Product Details
Proteinase K is a broad-spectrum endopeptidase derived from the fungus Tritirachium album. The native enzyme has a size of 26-28 kilodaltons and preferentially cleaves peptide bonds adjacent to aliphatic and aromatic amino acid residues of both native and denatured proteins. Proteinase K can be used to enhance cell and viral particle lysis in combination with a variety of detergents (Tween 20, Triton X-100, SDS, Sarkosyl) and denaturants (guanidinium, urea) during nucleic acid extraction.
Empirical’s Proteinase K is stable over a wide range of pH values (pH 4-12) and temperatures (30-60 °C) with optimal activity at pH 8.0 and 55 °C. Enzyme activity is maintained in the presence of reductants such as 2-mercaptoethanol and DTT (≤ 5 mM), as well as the metal ion chelator EDTA (≤ 50 mM). Note that Proteinase K is sensitive to common serine protease inhibitors including PMSF, AEBSF and DFP, which should be left out of lysis buffers used for nucleic acid extraction.
