Non-chromogenic peptide substrates for detection of enzymes by means of capacitance changes at metal electrodes.

A new type of substrate for enzyme detection has been developed. The substrate is non-chromogenic and is used in an assay method based on electrode adsorption. The rate of change in the electric capacitance of the electrode is monitored and taken as a measure of the substrate adsorption. Substrate adsorption is in turn proportional to substrate bulk concentration and thus subject to changes by enzymes. The new substrate introduces a new concept in enzyme detection: as it is non-chromogenic it may contain appropriate amino acids on both sides of the bond subject to enzymatic cleavage.