Detection of inhibitory inactive fraction of alpha-1-antitrypsin in human serum

Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase is not inhibited by human serum alpha-1-antitrypsin, it damages inhibitory activity of alpha-1-antitrypsin activity instead. A simple method, based on electrophoresis in urea containing polyacrylamide gel, is described for the separation of active part of the inhibitor from that inactivated by the bacterial enzyme.