Heparanase and Hyaluronidase Activity Kits

Each assay is available in two formats:

• with enzyme as positive control to demonstrate digestion/activity.
• without positive control, for end-users who have their own enzyme for use as positive control.

These enzyme activity assays are complementary to our ELISA kits. ELISA kits measure the quantity of a particular antigen as detected by specific antibodies (and will give you an answer that includes inactive forms of the enzyme in question) – while these activity assays measure the activity of relevant enzymes in the system as assessed by substrate degradation.

See papers by Martin et al ( 2015, 2017) below where they used our heparanase activity assay alongside one of our heparanase ELISAs to measure both quantity and activity of heparanase enzymes in their system.

• Suitable for inhibitor screening
• Non-radioactive
• Fast and easy to use
• Sensitive and specific
• Use universal 96-well plate format ideal for inhibitor studies

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) are known to play important structural and functional roles in linking the component proteins of the basement membrane, controlling membrane permeability properties and signal transduction. This latter function is achieved by controlling the bioavailability of cytokines and growth factors to their cellular receptors. HSPG on the cell surface participates in signal transduction by facilitating the interaction between growth factors and their receptors. Heparanase is an endoglycosidase that specifically cleaves heparan sulfate (HS) side chains of HSPG.

Due to the wide distribution and functions of HSPG, heparanase activity affects various cellular functions under normal and pathological conditions.

Research into the development of inhibitors or enhancers of this enzyme had been previously obstructed by the lack of sensitive and specific tests for human heparanase activity. Furthermore the unavailability of a purified enzyme or instability of the cloned enzyme limits assay design. To date the available tests have the above shortcomings and are time consuming, not applicable for inhibitor screening or lack an appropriate positive control. The heparanase assay kits below have been specifically developed to overcome these problems.

Hyaluronic Acid is an important structural macromolecule in the ECM, and involved in the interaction of matrix components. Mammalian hyaluronidases (HYAL1 to HYAL4) are ECM enzymes that degrades hyaluronic acid via hydrolysis of the 1-4 bond between N-acetyl glucosamine and D-glucuronic. Mammalian hyaluronidases can also cleave similar glycosaminoglycans.

Our Razie mammalian hyaluronidase assay kits can be used for screening hyaluronidase inhibitors and for quantification of hyaluronidase activity. The principles of the kit are very similar to the heparanase assay kit. Adaptations are available to measure the activity of bacterial hyaluronidase enzymes.