AffiASSAY® Phosphatidic Acid Assay Kit (Fluorometric)

Specifications

Description

Phospholipids are amphiphilic molecules containing phosphate groups, and are both critical components of biological membranes and important signaling messengers in a number of biological pathways. Phosphatidic acid (PA) is the simplest phospholipid, consisting of a glycerol backbone with fatty acids bonded to carbon 1 and 2, and a phosphate group bonded to carbon 3. PA is a precursor for the synthesis of more complex phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine that act as structural components of the plasma membrane. Phosphatidic acid itself is present in the plasma membrane lending the membrane a high curvature and a net negative charge. In addition, it is an important signaling lipid. It acts through a G-protein coupled receptor and is involved in growth regulation and mitosis. BioVision’s phosphatidic acid assay kit is a plate-based enzymatic assay for quantitation of PA in cells and tissues. The PA Converter hydrolyzes PA to form an intermediate which, in the presence of a developer and enzyme mix, converts a non-fluorescent probe to a fluorescent product (Ex/Em= 535/587 nm) that can be quantified. The Converter is specific to PA and does not hydrolyze other phospholipids (e.g. those with more complex head groups such as phosphatidylcholine or cardiolipin), allowing direct quantitation of PA. This kit can detect as low as 40 pmol PA per well