A simple fluorometric method for cAMP: application to studies of brain adenylate cyclase activity

A simple fluorometric method for the determination of cAMP is presented. The fluorescent derivative is 1,N6-etheno cyclic 3,5-monophosphate (etheno-cAMP). Maximal formation of this derivative occurs after reacting cAMP with chloroacetaldehyde for 15 minutes at 100 degrees C. Fluorescent derivatives are also produced from compounds which contain a 6-amino purine. The specificity of the method resides in the use of a reverse phase/HPLC system. The derivatization as well as the fluorescent response of etheno-cAMP is linear between 2.5 and 700 picomoles of cAMP. Studies of brain adenylate cyclase by the fluorometric/HPLC method indicated that this method is comparable to the established radioenzymatic method. Thus, the present method provides a simple rapid nonradioactive means for the determination of adenylate cyclase activity.