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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia
Published on: August 24, 2011
Fluorimetric determination of hepatic delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase activity by high-performance liquid
K Tomokuni1, Y Hirai, M Ichiba
1Department of Community Health Science, Saga Medical School, Japan.
Abstract:
A fluorimetric method for measuring the activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase (ALAS) in the liver of mice has been developed. The liver homogenate was used as the enzyme source. The final concentration of glycine (substrate) used for the assay was 100 mM. The delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) formed during incubation was converted into a highly fluorescent derivative by condensation with acetylactone and formaldehyde (application of the Hantzsch reaction). This derivative was completely separated from other fluorescent substances in the reaction medium, and it was determined using a high-performance liquid chromatograph equipped with a fluorescence monitor (370/460 nm). The activity of ALAS was expressed as nmol ALA formed per gram liver per hour.
