Mast cell tryptase, a potent inflammatory mediator, requires heparin for enzymatic activation

.............................................................................................................................................3 INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................4 Mast cells ........................................................................................................ 5 Tryptase and proteoglycans.......................................................................... 5 MATERIALS AND METHODS ................................................................................................................7 Protein expression ....................................................................................... 7 Purification of recombinant tryptase ............................................................ 7 Enzymatic assays......................................................................................... 7 Heparin-Sepharose chromatography ............................................................ 8 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......................................................................................................................13 REFERENCES.......................................................................................................................................14