Ecarin

Description:
Ecarin is a metalloprotease isolated from the venom of the saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) that activates prothrombin. Ecarin does not affect other clotting factors. The action of ecarin on prothrombin is independent of calcium, phospholipids and factor V. Moreover, Ecarin, in contrast to factor Xa, activates the acarboxy form of prothrombin present in plasma of patients undergoing oral anticoagulant therapy with vitamin K antagonists.

Application:
Determination of prothrombin levels in patients undergoing anticoagulant therapy. Based on the interaction of hirudin with meizothrombin a simple ecarin clotting test for the monitoring of hirudin levels has been developed (Nowak and Bucha, 1993). Due to its action on acarboxy prothrombin, ecarin can be used for the determination of acarboxy prothrombin in the supernatent of barium sulfate treated patient plasma where normal carboxylated prothrombin has been removed by adsorption. Ecarin can be used for the detection of low prothrombin concentrations in plasma fractions for quality-and in-process control purposes. Ecarin, used in conjunction with the phospholipid-and calcium ion-dependent prothrombin activator Textarin^® from Pseudonaja textilis venom, forms a highly sensitive and specific test system for lupus anticoagulant (Triplett et al., 1993).

Origin: Echis carinatus snake venom

MW: 55’000 to 60’000

Reconstitution:
Reconstitute vial with HEPES-buffered saline (0.2 M) containing 0.025 M calcium chloride. Recommended final ecarin concentration: 4-8 U/ml.

Storage:
May be used by the expiry date given on the label when stored unopened, protected from moisture, in the dark, 2°-8°C. Avoid contamination of the reagents by micro-organisms. Shipment of product does not require cooling during the time of transportation.

Stability after reconstitution:
+2°-8°C  -  7 days 
-20°C  -  6 months

Category: Research use only

Type: Snake Venom Protease Activator

Product Availability: Germany, Israel and Egypt

Manufacturer: DSM Nutritional Products Ltd. Branch Pentapharm, Switzerland

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