Amsbio has announced two histone-deacetylase (HDAC) cell-based assay kits for studying the activity and inhibition of the full range of HDAC enzymes (1-11).
The kits provide a fast, fluorescence-based method that eliminates radioactivity, extractions or chromatography, as are often used in traditional HDAC assays.
By using a cell-permeable HDAC substrate in the assay kits, the activity of various protein lysine-specific deacetylases, including HDAC-containing complexes, can be measured in intact cells in a simple and homogenous manner.
The fluorescence of the deacetylated reaction product can be analysed using a plate reader or a fluorometer.
The assay procedures require two steps, each performed on a single microtitre plate.
First, the HDAC substrate - which comprises an acetylated lysine side chain - is incubated with a sample containing HDAC activity.
Second, deacetylation of the substrate sensitises the substrate, so that further treatment with the lysine developer produces a fluorophore.
The HDAC and HDAC class 2a assay are suited for high-throughput screening applications.
HDAC inhibitors and antibodies, together with all 11 active HDAC enzymes, are available.
Active Sirtuin proteins are also available separately.
