Enzymatic Assay of Aprotinin

1. Objective

To standardize a procedure for the enzymatic assay of aprotinin.

2. Scope

The scope of this procedure is all products that have a specification for aprotinin activity.

3. Definitions

3.1 One trypsin inhibitor unit (TIU) will decrease the activity of two trypsin units by 50% where one trypsin unit will hydrolyze 1.0 μmol of Nα-benzoyl-DL-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA) per minute at pH 7.8 at 25 ^ºC.

3.2 Purified Water = water from a deionizing system, resistivity ~18MΩ•cm @ 25 ^ºC

4. Discussion

Aprotinin will inhibit the following reaction:

Nα-Benzoyl-DL-Arginine-p-Nitroanilide ^Trypsin > Nα-Benzoyl-DL-Arginine + p-Nitroaniline

5. Responsibilities

Analytical Services laboratory personnel should follow this procedure as written.

6. Safety

Refer to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for hazards and appropriate handling precautions.

7. Procedure

7.1 CONDITIONS

T=25 °C, pH=7.8, A_405nm, Light path=1 cm

7.2 METHOD
Continuous Spectrophotometric Rate Determination

7.3 REAGENTS

7.3.1 200 mM Triethanolamine Buffer, 20 mM Calcium Chloride, pH 7.8 at 25 °C (Buffer)
Prepare a 37.1 mg/mL solution in purified water using Triethanolamine Hydrochloride, such as Product No. T1502, and Calcium Chloride, Dihydrate, such as Product No. C3881. Adjust to pH 7.8 at 25 °C with 1 M NaOH.

7.3.2 0.1% (w/v) Nα-Benzoyl-DL-Arginine-p-Nitroanilide Solution (BAPNA)
Prepare a 1.0 mg/mL solution in purified water using Nα-Benzoyl-DL-Arginine-p-Nitroanilide, such as Product No. B4875.

7.3.2.1 Keep solution at 25 °C prior and during use to ensure a core reaction mixture of 25 °C during the run.

7.3.2.2 If the solution is hazy, continue to stir over a gentle heat, but do not exceed 65ºC, until the solution becomes clear. Do not use the solution if it turns yellow, this could be an indication of possible chemical decomposition of the substrate due to overheating.

7.3.3 1 mM Hydrochloric Acid Solution (HCl)
Prepare 100 mL in purified water.

7.3.4 Trypsin Enzyme Solution (Trypsin)
Immediately before use, prepare a solution containing 1040-1560 units/mL of Trypsin, Type III in cold Reagent 7.3.4 (HCl).

7.3.4.1 The uninhibited rate must have a ∆A_405nm/min of 0.08-0.12. Adjust the concentration of Reagent 7.3.4 (Trypsin) using cold Reagent 7.3.4 (HCl) so that the results reside within this range.

7.3.5 0.85% (w/v) Sodium Chloride Solution (NaCl)
Use neat Product No. S0817 or equivalent.

7.3.6 Aprotinin Inhibitor Solution (Inhibitor)
Immediately before use, prepare a solution containing 0.065-0.080 TIU/mL in cold Reagent 7.3.5 (NaCl).

7.3.6.1 The % inhibition must be between 40 and 60 percent for the assay to be valid. Adjust the concentration of Reagent 7.3.6 (Inhibitor) using cold Reagent 7.3.5 (NaCl) so that the results reside within this range.

7.4 TEST METHOD

7.4.1 Pipette the following reagents (milliliters) into suitable cuvettes:

7.4.3 Mix by inversion and equilibrate to 25 °C. Monitor the A_405nm until constant, using a suitably thermostatted spectrophotometer. Then add:

7.4.3 Immediately mix by inversion and record the increase in A_405nm for approximately 5 minutes. Obtain the ∆ A_405nm/Minute using the maximum linear rate for the Uninhibited and then calculate the Inhibited, and Blank Solutions using the same time frame as the uninhibited.

7.5 CALCULATIONS

where:
TIU = Trypsin Inhibitor Units
df = Dilution factor
9.96 = The millimolar extinction coefficient of p-Nitroaniline at 405nm
RM = Reaction Mix

7.6 FINAL ASSAY CONCENTRATION
In a 3.00 mL reaction mix, the final concentrations are 107 mM Triethanolamine, 11 mM Calcium Chloride, 0.03% (w/v) Nα-Benzoyl-DL-Arginine p-Nitroanilide, 0.07 mM Hydrochloric Acid, 208-312 units of Trypsin, 0.057% (w/v) Sodium Chloride, and 0.013 – 0.015 Trypsin Inhibitor Units of Aprotinin.

8. References

8.1 Fritz, H., Hartwich, G., Werle, E., Hoppe-Seylers Zeitschrift Für Physiologishche Chemie (Berlin) 345, 150-167 (1966).

8.2 Kassell, B., Methods in Enzymology XIX, 844-852 (1970).