Merck, MAK500-1KT, Alanine Assay Kit

General description
Alanine, a nonessential amino acid, is utilized in the glucose-alanine cycle between tissues and the liver. In tissues that metabolize amino acids, amino groups are collected as glutamate by transamination. The amine group is then transferred by alanine transaminase (ALT) from glutamate to pyruvate to form alanine and α-ketoglutarate. The alanine generated is transported to the liver where a reverse ALT reaction occurs and pyruvate is regenerated. Pyruvate is converted through gluconeogenesis to glucose which can then be recirculated to the tissues. Alanine concentration may have some correlation with high blood pressure, energy intake, cholesterol levels and body mass index.
Application
The kit is suitable for determining alanine levels in plasma, serum, urine, tissue and culture media, as well as for studying the effects of drugs on alanine metabolism.
Biochem/physiol Actions
In the Alanine Assay Kit, alanine is converted into pyruvate which can then be directly measured. The color intensity of the reaction product at 570 nm or fluorescence intensity at λEx = 530 nm/λEm = 585 nm is directly proportional to the alanine concentration in the sample.
Features and Benefits

• Linear detection range: 1 to 200 µM alanine for the colorimetric assay and 0.4 to 20 µM for the fluorometric assay.