Hydroxyproline Assay

Hydroxyproline, (MW 131.13), a nonessential amino acid is found primarily in collagen and elastin in animals. Hydroxyproline-rich proteins are also found in the cell walls of plants where it is used as a glycan attachment point. Other instances of hydroxyproline in proteins are known but relatively rare (HIF-1, conotoxin, etc.). Hydroxyproline is formed in an ascorbate dependent process by prolyl hydroxylase after synthesis of the peptide chain. It functions in collagen by strengthening mechanical integrity. Collagen formation and turnover in disease states (liver fibrosis, Paget’s, bone metastases) can be assessed through measurement of hydrolysates or serum and urine hydroxyproline levels. AkrivisBio’s Hydroxyproline Assay is designed to measure hydroxyproline primarily in protein and tissue hydrolysates. Serum and urine can be used as samples after appropriate pretreatment. AkrivisBio provides a simple method of measuring hydroxyproline giving a chromogen which can be measured between 550-565 nm, useful over the range of 1-20 μg of collagen or about 0.1-2 μg of hydroxyproline.