ESTERASE COUPLED WITH THE H2O2 HORSERADISH PEROXIDASE SYSTEM TRIGGERSCHEMILUMINESCENCE FROM 2-METHYL-1-PROPENYLBENZOATE - A POTENTIAL ANALYTICAL TOOL FOR ESTERASE ANALYSIS/

The hydrolysis of 2-methyl-1-propenylbenzoate catalyzed by esterase pr oduces 2-methyl-1-propenol, which can be subsequently oxidized by the H2O2/horseradish peroxidase (HRP) system to yield electronically excit ed triplet acetone. The level of luminescence elicited by this species is proportional to total esterase used, making it possible to determi ne as little as 2 pmol of esterase. Yet, its intensity can be enhanced several orders of magnitude by fluorescent accepters like sodium 9,10 -dibromoanthracene-2-sulfonate. The system works as a chemiluminescent reaction triggered by esterase and can be used to elaborate analytica l assays to determine its activity. This chemiluminescence is also pro moted by HRP conjugates instead of free HRP and, hence, this simple re action system can also be used to develop sensitive chemiluminescent i mmunoassays based upon peroxidase activity. (C) 1996 Academic Press, I nc.