Abstract
An improved method for measuring the adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) content of soil is described, in which a purified rather than a crude luciferase preparation is used. Light produced during the reaction between luciferase and ATP is measured with a liquid scintillation spectrometer. Calibration curves by the modified method are linear. Guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP) increased light output with the crude but not with the purified luciferase, presumably because the crude preparation contained enzymes that converted GTP to ATP. The ATP contents of 9 soils were, on average, 24% lower when measured using the purified preparation of luciferase than when measured using the crude preparation. However the amount of GTP needed to account for the difference was unreasonably large and other ATP-synthesizing processes must have contributed to the extra ATP measured with the crude luciferase. Conditions for using a luminometer for measuring light output in the ATP assay procedure, in place of a liquid scintillation spectrometer, are also described.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
