Sources of interference in the use of 2,3-diaminonaphthalene for the fluorimetric determination of nitric oxide synthase activity in biological samples.

The use of 2,3-diaminonaphthalene (DAN) for the fluorimetric determination of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in rat brain extracts has been re-examined. Two types of interference were observed, due either to components of the reaction mixture or to the enzymatic sample itself. One of the substrates (NADPH) and some cofactors (FADH(2), FMNH(2)) required for the enzyme activity interfere in the assay by quenching the fluorescence produced. Interference was minimized by using lower FADH(2), FMNH(2) and NADPH concentrations (1 micromol/l) and a NADPH recycling system in the reaction mixture. The addition of bovine serum albumin or hemoglobin to the sample quenched fluorescence intensity, but these protein interferences could be reduced by filtering the samples after reaction. We conclude that the DAN fluorimetric assay as originally described is not suitable for the determination of NOS activity in crude extracts such as rat brain cytosolic fraction, due to the presence of interfering substances. Nevertheless, DAN could be used for the determination of enzyme activity after reducing protein interference by filtering, or in less complex samples such as cell cultures (e.g. activated macrophages), or in chromatographic fractions obtained during the purification of the enzyme. A careful use of the commercial kits based on the use of DAN for the determination of NOS activity is recommended.