A new, fast, and very sensitive bioluminescence assay for phospholipases A and C

A new, simple, and very sensitive assay for phospholipase A and C is described. The assay is based on the bioluminescence developed by the mutant of the bacterium Beneckea harveyi as a response to myristic acid released from dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine by either phospholipase A or by a phospholipase C-lipase coupled system. It is possible to assay these enzymes at a rate corresponding to a release of as little as 1 to 2 pmol of myristic acid per minute.