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Concentraion of Enzymes
Name: Tricishanna H.
Status: Student
Age: 16
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: July 2003
Question:
How, and in what units, is the concentration of enzymes measured?
Replies:
Dear Tricishanna,
Since enzymes are proteins, their actual concentration can be determined using any of the fairly
standard protein assays available commercially. These assays typically compare the color
production of a protein-binding reagent, such as Coomasie Blue, from the unknown enzyme with
that from a protein "standard" of known concentration, usually to find the milligrams of protein
per milliliter (mg/mL) of solution.
However, because enzymes are often not 100% pure, their concentration is more often measured in
terms of their enzyme activity. Even if they have been completely purified, their activity is
usually a more functionally useful value, since the amount of specific activity per mg of enzyme
often varies for different enzyme preparations. Activity is a much less standardized value,
however. Its measurement is different for almost every individual enzyme, and it is generically
reported simply as units per mL (U/mL). The particular assay used to define these units is often
established by the first investigators to purify and characterize the enzyme. However, it is not
always strictly adhered to, and other investigators sometimes develop competing assays, often
leading to confusion as to which units are being reported.
This is probably a more complicated explanation than you expected, but I hope that it's not too
confusing for you. Thanks for the good question,
Jeff Buzby, Ph.D.
CHOC Research Institute
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Update: June 2012
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