Alkaline Sphingomyelinase Activity Assay Kit (Colorimetric)

I. Sphingomyelinase (SMase, E.C. 3.1.4.12) cleaves sphingomyelin to produce phosphocholine and ceramide. Both of these molecules can act as second messengers and regulate downstream events including apoptosis, cell proliferation, and sterol homeostasis. The sphingomyelinase family of enzymes includes acid sphingomyelinase, found in the lysosome and also secreted, neutral sphingomyelinase, which is enriched in the brain, and alkaline sphingomyelinase (AlkSMase), which acts in the intestinal tract. Unlike the neutral variety (nSMase), AlkSMase shows optimal activity at higher pH and does not require mg2+ for enzymatic activity. AlkSMase, also referred to as NPP7, because of its homology to the Nucleotide Pyrophosphatase/Phosphodiesterase family of enzymes, has been implicated in prevention of tumor formation. Its activity is decreased in some intestinal cancers, as wells as instances of chronic colitis. Alkaline Sphingomyelinase may also play a role in cholesterol absorption. BioVision’s Alkaline Sphingomyelinse Colorimetric Assay Kit provides a simple, high throughput adaptable means to identify and quantify alkaline sphingomyelinase activity in a variety of samples without influence from neutral or acid sphingomyelinase. Upon incubation with substrate, the hydrolysis produces an intermediate that reacts with the probe, generating a colorimetric signal. The assay can detect as low as 0.5 µU of alkaline sphingomyelinase activity