Elastase, lyophilized, 10 mg, glass

Elastase is a serine protease with a broad specificity. The enzyme cleaves proteins and peptides on the carboxyl side of small hydrophobic amino acids such as Gly, Ala, Val, Leu and Ile. It also hydrolyzes amides and esters such as N-benzoyl-L-alanine methyl ester.

In contrast to other proteases, elastase is able to digest native elastin, which is found in high concentrations in connective tissue. Accordingly, elastase in combination with other enzymes, such as trypsin, is often used for cell dissociation in order to separate cells from animal tissue or culture surfaces. In addition to elastin, it also hydrolyzes other proteins, including fibrin, casein, haemoglobin, albumin and denatured collagen.

One unit is defined as the amount of enzyme that hydrolyzes 1 μMol methoxysuccinyl-alanine-alanine-proline-valine-p-nitroanilide per minute at 37 °C and pH 7.5.