General description

The coagulation Factor IX (or Christmas factor) (EC 3.4.21.22) is a vitamin K-dependent serine protease. Factor IX is produced as an inactive precursor and is activated via cleavage by either factor XIa (contact pathway) or factor VIIa (tissue factor pathway). In the presence of calcium ions and negatively charged membrane phospholipids, activated factor IX (FIXa) then binds to the activated Factor VIII (FVIIIa) and proteolytically activates factor X (FX) to factor Xa (FXa). Deficiency in factor IX causes hemophilia B, an X-linked bleeding disorder.

Principle

This Factor IXa Activity Assay kit is based on the ability of FIXa to generate FXa. The generated FXa proteolytically cleaves a synthetic substrate and releases a fluorophore, AMC, which can be easily quantified by fluorescence microplate reader. The assay is simple, rapid, and can detect activity as low as 10 pg of FIXa in a variety of samples.

Suitability

Suitable to determine the activity of purified Factor IX and to detect the activity of Factor IX in plasma and serum.