BACE enzyme kinetics detected by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

                                        Markéta Machálková



Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry was introduced for the analysis of
enzyme kinetics and inhibition. The K[m] for selected substrate and IC[50] values for enzyme
inhibitor were in a good agreement with results obtained by capillary electrophoresis coupled to
electrospray mass spectrometry. More specifically, it was focused on β‑secretase (BACE), an enzyme
playing important role in Alzheimer’s disease development. Its selective inhibition in brain could
be beneficial for the patients; thus, specific inhibitor of this enzyme was examined as well. In
comparison with traditional fluorometric or colorimetric methods, the both mass spectrometric
approaches offered faster, sensitive and more precise BACE analysis.