Collagenase & Dispase

Collagenase & Dispase

Collagenases from Clostridium histolyticum are bacterial collagenase preparations containing collagenolytic enzymes and other proteases. The collagenolytic enzymes can cleave native collagen, a key structural protein of connective tissues. Additional proteolytic activities are required to break down other components of the extracellular matrix. For tissue dissociation, commonly used bacterial collagenase preparations therefore contain several enzymes, including collagenases, a sulfhydryl protease, clostripain, a trypsin-like enzyme and an aminopeptidase. Together, these activities support the breakdown of the extracellular matrix and the dissociation of tissues into individual cells.

For more information on collagenase preparations, see the Collagenase Wiki.

Explore the range of available Collagenase and Dispase® products,  and find a detailed table of their preparation speciality, and common application.

Collagenase Sampling Program & Lot Reservation

  • Request 100 mg samples of up to two different lots for testing in your assay system.
  • Evaluate the samples over a 4-week period.
  • Reserve a minimum of 5 g of each lot for subsequent ordering.

Lot Matching Service

  • Provide the lot number of a collagenase that performed well in your application.
  • We identify the closest available match based on the enzymatic activity profile of the collagenase preparation, including relevant side activities.

For full details, visit Collagenase Services.

Dispase®/Neutral Protease is an extremely stable non-specific metalloprotease which is produced by Paenibacillus polymyxa. Although related to trypsin, neutral protease is significantly less harmful to cells and can help prevent unwanted cell clumping without cell membrane damage. It cleaves fibronectin, collagen IV, and to a lesser extent collagen I, but it does not cleave collagen V or laminin. Thanks to its gentle proteolytic activity, this enzyme is particularly well-suited for preparing primary cells and for secondary cell culture (subcultivation), as it preserves cell membranes. Additionally, it serves as a secondary enzyme in cell isolation and tissue dissociation procedures, often in conjunction with Collagenases. It is commonly employed to separate the skin epidermis from the dermis while preserving epithelial sheets. Furthermore, it facilitates the isolation of stem cells, hepatocytes, and other cell types.

AF Dispase and Collagenases, as well as optimized blends, are derived from cultures grown in medium completely devoid of animal-based components and designed for bioprocessing applications where introduction of potential animal derived pathogens must be prevented.

Find an overview of Preparations of Collagenase and Dispase®/Neutral Protease and their applications.

The choice and combination of enzymes depends on the tissue type, experimental requirements, and desired outcomes of the tissue dissociation procedure. The Worthingtons’ Tissue Dissociation Guide provides a collection of Tissue Dissociation Protocols for many different tissues from a broad spectrum of species.

DNase is also used in tissue dissociation and culture work to digest DNA from damaged cells thereby reducing viscosity, and removing membrane bound DNA fragments. Therefore, cell aggregation is prevented. Codes: DP and DCLS are suitable for these applications.