Proteases
Proteases in Anti-Aging Research
Comprehensive protease activity profiling and inhibitor screening — supporting development of anti-aging ingredients that protect skin structural proteins.
Proteolytic Enzymes & Skin Aging
Beyond matrix metalloproteinases, multiple protease families contribute to skin aging. Serine proteases (elastase, cathepsin G), cysteine proteases (cathepsins B, L, K), and aspartic proteases each play distinct roles in extracellular matrix turnover, desquamation regulation, and inflammatory cascade activation. Enzo Life Sciences offers a broad portfolio of protease activity assay kits, fluorogenic substrates, and protease inhibitor screening tools that enable cosmetic scientists to characterize the proteolytic mechanisms underlying skin aging and identify actives that restore protease-antiprotease balance.
Elastase Activity Assays
Neutrophil elastase (HNE) and pancreatic elastase activity kits using fluorogenic and chromogenic substrates. Elastase degrades elastin fibers essential for skin elasticity — screening anti-elastase ingredients is critical for anti-wrinkle and firming product development.
Cathepsin Protease Panel
Activity assay kits for cathepsins B, D, K, L, and S using AMC- and AFC-conjugated peptide substrates. These lysosomal proteases are upregulated in photoaged skin and contribute to basement membrane degradation, autophagy dysregulation, and senescence-associated tissue remodeling.
Proteasome Activity
Fluorometric 20S proteasome activity assay kits measuring chymotrypsin-like, trypsin-like, and caspase-like proteolytic activities. Proteasome function declines with age and UV exposure, leading to accumulation of oxidized proteins — a hallmark of skin photoaging.
Protease Inhibitor Screening
Universal protease activity assay kits compatible with high-throughput screening formats (96/384-well). Screen botanical extracts, peptides, and synthetic compounds for broad-spectrum or target-specific protease inhibition relevant to anti-aging claims.
Featured Products
Explore our most popular kits and reagents for this application area:
- Neutrophil Elastase Activity Assay Kit
- Cathepsin B Activity Assay Kit
- Cathepsin D Activity Assay Kit
- 20S Proteasome Activity Assay Kit
- Universal Protease Activity Assay Kit
Proteases in Anti-Aging Research — By the Numbers
Profile Protease Activity in Aging Skin
Contact our team to discuss your testing requirements or request product recommendations for your specific application.