AnaSpec Introduces Fluorimetric Assay Kit for Aggrecanase-1 Activity Detection

AnaSpec has announced the release of fluorimetric assay optimized to detect ADAMTS-4 (aggrecanase-1) activity - the SensoLyte™ 520 Aggrecanase-1 Assay Kit. A FRET based assay, it is homogeneous and has an emission in the green range (Ex/Em= 490 nm/520 nm).

The kit contains a novel internally quenched peptide substrate for aggrecanase-1 consisting of 5-FAM/TAMRA as the FRET pair. In the intact FRET peptide, the fluorescence of 5-FAM is quenched by TAMRA. Active ADAMTS-4 cleaves FRET substrate into two separate fragments resulting in an increase of 5-FAM fluorescence. Other members of aggrecanase family, such as ADAMTS-1 and ADAMTS-5, do not cleave the substrate provided in this kit.

Aggrecanases are members of the ADAMTS (A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease with Thrombospondin motif) family of proteases. ADAMTS-4 (Aggrecanase-1) and ADAMTS-5 (Aggrecanase-2) activities result in the degradation of cartilage aggrecan in arthritic diseases. ADAMTS-4 (aggrecanase-1) is a major aggrecanase in human osteoarthritic cartilage. Other members of the ADAMTS family (ADAMTS-1, -8, -9, -15 and –16) have also been implicated in embryonic development and angiogenesis.

The kit provides enough reagents to perform 100 assays in a 96-well format.

The kit contains: • Aggrecanase-1 FRET substrate • 5-FAM reference standard for calibration • Assay buffer • Aggrecanase inhibitor • Stop Solution.