A Rapid Nonenzymatic Assay for 2,3-DPG in Multiple Specimens of Blood

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A simple, sensitive method of measure for D-2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid (2,3- DPG), which readily lends itself to the analysis of multiple samples, is reported herein. Phosphate content of the red blood cells (RBC) represents approximately 64% 2,3- DPG, 26% adenosine nucleotides, and 3% inorganic phosphate. The remaining phosphate-containing compounds account for less than 10% of the total phosphate. With this method trichloroacetic acid filtrates of RBC are treated with charcoal to remove nucleotides and analyzed for inorganic and total (hydrolyzable) phosphorus. The difference between these measurements is considered 2,3-DPG. The residual phosphorus is equivalent to less than 10% of the total phosphorus and represents less than 0.6µ.mol when equated as 2,3-DPG. With this method, the mean level for 20 control subjects was 5.22µmol (SD 0.880) as compared to Krimsky’s method with a mean level of 4.95µmol (SD 0.847).