Gelatine powder

Gelatine is for example a substrate of the serin protease Plasminogen or of the metallo protease Gelatinase. By co-polymerisation of this substrate (0.1%) it is possible to measure the activity of proteases directly in the gel. By incubation of the gel with different protease inhibitors it will be possible to determine the optimal mixture of protease inhibitors. Alternatively the enzyme activity can be measured photometrically in solution at 280nm. Gelatine is used to block (coat) surfaces before ELISA or cell culture experiments. It is used as a carrier protein in immun precipitation or for stabilisation of enzymes. It has been reported that Gelatine may inhibit PCR reactions. Gelatine is dissolved sterilised by autoclavation (20 minutes for solutions). After cooling Gelatine will be solid again. Before use Gelatine can be heated in the micro wave oven to dissolve it again.