Description
Key facts
Detection method:Colorimetric,
Sample types:Tissue Lysate, Serum, Cell Lysate,
Assay Platform:Microplate reader
Product details:
Phenylalanine Assay Kit (Colorimetric) (ab241000) provides a quick, simple and accurate method for quantifying Phenylalanine in biological samples. In the assay, Phenylalanine is metabolized with the simultaneous formation of NADH which reacts with a probe to generate absorbance that can be followed colorimetrically at 450 nm. The assay is linear in the range from 0.2 to 10 nmol, allowing accurate determination of concentrations in the range of 1 - 50 μM Phenylalanine.
Other Notes
This product is manufactured by BioVision, an Abcam company and was previously called K481 Phenylalanine Assay Kit (Colorimetric). K481-100 is the same size as the 100 test size of ab241000.
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.
Phenylalanine often abbreviated as Phe is an essential amino acid with a molecular mass of 165.19 g/mol. It serves as a precursor for the biosynthesis of proteins and other compounds. Phenylalanine is transported into cells by a specific membrane transporter and expresses mainly in the liver and brain tissues. In laboratory settings phenylalanine assays and kits are often used to measure its concentration in biological samples which can be colorimetrically or fluorescently assessed.
Biological function summary
Phenylalanine aids in the formation of proteins by incorporating into the polypeptide chains during ribosomal translation. It is not part of a molecular complex but acts as a free amino acid in various cellular processes. Its conversion to tyrosine by the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase is an important step in its metabolism. This conversion is necessary because tyrosine is used in the production of neurotransmitters and hormones.
Pathways
Phenylalanine plays an important role in the phenylalanine and tyrosine catabolic pathway. This pathway is critical for the metabolism of aromatic amino acids eventually leading to the synthesis of important compounds like dopamine and norepinephrine. The enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase closely related to this pathway shows the connection between phenylalanine and subsequent tyrosine-derived neurotransmitters illustrating its importance in neurochemical regulation.
Phenylalanine is strongly associated with the genetic disorder phenylketonuria (PKU) resulting from mutations in the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene. This deficiency leads to high levels of phenylalanine in the blood causing neurotoxicity and cognitive impairments if left untreated. Management of PKU involves a diet low in phenylalanine connecting it to medical nutrition strategies. Furthermore high phenylalanine levels can affect proteins involved in neurotransmitter production linking it to potential neurological complications when not properly regulated.
