrate to form NADP+, a fluorometrically silent compound. Loss of fluorescence with respect to NADPH is characterized by arginase activity.
Potential Applications: Pharmaceutical industry, medical industry
Advantages and Benefits: This method can cut down on assay times and minimizes cross-reactivity between the assay and the tested compounds.
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