KINETIC ASPECTS OF ATP AMPLIFICATION REACTIONS

The accurate determination of very low concentrations of ATP is import ant in many areas of pure and applied biochemistry, particularly hygie ne monitoring in the food industry. Two mathematical models have been used to show that a luciferase-linked ATP recycling enzyme assay can d etermine sample ATP concentration from the time taken for observed bio luminescence to reach half its maximum value. Such a time-based assay has the potential to detect very low ATP concentrations in less than 1 0 min without the need for a sensitive photometer. (C) 1998 Academic P ress.