Conductimetry in Enzyme Studies

Abstract

An improved multichannel conductivity apparatus is described. Techniques are reported for measuring single ion conductances and the quantitative nature of the method is demonstrated. The role of buffers is examined and the Good buffers are found to be particularly satisfactory. Reactions with metal chelates are examined critically and the possibility of artefacts is discussed. Assays are described for deaminases, amidases, oxidases, proteases and nucleases. The assay of decarboxylases is discussed. Kinetic data has been obtained for some of these enzymes and compared with published results. The enzymic hydrolysis of inorganic pyrophosphate is suggested as the basis of a coupled assay for a wide range of enzymes.