A new spectrophotometric assay for enzymes of purine metabolism. III. Determination of purine nucleoside phosphorylases.

A spectrophotometric method especially suitable for biological materials is described for the determination of purine nucleoside phosphorylase activity. In combination with the enzymes xanthine oxidase, catalase and aldehyde dehydrogenase, and in the presence of ethanol and NAD(P), the purines formed by phosphorylysis of purine nucleosides are oxidized and the absorption of the NAD(P)H formed is taken for the calculation of nucleoside phosphorylase activity.