Assays for porphyrins, delta-aminolevulinic-acid dehydratase, and porphyrinogen synthetase in microliter samples of whole blood: applications to metabolic defects involving the heme pathway.

Overview

Three micromethods are described for the assay of enzymes or products of the heme biosynthetic pathway in blood. A fluorometric method for the assay of protoporphyrin may be applied to the rapid screening of children for chronic lead poisoning. A colorimetric assay for delta-aminolevulinic-acid dehydratase may be applied to the detection of acute and chronic lead poisoning. A fluorometric assay for porphyrin formation from prophobilinogen is also described.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Journal