CONTINUOUS SPECTROMETRIC ASSAY FOR MEASURING MEPRIN ACTIVITY USING AN AUXILIARY ENZYME

摘要

The present invention relates to assays for measuring meprin activity. More particularly, the assays concern rapid, sensitive, reliable and robust assays for measuring meprin activity comprising a coupled enzyme assay suitable for high-throughput screening. In particular, the invention relates to methods for 1) for assaying meprin catalytic activity; 2) identifying inhibitors of meprin activity; 3) methods for measuring the IC50 of a test compound inhibiting meprin activity; 4) methods for differentiating a competitive inhibitor meprin from a non-competitive inhibitor of meprin; and 5) methods for identifying specific inhibitors for meprin α and meprin β. Further provided is a kit, which can be used to perform the methods of the invention.