Preliminary evaluation of an improved enzymatic assay method for measuring potassium concentrations in serum.

Background: K(+) has important physiological functions. K(+) concentrations in serum are generally determined using ion-selective electrodes (ISEs), though measurement using reagents in aqueous medium is also useful.

Methods: K(+) concentrations were measured using recombinant inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), which was activated only by K(+) and NH4(+). Exogenous NH4(+) and endogenous NH4(+) were eliminated using glutamine synthase.

Results: Regression analysis of the enzymatic assay (y) vs. the ISE method (x) gave the following relation: y=1.03x+0.09 (n=54, Sy,x=0.06 mmol/l). The linear range was up to 12 mmol/l when 1 U/ml IMPDH was used.

Conclusion: Advantages of the proposed assay method are: (i) the measured range is wider than that of existing enzymatic methods; (ii) the conditions for K(+) determination can be maintained constant, regardless of the amount of NH4(+) in the analyte and reagents; and (iii) the elimination system is simpler because the recombinant IMPDH is stimulated by only K(+) and NH4(+) and is unaffected by biological materials.