Synthesis and analytical use of 3-carboxypropionyl-alanyl-alanyl-valine-4-nitroanilide: a specific substrate for human leukocyte elastase.

H R Wenzel, S Engelbrecht, H Reich, W Mondry, H Tschesche

Index: Hoppe. Seylers. Z. Physiol. Chem. 361 , 1413, (1980)

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Abstract

A simple synthesis is described for 3-carboxypropionyl-Ala-Ala-Val-4-nitroanilide, a convenient and very specific substrate for human leukocyte elastase (Km = 1.0mM, kcat = 8.7 s-1). The substrate does not undergo appreciable spontaneous hydrolysis. It is not cleaved by trypsin or chymotrypsin and only rather slowly by porcine pancreatic elastase (Km = 9.1mM, kcat = 1.4 s-1).