Enzymatic Assay of Protease Using Casein As a Substrate

1. Objective

To standardize a procedure for the enzymatic assay of Protease using Casein as a substrate at Sigma-Aldrich St. Louis.

2. Scope

P4630, P4755, P0384, P5380, P7431, P6141, P1512, P9040, P5147, P5647, P8775, P7026, P4032, P8038, P8298, P2789, P4789, P6670, P3910, P4806, and any specified impurities.

3. Definitions

3.1 UNIT DEFINITION - One unit will hydrolyze casein to produce color equivalent to 1.0 µmole of tyrosine per minute at pH 7.5 at 37ºC. Color per Folin & Ciocalteau’s reagent.

3.2 Purified Water - purified water from a deionizing system with a resistivity >18 MΩּcm-1, or equivalent.

4. Discussion

Casein + H₂O ^Protease > Amino Acids

5. Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of all trained Analytical Services laboratory personnel to follow this procedure as written.

6. Safety

Refer to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for hazards and appropriate handling precautions.

7. Procedure

7.1 CONDITIONS: T = 37ºC, pH=7.5, A_660nm Light Path = 1cm

7.2 METHOD: Spectrophotometric Stop Rate Assay

7.3 REAGENTS

7.3.1 50 mM Potassium Phosphate buffer, pH 7.5 at 37 ºC (Buffer)
Prepare 11.4 mg/mL in purified water using Potassium Phosphate, Dibasic, Trihydrate, Sigma-Aldrich Product Number P5504. Adjust to pH 7.5 at 37 ºC with 1 N HCl.

7.3.2 0.65% (w/v) Casein Solution (Casein)

7.3.2.1 Prepare 6.5 mg/mL in reagent 7.3.1 (Buffer) using Casein, Sigma-Aldrich Product Number C7078.

7.3.2.2 Heat gently with stirring to 80-85 ºC for approximately 10 minutes until a homogeneous dispersion is achieved. Do not boil.

7.3.2.3 Adjust the pH to 7.5 at 37 ºC, if necessary, with 0.1 N NaOH or 0.1 N HCl.

7.3.3 110 mM Trichloroacetic Acid Reagent (TCA)
Prepare 1:55 dilution of Trichloroacetic Acid, 6.1N, approximately 100% (w/v), Sigma-Aldrich Product Number T0699, with purified water.

7.3.4 0.5 M Folin & Ciocalteu’s Phenol Reagent (F-C)
Prepare a 1:4 dilution of 2 M Folin & Ciocalteu’s Phenol Reagent, Sigma-Aldrich Product Number F9252, with purified water.

7.3.5 500 mM Sodium Carbonate Solution (Na₂CO₃)
Prepare 53 mg/mL in purified water using Sodium Carbonate, Anhydrous, Sigma-Aldrich Product Number S2127.

7.3.6 10 mM Sodium Acetate Buffer with 5 mM Calcium Acetate, pH 7.5 at 37ºC (Enzyme Diluent)
Prepare 1.4 mg/mL Sodium Acetate, Trihydrate, Sigma-Aldrich Product Number S8625, and 0.8 mg/mL Calcium Acetate, Sigma-Aldrich Product Number C1000, in purified water. Adjust the pH to 7.5 at 37 ºC with 0.1 M Acetic Acid or 0.1 N NaOH.

7.3.7 1.1 mM L-Tyrosine Standard (Std Soln)
Prepare 0.2 mg/mL L-Tyrosine, Free Base, Sigma-Aldrich Product Number T3754, in purified water. Heat gently (do not boil) until tyrosine dissolves. Cool to room temperature.

7.3.8 Protease Enzyme Solution
Immediately before use, prepare a solution containing 0.1 – 0.2 units/mL of Protease in cold Reagent 7.3.6 (Enzyme Diluent). For samples where little or no protease detection is expected, prepare sample at 10 mg solid/mL in cold Reagent 7.3.6 (Enzyme Diluent).

7.4 ASSAY PROCEDURE

7.4.1 Pipette the following into suitable vials (in milliliters):

7.4.2 Let the vials equilibrate in a suitably thermostated water bath at 37 ºC for about 5 minutes, then add:

7.4.3 Mix by swirling and incubate at 37 ºC for exactly 10 minutes. Then add:

7.4.4 Mix by swirling and incubate at 37 ºC for about 30 minutes.

7.4.5 Filter each solution using a 0.45 μm syringe filter and use the filtrate in Step 7.4.6.

7.4.6 Pipette the following reagent into 4 dram vials (in milliliters): For more consistent results, add F-C (Reagent 7.3.4) immediately following the addition of Na₂CO₃ (Reagent 7.3.5).

7.4.7 Prepare a standard curve by pipetting the following reagents into suitable vials (in milliliters).

7.4.7.1 For impurity samples, low standards may be added as needed:

7.4.7.2 For more consistent results, add F-C (Reagent 7.3.4) immediately following the addition of Na₂CO₃ (Reagent 7.3.5).

7.4.8 Mix by swirling and incubate Blanks, Standards, and Tests at 37 ºC for 30 minutes. Remove the vials and allow to cool to room temperature.

7.4.9 Filter each Blank, Standard, and Test using a 0.45 μm syringe filter into suitable cuvettes.

7.4.10 Record the A660nm of each Test, Standard, and Blank solution.

7.5 CALCULATIONS

7.5.1 Standard Curve

7.5.2 Sample Determination

Where
11 = Total volume of assay in milliliters
2 = Volume (in milliliters) used in Colorimetric Determination
1 = volume of enzyme used for assay
10 = time (in minutes) of assay

7.6 FINAL ASSAY CONCENTRATIONS
In a 6.00 mL reaction mix, the final concentrations are 42 mM potassium phosphate, 0.54% (w/v) casein, 1.7 mM sodium acetate, 0.8 mM calcium acetate, and 0.1 –0.2 unit protease.

9. Approval

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