Enzymic assay for spermine and spermidine

U. Bachrach*, B. Reches

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

50 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper describes a sensitive enzymic micromethod for the quantitative assay of spermine and spermidine. The method is based on the oxidation of the polyamines by serum amine oxidase. The aminoaldehydes produced during the oxidation are assayed by N-methyl-2-benzothiazolone hydrazone hydrochloride, at 660 mμ. The molar absorbancy index for spermine is 12.5 × 103 liter mole-1 cm-1 and for spermidine 6.25 × 103 liter mole-1 cm-1. When both spermine and spermidine are present in the biological material the value of the "combined polyamines" is obtained by the enzymic method. Spermidine is assayed by another method that uses dried Serratia marcescens cells. This permits the calculation of spermine by subtracting the amount of spermidine from that of the "combined polyamines.". The enzymic method has been applied to extracts from yeast, bacteria, and mouse liver.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)38-48
Number of pages11
JournalAnalytical Biochemistry
Volume17
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1966

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