AssayPro—Human uPA Chromogenic

Introduction
Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is a highly restricted serine protease that converts the zymogen plasminogen to active plasmin, a broad-spectrum serine proteinase capable of degrading most of the major protein components of the extracellular matrix. Binding of uPA to its receptor and subsequent uPA mediated pericellular proteolysis are involved in many process including cell migration and tissue remodeling in angiogeenesis, atherogenesis, tumor cell metastasis, and ovulation (1, 2). High level of uPA is a poor prognostic marker for aggressive breast cancer, aggressive prostate cancer, bladder cancer and gastric cancer (3, 4, 5).

Principle of Assay
The AngioSense Human uPA Chromogenic Activity Assay Kit is developed to determine human uPA activity in plasma and cell culture supernatants. The assay measures the ability of uPA to activate the plasminogen to plasmin in coupled or indirect assays that contain uPA, plasminogen, and a plasmin-specific synthetic substrate. The amount of plasmin produced is quantitated using a highly specific plasmin substrate releasing a yellow para-nitroaniline (pNA) chromophore. The change in absorbance of the pNA in the reaction solution at 405 nm is directly proportional to the uPA enzymatic activity.