CheKine™ Micro FAS Activity Assay Kit: Replacing Radioactive Substrates with a Non-Radioactive, 2-Hour Solution
FAS: The Metabolic Command Center of Lipogenesis
Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is not merely an enzyme—it is the metabolic command center that converts nutritional excess into stored fat, fuels tumor proliferation, and drives the progression of liver disease[reference:19]. As the sole mammalian enzyme capable of de novo fatty acid synthesis, FAS catalyzes the ATP- and NADPH-dependent condensation of acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA into palmitate[reference:20].
FAS overexpression has been linked to the development of several cancers, including breast, prostate, and liver cancer, as tumor cells rely on de novo fatty acid synthesis to meet their increased energy and membrane synthesis demands[reference:21]. In metabolic diseases, hepatic FAS hyperactivity contributes to hepatic steatosis, hypertriglyceridemia, and insulin resistance[reference:22].
Why Abbkine KTB2240 Outperforms the Competition
| Feature | Abbkine KTB2240 | Traditional FAS Assays |
|---|---|---|
| Detection Principle | NADPH consumption at 340 nm[reference:23] | Radioactive substrates (³H- or ¹⁴C-acetyl-CoA)[reference:24] |
| Assay Time | Under 2 hours[reference:25] | Hours to days |
| Safety | Non-radioactive | Hazardous isotope handling |
| Throughput | 96-well microplate | Low; requires TLC/HPLC separation[reference:26] |
| Sample Types | Cell lysates, tissue homogenates, purified enzymes[reference:27] | Limited |
| Publications | 4 peer-reviewed publications[reference:28] | Varies |
| Price | $799 for 48 tests[reference:29] | Premium alternatives cost significantly more |
The NADPH Consumption Principle
The kit leverages the stoichiometric oxidation of NADPH to NADP⁺ during each elongation cycle; the decrease in absorbance at 340 nm is directly proportional to FAS activity, enabling rapid, sensitive quantification[reference:30]. This design eliminates the need for radioactive substrates, lengthy incubations, and complex chromatographic separations that are impractical for high-throughput drug screening or clinical biomarker studies[reference:31].
Applications Across Research Fields
- Cancer Research — FAS is often overexpressed 20- to 200-fold in cancer cells, providing lipid building blocks for membrane biogenesis[reference:32]; elevated FAS activity correlates with poor prognosis, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance[reference:33]
- NAFLD & Metabolic Syndrome — Hepatic FAS hyperactivity contributes to hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance[reference:34]
- Drug Discovery — Screening FAS inhibitors for targeted cancer therapies[reference:35]
The Bottom Line
For researchers investigating FAS in cancer metabolism, NAFLD, or metabolic syndrome, KTB2240 delivers the speed, safety, and scalability that modern lipogenesis research demands—replacing hazardous radioactive methods with a simple, non-radioactive, microplate-based assay[reference:36].
👉 Quantify FAS activity with confidence. View Product
