DETERMINATION OF ASPARTATE-AMINOTRANSFERASE ACTIVITY BY HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A sensitive and reproducible assay of aspartate aminotransferase activ ity based on UV detection of the reaction products after their separat ion by HPLC is described. The main advantage is the direct measurement of the enzyme activity as micromoles of product (glutamate) formed wi thin a known period of time without any coupled reaction. Further, wit h the chromatographic method, ail components of the reaction mixture a re identified, allowing the reaction course to be controlled and the p ossible presence of side-reactions to be monitored.