[The use of hemoglobin for determination of phospholipase A2 activity]

A spectrophotometric method is proposed for determining phospholipase A2 activity, which is based on the conversion of hemoglobin into hemichrome under the fatty acid action. The spectral difference between hemoglobin and hemichrome was registered by the difference spectrum with a minimum at 405 nm and a maximum at 423 nm. The absorption value determined as the difference between the spectrum maximum and minimum was proportional to the amount of the fatty acid derived from hydrolysis of phospholipids. The method enables the enzyme activity to be determined directly in the spectrophotometric cell.