A bioluminescence method for determining adenosine 3′-phosphate 5′-phosphate (PAP) and adenosine 3′-phosphate 5′-sulfatophosphate (PAPS) in biological materials

Abstract

A rapid, sensitive, bioluminescence technique for detecting PAPS (adenosine 3′-phosphate 5′-sulfatophosphate) in biological materials is described. PAPS is first hydrolysed in 0.2 n HCl to PAP (adenosine 3′-phosphate 5′-phosphate) and is then assayed by the luciferin-luciferase system of the sea pansy, Renilla reniformis, which is specific for PAP. This bioluminescence system produces light at a rate that is proportional to the amount of PAP present. Light emission is measured in a liquid scintillation spectrometer with the two photomultipliers out of coincidence. Very low amounts of PAPS (10–100 pmoles) have been determined in extracts of yeast and various plant tissues by this method. The production of PAPS in extracts of young wheat leaves is enhanced by including either 5′-AMP or 3′-AMP in the reaction mixture. It is possible that these nucleotides protect PAPS from enzymes that degrade this compound, e.g., a nucleotidase.