title: Enzymatic assay of magnesium through glucokinase activation.
abstract: We describe an improved enzymatic method for assaying magnesium in serum, plasma, or urine. Magnesium participates as an Mg.ATP complex in a reaction catalyzed by glucokinase (EC 2.7.1.2) coupled to an NADP+-dependent glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) reaction. The increase of absorbance at 340 nm, due to the NADPH produced, is proportional to the amount of the activated glucokinase, which in turn is related to the concentration of magnesium in the sample. The method is characterized by a zero-order reaction kinetics, affording a simple and rapid assay with good sensitivity and linearity (up to 2.06 mmol/L) and by working solutions that are stable (refrigerated) for one month. The method is reliable, produces test results that compare closely with those of the atomic absorption spectrophotometry (r greater than or equal to 0.99), is suitable for routine work, and lends itself to automation.
authors.affiliation: Research & Development Laboratory, Miles Italiana SpA, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fossati
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sirtoli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tarenghi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giachetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berti
mesh_terms: D004355:Drug Stability; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005941:Glucokinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D009249:NADP / Q000378:metabolism; D011786:Quality Control; D013053:Spectrophotometry
chemical_list: D009249:NADP; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; D005941:Glucokinase; D008274:Magnesium