Amylases are enzymes that break starch down to sugar molecules. ?-amylase is the major form of amylase found in humans and other mammals as well as an enzyme present in seeds, or in fungi (bakers yeast for instance). ?-amylase is a calcium metalloenzyme, completely unable to function in the absence of calcium. In human physiology, both the salivary and pancreatic amylases are major digestive enzymes. Increased enzyme levels in humans are associated with salivary trauma; mumps due to inflammation of the salivary glands, pancreatitis and renal failure. A simple, direct and automation-ready procedure for measuring ?-amylase activity is, therefore, very desirable. BioVision?s ?-amylase Assay uses ethylidene-pNP-G7 as the substrate. Once the substrate has been specifically cleaved by ?-amylase, the smaller fragments produced can be acted upon by ?-glucosidase, which causes the ultimate release of the chromophore that can then be measured at 405nm. The assay can detect ?-amylase content as low as 0.2mU.