Description
Key facts
Detection method:Colorimetric,
Sample types:Urine, Tissue Extracts, Cell culture media, Cell culture supernatant, Serum,
Assay type:Enzyme activity (quantitative),
Sensitivity:> 0.2 mU/well,
Assay time:40m,
Assay Platform:Microplate reader
Product details:
How the assay works
In the amylase assay protocol, alpha-Amylase will cleave the substrate ethylidene-pNP-G7 to produce smaller fragments that are eventually modified by alpha-glucosidase. This causes the release of a chromophore that can then be measured at OD = 405 nm.
The assay can detect α-amylase content as low as 0.2 mU.
Amylase assay protocol summary:
- Add samples and standards to wells
- Prepare standard curve
- Add reaction mix
- Measure optical density (OD405 nm) in a kinetic mode at 25°C every 2-3 min for 30-60 min on a microplate reader
How other researchers are using
Amylase Assay Kit (Colorimetric) has been used in a variety of sample type including:
Mouse blood serum
Mouse pancreas samples
Human pancreatic cancer cell lines
References:
1-Thompson D et al. 2023
2-Thompson D et al. 2023
3-Xue Q et al. 2023
Related and recommended products
To screen potential inhibitors of Alpha-Amylase we recommend:
- Alpha-Amylase Inhibitor Screening Kit (Colorimetric)
ab283391
This product is manufactured by BioVision, an Abcam company and was previously called K711 Amylase Activity Colorimetric Assay Kit. K711-100 is the same size as the 100 test size of ab102523.
Amylases are enzymes that break starch down to sugar molecules. α-amylase is the major form of amylase found in humans and other mammals as well as an enzyme present in seeds, or in fungi (baker's yeast for instance). α-amylase is a calcium metalloenzyme, completely unable to function in the absence of calcium. In human physiology, both the salivary and pancreatic amylases are major digestive enzymes.
The Safety Datasheet for this product has been updated for certain countries. Please check the current version in the Support and downloads section.
Properties and Storage Information:
Shipped at conditions-Blue Ice, Appropriate short-term storage conditions--20°C, Appropriate long-term storage conditions--20°C, Storage information--20°C
Supplementary Information:
This supplementary information is collated from multiple sources and compiled automatically.
Amylase also known as alpha-amylase when referring to its most common form is an enzyme that plays an important role in the digestion of carbohydrates. It mechanically functions by catalyzing the hydrolysis of starch into sugars. Amylase is expressed heavily in the salivary glands and pancreas with pancreatic amylase having a molecular weight of approximately 50 kDa. These tissues produce amylase that gets released into the digestive tract where it continues the process of breaking down complex carbohydrates.
Biological function summary
Amylase is integral to the digestive process by contributing to the breakdown of starches necessary for nutrient absorption. It exists mainly as a single chain protein but in some organisms it can be part of larger multi-enzyme complexes. Its enzymatic activity significantly affects how well organisms obtain energy from their food sources. Several amylase activity assays have been developed to measure how active the enzyme is in various conditions providing insights into its role in metabolism and other biological processes.
Pathways
The function of amylase fits into the carbohydrate digestion and absorption pathway. This metabolic pathway involves other critical enzymes such as maltase and glucosidase which further break down sugar molecules. Amylase activity is key in the early stages of the pathway where it breaks down large polysaccharides into maltose and dextrins. Understanding this pathway can provide insights into nutrient absorption and energy production in organisms.
Altered amylase levels connect to conditions such as pancreatitis and salivary gland dysfunction. Pancreatic amylase levels may rise in response to acute pancreatitis providing an important biomarker for diagnosing this condition. In these diseases amylase interacts with other enzymes like lipase which can also show altered activity to indicate changes in pancreatic health. Monitoring amylase activity through amylase assay kits and protocols can offer essential information for clinicians dealing with digestive and metabolic disorders.
