Product Description:

The ammonium cation (NH4+) is formed by protonation of ammonia (NH3). Amino acid catabolism represents the major source of ammonia production in the human body. Amines obtained from the diet and monoamine neurotransmitters give rise to ammonia by the action of monoamine oxidase. In the catabolism of purines and pyrimidines, amino groups attached to the rings are released as ammonia. Ammonia is also formed from urea by the action of bacterial urease in the lumen of the intestine. Notably, ammonia is toxic if the blood concentration goes above 40 uM. The activity of the urea cycle is designed to keep the peripheral blood concentration of ammonia below the toxic level. While ammonia toxicity in the newborns is almost always due to genetic defects in the urea cycle, ammonia toxicity in adults usually results from liver damage due to alcohol, other poisons, or viral infection. The assay kit is based on the conversion of NADPH to NADP+ in the presence of ammonia, alpha-ketoglutarate, and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH). The decrease in optical density at 340 nm is proportional to the ammonia concentration in serum/plasma, urine, and culture medium. The assay requires a 0.2 ml Quartz cuvette for measuring kinetic changes in O.D.340 nm. Alternatively, a UV-transparent 96-well plate can be used. Reagents are stable for at least 1 year if stored and handled properly.

Kit Components:

Ammonia Assay Solution (10x): 4 ml (100 wells), store at -80ºC

NADPH Solution (50x): 0.8 ml (brown vial), store at -80ºC

GLDH Control (50x): 0.4 ml, store at -80ºC

GLDH Reaction (50x): 0.4 ml, store at -80ºC

0.5 M NH4Cl standard: 0.2 ml, store at 4ºC

MSDS:

Tris, Ammonium chloride

Related Kits:

Urea Assay, Glutamate Assay