Patent ID: 8058024
Filing Date: 2011-11-15
Classification: C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting a target protease in a biological sample wherein said method comprises the following steps: a) providing a substrate to which is attached a fluorescing dye and a dye that quenches fluorescence (quencher), wherein the substrate has SEQ ID NO:1, the fluorescing dye and the quencher are in sufficiently close proximity on the substrate such that the quencher quenches the fluorescence of the fluorescing dye, and wherein the two dyes are separated by a site that is cleaved by the target protease such that, when the target protease cleaves the substrate the fluorescing dye is separated from the quencher, b) contacting the substrate with the sample for a period of time sufficient to permit substrate cleavage to occur if there is protease present in the sample; c) subjecting the sample to non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation that causes the fluorescing dye to fluoresce; and d) detecting any fluorescence, wherein the detection of fluorescence indicates that protease is present in the sample.