Leakage of adenylate kinase from stored blood cells.

The bioluminescent firefly luciferase assay for ATP was used to measure adenylate kinase activity in plasma. The formation of ATP from ADP was measured continuously in a coupled assay using a luminometer. Optimal analytical conditions were determined for the coupled reaction. The assay was used to follow accumulation of adenylate kinase in plasma of different preparations of stored red blood cells. Adenylate kinase was found to be released concomitantly with hemoglobin during aging. There was a high degree of correlation between the amount of accumulated hemoglobin and adenylate kinase. The assay was also used to measure lysis of stored platelets during aging.