Enzyme Substrate FAQs

AMC or MCA: Which one is it?

The fluorogenic compound, 7-Amino-4-MethylCoumarin (CAS Number: 6093-31-2, C10H9NO2), is often called AMC and is used in fluorogenic substrates for the detection of proteolytic enzyme activity. The release of AMC can be detected by fluorescence or absorbance.1 Typically, the free compound is referred to as “AMC”. When it is bound to the C-terminus of an amino acid, it becomes 4-MethylCoumaryl-7-Amide, and Vivitide refers to the bound version as MCA, although it is sometimes still identified as “AMC”, even when bound. An example, is the compound, H-Lys-MCA, which is sometimes referred to as H-Lys-AMC.

  1. C.P. Linn et al., Anal Biochem. 200(2), 400 (1992).

How do I find Assay Methods for my Enzyme Substrate?

The substrate assay methods can often be found in published literature or, if available, can be found here:

    Assay Methods for Peptidyl-MCA Substrates

    Assay Methods for MOCAc/Dnp Substrates

    Assay Methods for NMA/Dnp Substrates

    Assay Methods for Peptidyl-pNA Substrates

    FRETS-25Xa

    FRETS-VWF73

or feel free to contact us  for more information.