Fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled casein assay for proteolytic enzymes

A simple inexpensive sensitive protease assay was developed using soluble fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled casein. Casein was reacted with FITC to form the fluorescein thiocarbamoyl derivative. This substrate is cleaved by trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, subtilisin, and thermolysin in a linear time-dependent manner. These enzymes can be measured in the nanogram and subnanogram range using this assay. The assay is reproducible, has a low blank, and uses casein, which resembles natural substrates of most proteases.