Reagent system for beta-amylase assay

Claim 2

A reagent system for a beta-amylase assay comprising: (a) a polysaccharide having glucose molecules primarily connected through alpha 1,4 linkages; (b) phosphate ions; (c) maltose phosphorylase; (d) a co-enzyme selected from a group consisting of β-nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide, β-nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate, and mixtures thereof; (e) glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; (f) β-D-phosphoglucomutase; and (g) mutarotase; wherein the above are present in amounts such that the beta-amylase to be assayed is rate-limiting.

Claim 3

The reagent system of claim 1 further comprising glucose-1,6-diphosphate.

Claim 4

The reagent system of claim 2 further comprising 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase.

Claim 5

The reagent system of claim 2 further comprising a cation selected from a group consisting of Mn +2 , Mg +2 , CO +2 , Zn +2 , Ni +2 , and mixtures thereof.

Claim 6

The reagent system of claim 2 further comprising 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and a cation selected from a group consisting of Mn +2 , Mg +2 , Co +2 , Zn +2 , Ni +2 , and mixtures thereof.

Claim 7

A beta-amylase assay comprising: (a) performing simultaneous reactions which comprise: (i) reacting a polysaccharide having glucose molecules primarily connected through alpha-1,4 linkages in the presence of a beta-amylase specimen to form beta-maltose; (ii) reacting beta-maltose with mutarotase to form alpha-maltose; (iii) reacting alpha-maltose with phosphate ions in the presence of maltose phosphorylase to form glucose and beta-D-glucose-1-phosphate; (iv) reacting beta-D-glucose-1-phosphate in the presence of beta-D-phosphoglucomutase to form glucose-6-phosphate; and (v) reacting glucose-6-phosphate in the presence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and a coenzyme selected from a group consisting of beta-nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide, beta-nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide phosphate, and mixtures thereof to form the reduced form of said coenzyme and 6-phosphogluconate; and (b) measuring the rate of production of said reduced coenzyme, wherein the beta-amylase being measured is rate-limited.

Claim 8

A beta-amylase assay comprising: (a) performing simultaneous reactions which comprise: (i) reacting a polysaccharide having glucose molecules primarily connected through alpha-1,4 linkages in the presence of a beta-amylase specimen to form beta-maltose; (ii) reacting beta-maltose with mutarotase to form alpha-maltose; (iii) reacting alpha-maltose with phosphate ions in the presence of maltose phosphorylase to form glucose and beta-D-glucose-1-phosphate; (iv) reacting beta-D-glucose-1-phosphate in the presence of beta-D-phosphoglucomutase to form glucose-6-phosphate; and (v) reacting glucose-6-phosphate in the presence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and a coenzyme selected from a group consisting of beta-nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide, beta-nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide phosphate, and mixtures thereof to form the reduced form of said coenzyme and 6-phosphogluconate; and (b) measuring the rate of production of said reduced coenzyme, wherein the beta-amylase being measured is rate-limited.