Benzamidine hydrochloride hydrate

Chemical Properties

white fine crystalline powder

Uses

Benzamidine hydrochloride hydrate is a reversible inhibitor of trypsin, trypsin-like enzymes, and serine proteases. It is a proteolytic inhibitor and apoptosis reagent.

Uses

Benzamidine hydrochloride hydrate has been used:

• in western blot analysis
• in immunoprecipitation
• in the purification of yeast dynein
• as a protease inhibitor in the preparation of brush-border membrane vesicles
• for the processing of human synovial fluid, blood and eye sleep
• to prevent non-specific degradation of cartilages

Application

Benzamidine hydrochloride hydrate has been used:
in western blot analysis
in immunoprecipitation
in the purification of yeast dynein
as a protease inhibitor in the preparation of brush-border membrane vesicles
for the processing of human synovial fluid, blood and eye sleep
to prevent non-specific degradation of cartilages

Biological Activity

Peptidase inhibitor.
Benzamidine HCl is a reversible inhibitor of trypsin, trypsin-like enzymes, and serine proteases.A concentration of approximately 1 mM is used for general protease inhibition. To inhibit proteases from yeast, a range of 0.5 to 4.0 mM is used and it is for the most part interchangeable with pepstatin A.
In addition to being a strong competitive inhibitor of trypsin, benzamidine HCl has been also shown to be a strong competitive inhibitor of thrombin and plasmin. It was also found to be as effective as aprotinin in the prevention of glucagon degradation in human plasma.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Peptidase inhibitor.

Purification Methods

Recrystallise it from dilute HCl (crystals contain xH2O) or EtOH/few drops HCl; dry it in a vacuum. It is a proteolytic inhibitor [Jeffcoate & White J Clin Endocrinol Metab 38 155 1974, Beilstein 9 IV 898.]

Preparation and handling

Benzamidine HCl is soluble in water and alcohol. Solubility testing in water at a concentration of 50 mg/ml yields a clear solution with heating. Benzamidine HCl is sensitive to oxidation. It is recommended to prepare solutions fresh each time in degassed water prior to use. However, frozen aliquots stored under inert gas, to exclude air, may be stable for a short time. Insufficient information is available to assess the shelf-life of a frozen solution.

Precautions

Keep container tightly sealed. Store in cool, dry conditions in well sealed containers. Incompatible with oxidizing agents. It is hygroscopic in nature.