On the use of liquid scintillation vials in ATP-photometry

✍ Scribed by Jorge E. Corredor; Douglas G. Capone; Keith E. Cooksey

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1976
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 170 KB
• Volume: 70
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0003-2697
• DOI: 10.1016/0003-2697(76)90490-5

✦ Synopsis

The photometric measurement of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) using the Luciferin-Luciferase reaction is widely used in the biological sciences (1-3). This assay was developed by Strehler and McElroy (4) and was modified by Holm-Hansen (5) for use in plankton biomass studies. Instruments for the measurement of the light emitted by the reaction are commercially available, and liquid scintillation vials are commonly used as a reaction vessel (5,6).

In our laboratory, the JRB ATP-Photometer is used routinely for the estimation of microbial biomass. We noticed that light, particularly from fluorescent lamps, causes phosphorescent emission by the liquid scintillation vials. The intensity of phosphorescent emission is dependent on the type of vial and the illumination to which it has been subjected. At ATP concentrations close to the limit of detection this phenomenon can introduce significant error. In an attempt to measure the phosphorescent effect, we have tested six commercially available brands of vial under varying light conditions. In addition, the quenching effects of the vials were compared.

Methods