Measurement of the uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity in blood

Abstract

A method for measuring uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity is described. The method measures uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity equally sensitively using either uroporphyrinogen I or III as substrate.

Using this method uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity was measured in the erythrocytes and enriched reticulocytes of healthy normal persons as well as in rat liver homogenates.

Key-words:

• erythrocytes
• haem biosynthesis
• porphyrin biosynthesis
• uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase
• uroporphyrinogen isomers