A new spectrophotometric method for the determination of 5'-nucleotidase

A spectrophotometric method is described for the determination of 5'-nucleotidase. In combination with the enzymes nucleoside phosphorylase and xanthine oxidase, inosine, formed by hydrolysis of 5'-IMP by 5'-nucleotidase, is cleaved phosphorolytically to hypoxanthine, which is oxidized to uric acid. In the presence of ethanol, the hydrogen peroxide formed is reduced by catalase and equivalent amounts of acetaldehyde are produced. The aldehyde is dehydrogenated (NADP-dependent) by aldehyde dehydrogenase and the production rate of NADPH is recorded at 334 nm. The inhibition of the unspecific cleavage of 5'-IMP by phosphatases is examined critically.