Detection and quantification of leucyl aminopeptidase after native electrophoresis using leucine-p-nitroanilide

A general method for detecting leucyl aminopeptidase activity after native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) in situ is described. The method is based on diazotization of p-nitroaniline, liberated in the polyacrylamide gel by leucyl aminopeptidase action on leucine-p-nitroanilide (LpNA) and subsequent coupling with a chromogen, 1-naphthylamine, until a pink azo dye product at the position of enzyme activity is obtained. A possible use of this technique for leucyl aminopeptidase detection and quantification is indicated. This method was found to be reproducible with the coefficient of variation below 15% for a 32-fold range, while the colored area of enzyme activity was in linear dependence to enzyme activity. Applications of this method with some other aminoacyl-p-nitroanilides and for detection of kidney bean leucyl aminopeptidase isoforms are demonstrated.