I'm considering using enzyme assay kits instead of the standard protocols for inhibiting amylase, lipase, acetylcholinesterase, and glycosidase.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using enzyme assay kits over usual protocols?
Does anyone have experience with enzyme assay kits?
Kits are relatively expensive (or very expensive in the case of most ELISA kits). I think they are useful if (1) you don't have the time, capability or ingredients to set up the assay yourself, or (2) you only have a short-term need for the assay or only a small number of samples to test, or (3) the kits give excellent results.
The cost of the kit may be minimized by reducing the volumes in the protocol. For example, if the kit calls for using a 96-well plate, you may be able to use a 384-well plate and thereby reduce the volumes needed by 4-fold (assuming you have the necessary apparatus).
With kits, you are supposed to use the reagents and protocol supplied. In some cases, the composition of reagents may not be disclosed, so you are working with a "black box." However, if you are inclined to do so, you can explore variations on the protocol. You might, for example, be able to use a more dilute version of a reagent in some cases with equally good or better results, or you might try using a different buffer than the one supplied that might be better for your enzyme.
Occasionally, the quality of the kit may be poor, or its behavior may not be what you hoped for. A good kit, on the other hand, can repay its cost in time saved or in the quality of the results.
Now a days estimation of enzyme activity can be done by Kit method, for early completion and also for accuracy. I suggest that if related reagent that is substrate, buffer are available then why not perform in manually. Doing the enzyme assays make a concentration on adjustment of optimum Ph and optimum temperature to show the broken down of substrate and product formation.
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