Improved methods for ATP analysis

✍ Scribed by Sue Cheer; John H. Gentile; C.S. Hegre

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1974
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 782 KB
• Volume: 60
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0003-2697
• DOI: 10.1016/0003-2697(74)90134-1

✦ Synopsis

An investigation of the techniques required for the analysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in marine systems led to refinements in methodology. Adaptation of the DuPont luciferin-luciferase system to the liquid scintillation spectrometer resulted in a sensitivity range of 1 X lOme-2 X lo-' pg ATP per 10 &ters sample. Examination of sample collection techniques showed no significant difference between direct extraction of unfiltered samples and extraction of filtered samples. Liquid nitrogen and dry ice proved to be satisfactory for the preservation of filtered samples prior to extraction, whereas freezing at -20°C resulted in ATP losses as great as 39%. Investigation of the stability of frozen ATP standards revealed no losses in activity for months. The luciferin-luciferase proved to be stable for hours when kept chilled and retained 89% of its activity for at least 1 mo when frozen.