N-α-Acetyl-L-aspartic α-p-nitroanilide
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N-α-Acetyl-L-aspartic α-p-nitroanilide

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Category
β−Amino Acids
Catalog number
BAT-005932
CAS number
41149-01-3
Molecular Formula
C12H13N3O6
Molecular Weight
295.25
N-α-Acetyl-L-aspartic α-p-nitroanilide
IUPAC Name
(3S)-3-acetamido-4-(4-nitroanilino)-4-oxobutanoic acid
Synonyms
Ac-Asp-pNA
Storage
Store at -20°C
InChI
InChI=1S/C12H13N3O6/c1-7(16)13-10(6-11(17)18)12(19)14-8-2-4-9(5-3-8)15(20)21/h2-5,10H,6H2,1H3,(H,13,16)(H,14,19)(H,17,18)/t10-/m0/s1
InChI Key
CZAFZGHQNCYTDG-JTQLQIEISA-N
Canonical SMILES
CC(=O)NC(CC(=O)O)C(=O)NC1=CC=C(C=C1)[N+](=O)[O-]

N-α-Acetyl-L-aspartic α-p-nitroanilide (Ac-Asp-pNA) is a versatile synthetic substrate widely utilized in enzyme assays and biochemical research. Here are four key applications of Ac-Asp-pNA:

Enzyme Activity Assays: Embedded in spectrophotometric enzyme activity assays, Ac-Asp-pNA assumes a pivotal role as a chromogenic substrate. Upon cleavage by specific proteases, it liberates p-nitroaniline, materializing as a visually striking yellow product discernible at 405 nm. This method offers a streamlined and quantitative means to quantify protease activity across diverse biological samples, facilitating meticulous evaluations of enzymatic function and performance efficacy.

Protein Characterization: Within the expansive domain of scientific inquiry, N-α-Acetyl-L-aspartic α-p-nitroanilide emerges as a potent tool for unraveling the intricacies of proteolytic enzymes, shedding light on their specificity and kinetics. By probing the interactions of various enzymes with this substrate, researchers unearth detailed insights into enzyme substrate preferences and reaction dynamics. This knowledge proves critical in unraveling enzyme mechanisms and sculpting bespoke enzyme inhibitors with precision.

Drug Screening: Spearheading pharmaceutical research pursuits, Ac-Asp-pNA plays a prominent role in high-throughput screening assays engineered to unearth potential protease inhibitors. By scrutinizing a myriad of compounds for their capacity to impede substrate cleavage, scientists unearth novel therapeutic agents adept at combatting protease-related ailments. This methodology serves as a vital stride in crafting targeted medications tailored to tackle specific medical conditions with maximal efficacy.

Pathway Analysis: Delving deep into the complex metabolic and signaling pathways overseen by proteases, N-α-Acetyl-L-aspartic α-p-nitroanilide emerges as a linchpin in unraveling the functions of these enzymes in cellular processes across diverse experimental settings. Through meticulous tracking of enzyme activity dynamics, researchers unveil the intricate correlations between proteases and biological pathways, elevating our comprehension of disease etiology and setting the stage for pinpointing promising targets for therapeutic interventions.

1. Kinetic investigation of the staphylococcal protease-catalyzed hydrolysis of synthetic substrates
J Houmard Eur J Biochem. 1976 Sep 15;68(2):621-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1976.tb10850.x.
In investigating the staphylococcal protease-catalyzed hydrolysis of N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-L-glutamate alpha-phenyl ester, N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-glutamate alpha-phenyl ester and N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-glutamate alpha-p-nitroanilide, we obtained kinetic evidence consistent with the formation of an acyl-enzyme intermediate. We found that addition of a nucleophile, such as methanol, led to the partition of the common acyl-enzyme intermediate between water and the alcohol. With N-benzyl-oxycarbonyl-L-glutamate alpha-phenyl ester, a specific ester substrate, deacylation was shown to be the rate-limiting step. By studying the kcat/Km ratio of these hydrolyses as a function of pH, we have shown that two ionizable groups on the enzyme are essential to the catalytic process. One of these groups has a pK of 6.58 and the other, a pK of 8.25. The assignment of these pK values is discussed in connection with the known features of the serine proteinase reaction mechanism. In addition, monovalent anions were shown to inhibit staphylococcal protease hydrolyses. They seem to compete with the negative charge of the substrate, thus inhibiting its binding on the enzyme molecule. Finally we compared the kinetic parameters obtained with five proteases isolated from different strains of Staphylococcus aureus.
2. Paenidase, a novel D-aspartyl endopeptidase from Paenibacillus sp. B38: purification and substrate specificity
Saori Takahashi, Hironobu Ogasawara, Kazuyuki Hiwatashi, Kazuyuki Hori, Keishi Hata, Tadanori Tachibana, Yoshifumi Itoh, Toshihiro Sugiyama J Biochem. 2006 Feb;139(2):197-202. doi: 10.1093/jb/mvj016.
We discovered and characterized a novel type D-aspartyl endopeptidase (DAEP) produced extracellularly by Paenibacillus sp. B38. This bacterial DAEP of M(r) 34,798 (named paenidase) appeared to be converted into a smaller form of M(r) 34,169 by the proteolytic removal of 5 amino acid residues from the N-terminal. The intact and modified forms of the enzyme displayed essentially the same enzymatic properties. The enzyme specifically hydrolyzed succinyl-D-aspartic acid alpha-(p-nitroanilide) and succinyl-D-aspartic acid alpha-(4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide) to generate p-nitroaniline and 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin, and internally cleaved a synthetic peptide (D-A-E-F-R-H-[D-Asp]-G-S-Y) of the [D-Asp](7) amyloid beta (Abeta) protein between [D-Asp](7)-G(8). Either was totally inert to the normal Abeta peptide sequence containing L-Asp, instead of D-Asp at the 7th position. Thus, paenidase is the first DAEP from a microorganism that specifically recognizes an internal D-Asp residue to cleave [D-Asp]-X peptide bonds.
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