Anticoagulant serine protease that can be used to study coagulation in relation to particular proteins, such as factor VIII
Cambridge Bioscience has introduced Activated Protein C (APC) from Haematologic Technologies (HTI).
APC is an anticoagulant serine protease that can be used to study coagulation in relation to particular proteins, such as factor VIII.
In addition to the standard APC preparation, an active site-blocked form containing Dansyl-EGR-chloromethlyketone is also available.
Activated Protein C works by catalysing the inactivation of cofactors Va and VIIIa, leading to inhibition of the prothrombinase and factor Xase complexes.
Inactivation of these cofactors is both Ca2+ and phospholipid dependent.
The vitamin K dependent cofactor, protein S, moderately increases this rate of inactivation.
Activated Protein C is prepared from purified protein C that has been activated with thrombin, followed by ion exchange chromatography. It is supplied in 50% (vol/vol) glycerol/H2O and should be stored at -20C.
Purity is determined by SDS-Page analysis; activity is measured using a chromogenic substrate assay.
All production lots of APC are tested for their ability to prolong the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) of normal human plasma, as required for the APC resistance assay.
The results of this test are provided with each lot, as an aPTT (+/- APC) ratio (10nM APC).
