Determination of alpha-amylase activity using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

A new method for the determination of alpha-amylase activity in aqueous solutions and human serum with FTIR-spectroscopy is proposed. The chemical reaction catalyzed by the enzyme under study can be followed directly when applying FTIR-spectroscopic detection also in the case, where no colored or electrochemical active species are generated or consumed during the course of the reaction of alpha-amylase with simple starch. Therefore the determination of the alpha-amylase activity could successfully be performed by recording two FTIR-spectra, one immediately after mixing the sample and a substrate (starch-) solution and the other after a 20 min reaction time. From these two FTIR-spectra a difference spectrum was calculated hereby eliminating an unspecific absorption of the matrix. The intensities of the resulting difference spectra corresponded to the extent of the reaction which took place during the investigated time interval and hence could be related to the activity of the enzyme in the sample. The developed method is linear from 80 to 1400 U/l (r.s.d.=5% for 700 U/l) in aqueous solutions and was also successfully applied to the determination of alpha-amylase activity in human serum where a linear working range from 100 to 800 U/l (r.s.d.=11% for 150 U/l) was achieved.