Enzyme layers on glass as a new model for the quantitative study of capture reactions in cytochemistry, with special attention to acid phosphatase.

A model system is described for the study of capture reactions for diffusable compounds in enzyme cytochemistry. The model, which allows the investigation of the influence of the composition of the cytochemical medium, the enzymatic activity, and the dimensions of the enzymatic site on the capture reaction, consists of very thin homogeneous layers of enzyme (0.01-0.1 micrometer thick) on glass, which are incubated in the cytochemical medium. The fraction of the total amount of liberated product precipitated in the enzyme layer is dependent not only on the trapping efficiency of the cytochemical medium but also on the concentration of the primary reaction product that can be built up in the enzyme layer. Calculations were performed to determine the steady-state concentration of the primary reaction product that can be built up in the enzyme layer. Acid phosphatase was used as enzyme. The problems associated with the model and its applicability to other types of cytochemical reactions are discussed.