Biochemical assay by immobilized enzymes and a mass spectrometer

By counting the volatile molecules produced by an immobilized-enzyme catalyzed reaction which is interfaced to a mass spectrometer via a semi-permeable membrane, a general approach to biochemical measurement and detection is obtained which offers the potential of high sensitivity, specificity and speed. In combination with molecule microscopy, this method should allow, for example, a mapping of suitable enzyme distributions in non-stained and non-fixed tissue slices. Immobilized urease (urea amidohyrdrolase, EC 3.5.1.5) was used to assay urea using CO2 as the volatile product, and alcohol dehydrogenase (alcohol:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.1) was used to assay NADH using ethanol as the volatile product.