CHEMILUMINESCENCE ASSAYS BASED ON INDOXYL SUBSTRATES, THIOINDOXYL SUBSTRATES AND OTHER SUBSTRATES

Abstract: Chemiluminescence-based assays that detect or quantify enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of indoxyl esters are provided. The assays are based on the hydrolysis of indoxyl esters by enzymes of interest, such as alkaline phosphatase and others that are used as labels in immunoassays or nucleic acid hybridization reactions, or are present in body fluids. The assays include the steps of reacting a test sample with an indoxyl ester and, then, immediately or within a short time, typically less than about fifteen minutes, measuring the resulting chemiluminescence. The resulting chemiluminescence may be amplified by adding a chemiluminescence-amplifying reagent, such as horseradish peroxidase or lucigenin, to the reaction.

Description: CHEMILUMINESCENCE ASSAYS BASED ON INDOXYL SUBSTRATES, THIOINDOXYL SUBSTRATES AND OTHER SUBSTRATES This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Serial No. 08/286,697 to Vijay Mahant, filed August 4, 1994, entitled CHEMILUMINESCENCE ASSA YS BASED ON INDOXYL SUBSTRA TES, and a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Serial No. 08/404,545 to Vijay Mahant, filed March 15, 1995, entitled CHEMILUMINESCENCE ASSA YS BASED ON INDOXYLSUBSTRATES, THIOINDOXYL SUBSTRATES AND OTHER SUBSTRATES. U.S. application Serial No. 08/404,545 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Serial No. 08/286,697. The subject matter of each of U.S. application Serial No. 08/286,697 and U.S. application Serial No. 08/404,545 is herein incorporated in its entirety by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to chemiluminescence-based assays in which indoxyl, thioindoxyl (i.e., benzo[b]thiophene or benzo[b]furan ester esters or substrates are hydrolyzed by appropriate enzymes to produce chemiluminescent intermediate(s) or metabolites thereof. These hydrolysis reactions can be linked to a plethora of applications, including immunoassays, receptor assays, determination of leukocytes based on proteases, nucleic acid hybridization assays, reporter gene expression assays, and nucleic acid sequencing, in which enzyme activity is detected directly or indirectly. Uses for such assays include environmental, clinical, pharmaceutical, veterinary, food and oncological applications. These assays provide ultra-sensitivity and are clinically useful, for example, for analysis of body fluids, including serum, blood, saliva and urine. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION There is need for rapid, accurate and quantitative or qualitative determinations of substances in biological fluids and for compounds, particularly toxins and contaminants, in the environment and in food. For example, the presence of certain compounds, such as drugs, hormones, peptides, proteins and infectious organisms in blood, urine, saliva, vaginal secretions, dental plaque, cerebral spinal fluid and other biological and environmental samples has to be determined accurately and rapidly. To provide such determinations, various assays have been developed by which biological and environmental substances can be detected and/or quantified and, if necessary, isolated. Such methods typically rely on specific binding reactions between the substance of interest and a compound specifically reactive with that substance. The resulting reaction or complex is measured or detected by a variety of known methods. The most commonly used methods employ a signal amplifying reagent or moiety of some type that is either already attached to one of the components of the complex, becomes part of the complex through further reaction or reacts with the complex to produce a detectable product. For example, nucleic acid probes may be labeled with biotin, which then binds to avidin or strep- avidin. The biotin or avidin/strepavidin are labeled with reporter enzymes or radiolabels. Proteins are often detected with antibodies, which are labeled with reporter molecules, such as enzymes or radiolabels. The resulting complexes are measured by detecting the reporter molecule. Enzyme labels, such as alkaline phosphatase, are advantageous because of their relative stability, signal amplification, and because the labels are non-isotopic, the hazards and difficulties associated with handling and disposing radioisotopes are avoided. In diagnostic tests designed to be rapid and easy to use with moderate training in a doctor's office, clinic or environmental laboratory, the reporter molecule is often detected using colorimetric, fluorescent or chemiluminescent signals resulting from reaction of the enzyme label with its substrate. Chemiluminescence Molecular luminescence is the emission of electromagnetic (EM) radiation, including ultraviolet (UV), visible and infrared (IR) light, from a molecule as it returns from an excited state to a lower energy state, usually the ground state of the molecule. Luminescence includes radioluminescence, chemiluminescence, which includes bioluminescence, and photoluminescence, which includes fluorescence and phosphorescence. Coupling of luminescent labels or reactions to assays, such as immunoassays, has provided convenient and sensitive assays. Chemiluminescence is produced when the excited product of an exoergic chemical process reverts to its ground state with the emission of light. Most chemiluminescent reactions require a step that involves oxidation of a reactant with molecular oxygen or its synthetic equivalent. Chemiluminescence is coupled to assays or used by using molecules, such as luminol, acridinium esters, isoluminol, lucigenin, dioxetanes and oxalate esters, that are capable of exhibiting chemiluminescence or transferring energy to an appropriate acceptor luminescent molecule or compound. The best known chemiluminescent reactions are those of acridinium esters, of dioxetane, of luminol/isoluminol and of lucigenin. For example, in the luminol and isoluminol chemiluminescent reactions, the key oxidative step involves reactions of hydrogen peroxide and aminophthalhydrazide in the presence of suitable catalysts. Chemiluminescence assays are categorized on the basis of the labeling method. These assays rely on direct labels, such as acridinium esters, and indirect labels, such as enzymes, including alkaline phosphatase. Enyzme-based assays Enzyme-based assays are of particular interest herein. Enzyme-based assays have high intrinsic sensitivity, have relatively simple labeling procedures, and may be homogeneous and economical. Furthermore, enzymes may amplify a signal, and as a result, improve the sensitivity of an assay. Enzyme based assays are adaptable for use in conjunction with chemiluminescent, colorimetric, fluorimetric or electrochemical detection methods. In addition, enzyme detection methods overcome problems associated with the use of radioisotopes, such as health hazards and limited shelf-life. Assays of enzyme activity have numerous applications, including, enzyme immunoassays (EIA), assays that use nonisotopic nucleic acid probes; and nucleic acid sequencing reactions that use enzyme labels, such as alkaline phosphatase (AP). Indoxyl ester derivatives, which serve as enzyme substrates, are chromogenic compounds that have been used for histochemical detection of endogenous enzymes, such as alkaline phosphatase, / 2-galactosidase, and β- glucosidase, esterase and sulfatase. In these assays, an appropriate indoxyl derivative is used as a substrate, which in the presence of the enzyme of interest is hydrolyzed into an intermediate indoxyl that in the presence of oxygen forms an indigo dye and hydrogen peroxide is produced. Previously the reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically by the formation of the indigo dye (see, e^fl., Cotson et aj. (1958) Proc. Roval Soc. (Ser.B) 148:506- 51 9). Recentiv (see, e.g.. EP 0 476 930 Al : Arakawa et al. (1991 ) Anal. Biochem. 199:238-242), a protocol for assaying the reaction by determining H 2 0 2 has been described. The amount of hydrogen peroxide formed in this reaction is determined colorimetrically, fluorometrically, electrochemically, or chemiluminometrically using a chemiluminescent moiety, such as luminol or isoluminol in the presence of a catalyst, such as microperoxidase, and an oxidizing agent, H 2 O 2 (see, EP 0 476 930 A1 ). In particular, the reaction has been coupled to a reaction in which chemiluminescence is produced by reacting, in the presence of a peroxidase, the H 2 0 2 produced in the hydrolysis reaction with a chemiluminescent moiety, such as isoluminol, as set forth in the following scheme (see, e.g., EP 0 476 930 A1 ): ENZYME H O ♦ R' OH ♦ R' OH mPOD HA ♦ LUMINOL/ISOLUMINOL- CHEMILUMINESCENCE After the hydrolysis reaction goes to completion or as the reaction proceeds, the amount of hydrogen peroxide is determined in the second step by adding isoluminol and microperoxidase and measuring chemilumine¬ scence. Enzymes, such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), ?-galactosidase (β- gal), and ?-glucosidase have been assayed by this method. Because the assay measures H 2 O 2 , the protocol, however, requires a sufficient incubation to permit stoichiometric formation of H 2 O 2 so that the amount of chemiluminescence can be correlated with the amount of enzyme or substrate. It also requires the addition of other reagents, such as isoluminol, that are required for generation of chemiluminescence using H 2 O 2 . Also, the chemiluminescence-generating portion of the reaction, in which the resulting H 2 O 2 reacts with luminol or its derivatives requires the use of a peroxidase, such as microperoxidase (MP) to catalyze the reaction. Microperoxidase, however, has limited stability, and the requisite reaction conditions for optimal quantum efficiency and faster kinetics (typically pH 1 1 -13) may generate high background, thereby limiting sensitivity. Other chemiluminescence reagents, such as lucigenin and lucigenin derivatives, such as acridinium esters, may also be added to generate chemiluminescence using H 2 O 2 . In these reactions, however, in order to generate sufficient chemiluminescence using H 2 O 2 , after addition of lucigenin and KOH or NaOH is added, or a lucigenin solution in KOH/NaOH is added in order to raise the pH. High pH is required when using lucigenin and H 2 O 2 [see, e.g., Campbell, Chemiluminescence : Principles and Applications in Biology and Medicine, Ellis Horwood, Chichester, England 1 988 pp 302-303; Maeda, et aL. (1 990) "New Chemiluminescence Assay of Alkaline Phosphatase Using Lucigenin and its Application to Enzyme Immunoassay," Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence - Current Status, pp. 356-360, Proceedings of the Vlth International Symposium on Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence, Cambridge, September 1 990; Maeda, et aL (1994) "Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence, Fundamental and Applied Aspects", in Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence, Cambridge, September 1 994, pp 289-292]. Such changes in pH conditions may be deleterious to proteins, such as antibodies, antigens and enzymes, particularly in homogeneous assays. Also, lucigenin and/or its acridinium esters, when used to measure H 2 O 2 , provide a poor assay (A. Campbell, Chemiluminescence : Principles and Applications in Biology and Medicine, Ellis Horwood, Chichester 1988, p 302-303) because of high blanks and the conditions required to promote the reaction with H 2 O 2 . Similar assays using indoxyl phosphate substrates and alkaline phosphatase for the determination of prostate specific antigen (PSA) (see, e.g.. Albrecht et a ( 1 993) pages 316-31 9, in Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence. Proceedings of the Vllth International Symp. on Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence, Banff, March 1 993, Eds. Szalay et al., John Wiley & Sons, New York) are also available. Following a 20 minute incubation of the substrate and alkaline phosphatase-labeled antigen, the reaction is stopped and mixed with oxalic acid, H 2 O 2 and HCI to reduce the pH to about 1 . A carbodiimide is added to initiate the chemiluminescence reaction. The hydrolysis of indoxyl esters can be catalyzed by numerous enzymes, such as alkaline phosphatase, depending upon the indoxyl substrate selected. The enzymes may be used as labels in numerous assays or may be present in body fluids or other samples of interest. Because of the versatility of assays that measure such enzymes, improved means for assessing this reaction are desirable. Therefore, it is an object herein to provide chemiluminescence-based enzyme assays of increased sensitivity, versatility, speed and reliability. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Chemiluminescence-based enzyme assays are provided herein. Chemiluminescence-based assays that detect or quantify enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of indoxyl esters, thioindoxyl esters (benzolb]- thiophene esters) or benzo[b]furan esters, particularly indoxyl esters, are provided. The assays are based on the hydrolysis of indoxyl esters by enzymes of interest, such as alkaline phosphatase and others that are used as labels in immunoassays or nucleic acid hybridization reactions, or are present in body fluids. The assays include the steps of reacting a test sample with an indoxyl ester and, then, immediately or within a short time, typically less than about fifteen minutes, measuring the resulting chemi- luminescence. The resulting chemiluminescence may be amplified by adding a chemiluminescence enhancing reagent, such as horseradish peroxidase that catalytically amplifies the signal, or by adding an augmenting reagent that adds to the signal, such as lucigenin added without adjusting the pH of the reaction. The assays herein are based on the discovery that chemiluminescence is generated by virtue of the hydrolysis reaction between the indoxyl ester, thioindoxyl ester (benzo[b]thiophene ester) or benzo[b]furan ester and enzyme. The assays are based on the hydrolysis of such esters, and do not require or measure the production of H 2 O 2 , which was measured in the prior assays using indoxyl esters. The assays do not require the use of added chemiluminescent generating systems, such as luminol or isoluminol and a peroxidase, or lucigenin in KOH, which is required for it to react with H 2 O 2 [Maeda, et aL (1990) "Chemiluminescent Assay of Alkaline Phosphatase Using Ascorbic Acid 2-Phosphate as Substrate and its Application to Chemiluminescent Enzyme Immunoassays," Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence - Current Status, pp. 1 1 9-1 22 and pp. 356-360, Proceedings of the Vlth International Symposium on Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence, Cambridge, September 1990]. In contrast, in the assays provided herein, chemiluminescence produced in the hydrolysis reaction is measured. This resulting chemi¬ luminescence can be amplified by adding a chemiluminescence enhancing or augmenting reagent, such as an oxidizing enzyme or a catalyst, including horseradish peroxidase, or a reagent such as lucigenin under conditions, pH 7-1 1 , in which it reacts with the superoxide anion and other reactive metabolites. Addition of a chemiluminescent generating system, such as luminol/isoluminol/peroxidase or the use of KOH with lucigenin for reaction with H 2 O 2 is not required or used. The chemiluminescence amplifying reagent is one that reacts directly with the superoxide anion (O 2 ) or with another intermediate produced in the reaction to augment or enhance the resulting chemiluminescence. At the same time that chemiluminescence is generated, the reaction undergoes a color change that can be monitored spectrophotometrically or visually. This color change serves a second indiator that a reaction has occurred. Without being bound by any theory, the mechanism of indoxyl-(or thioindoxyl or benzo[b]furyl) chemiluminescence and peroxidase-catalyzed "enhanced" indoxyl-chemiluminescence production may involve dioxetane formation of the indoxyl intermediate or metabolite(s). The mechanism of "augmented" chemiluminescence, involves reaction of the superoxide anion generated in the hydrolysis reaction (see scheme, below) with lucigenin, thereby augmenting the chemiluminescence produced in the reaction. The reaction is represented by the following scheme: |TNTERMEDIATE(S " )J OPTIONALLY ADDING A CHEMILUMINESCENCE AMPLIFYING OR ENHANCING REAGENT (e.g., HORSERADISH PEROXIDASE OR LUCIGENIN) CHEMILUMINESCENCE X, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R b and other substituents are defined below. Any indoxyl ester, thioindoxyl ester (benzo[b]thiophene ester) or benzo[b]furan ester that serves as a substrate for an enzyme of interest may be used. The preferred esters are 3-O-indoxyl esters, 3-O-thioindoxyl esters or 3-O-benzo[b]furan esters. The more preferred esters for use herein have the formula: in which X is O, S, or preferably NR a ; R a is hydrogen or the acyl group of R b , and is preferably hydrogen; and R is any acyloxy group that can be hydrolyzed by an enzyme of interest. When R a is an acyl group, then it is preferably hydrolyzable by the same enzyme that hydrolyze R b , otherwise, an additional enzymes may be required. Preferred acyl groups include, but are not limited to: phosphate, acetate, galactopyranosides, sulfate, glucuronate, glucopyranosides, fructopyranosides and mannopyranoside. Preferred acyl groups are also those derived from inorganic acids or simple organic acids. R\ R 2 , R 3 and R 4 , which are the same or different, are selected inde¬ pendently from hydrogen and small electrophilic moieties, which include halides, pseudohalides, haloalkyl, alkylamino, hydroxyl, alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, amino, and the like, in which the alkyl groups are preferably lower alkyl containing from 1 to 6 carbons, more preferably contain from 1 to 3 carbon atoms. In particular, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are selected from among cyano, amino, amino substituted with 1 or 2 methyl or ethyl groups, trihalomethyl, preferably trifluoromethyl, hydroxyl, halide, methyl, ethyl, methoxy and ethoxy. R\ R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are preferably hydrogen or halogen, and if halogen, are preferably Br or CL In general, it is preferred that at least one of R\ R 2 , R 3 and R 4 is hydrogen. It is more preferred that at least two or three of R\ R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are hydrogen and one or two are halide. If two halides are present, then it is preferred that one is Cl and the other Br. The most preferred compounds are 4-, 5- and 6-substituted 3-O- indoxyl esters. In compounds in which only one of R\ R 2 , R 3 and R 4 is not hydrogen, then it is preferably Br at the 5-position, or it is preferably Cl at the 6-position. R a is preferably either hydrogen or the acyl group of R b . R b is selected such that it is hydrolyzed by the enzyme of interest. Thus, R is virtually any such group, such as phosphate, acetate, amide, galactopyranoside, sulfate, glucuronate, glucopyranoside, fructopyranoside, mannopyranoside or any of the groups set forth above for R a . Other suitable indoxyl esters, thioindoxyl esters (benzo[b]thiophene esters) or benzo[b]furan esters may be identified by using them in a test assay in which a known amount of an enzyme that catalyses hydrolysis of the ester is mixed with the indoxyl ester, and chemiluminescence is measured immediately or within about 1 hour, preferably within seconds to about 30 minutes, more preferably within seconds to about 1 5 minutes, typically about 1 to about 5 or 10 minutes, after addition. If detectable chemiluminescence above background is produced, the ester is suitable for use in the assays herein. Thus, suitable indoxyl esters may be defined with reference to the ability to produce chemiluminescence above background upon reaction with a enzyme that hydrolyses the selected ester. If a higher signal or sensitivity is desired the chemiluminescence produced in the reaction can be amplified. For example, peroxidase is added to catalytically enhance the signal; and lucigenin is added directly to the reaction, without any need to adjust the pH, to augment the resulting chemiluminescence. An amplifying reagent, such as a peroxidase, and an augmenting agent, such as lucigenin, may be included, and added either simultaneously, sequentially or intermittently. Kits for performing the chemiluminescence assays herein are also provided. In particular, kits for measuring enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of the esters are provided. These kits contain a first reagent containing the indoxyl ester; and a second reagent, containing a chemiluminescence amplifying reagent, such as horseradish peroxidase, lucigenin or any such reagent that reacts with the superoxide anion (O 2 ), a reactive metabolite and/or an intermediate in the reaction. Methods for assessing enzyme activity and for identifying indoxyl esters, thioindoxyl esters (benzo[b]thiophene esters) or benzo[b]furan esters that are suitable substrates for the assays herein are also provided. DET AILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Definitions Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which this invention belongs. All patents and publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference. As used herein, a chemiluminescence amplifying reagent is a reagent that reacts with superoxide anion (O 2 ), or a reactive metabolite or with an intermediate product that is generated in the hydrolysis reaction between the indoxyl ester and enzyme of interest prior to stoichiometric conversion of the superoxide anion (O 2 ) to H 2 O 2 . These reagents include, but are not limited to, horseradish peroxidase, which reacts with a product generated in the hydrolysis reaction, pholasin, and lucigenin (dimethyl diacridinium nitrate), under conditions in which it reacts or detects superoxide [see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,294,541 ; see, also Campbell ( 1 988) Chemiluminescence: Principles and Applications in Biology and Medicine. Ellis Horwood, Chichester, England, p. 336] and produces light in a reaction involving lucigenin, a dioxetane intermediate or metabolite, and/or other such reagents known to those of skill in the art or identified empirically. Other such reagents are any that react with the superoxide anion (O 2 ) or a reactive metabolite. These reagents can be identified by assays, such as those herein, that demonstrate the ability of the reagent to react with the superoxide anion [O 2 ; see, e.g.. Examples]. Any reagent that reacts, either catalytically, such as horseradish peroxidase, to amplify chemiluminescence, or as a reactant with the superoxide anion (0 2 ) or a with a reactive metabolite to augment chemiluminescence may be used. In particular, amplified chemiluminescence encompasses chemi¬ luminescence that is "enhanced" or "augmented. For example, peroxidase- catalyzed "enhanced" indoxyl-chemiluminescence as used herein refers to the increase in indoxyl-chemiluminescence by a peroxidase, such as horseradish peroxidase as a result of catalysis or oxidation of an indoxyl metabolite(s) or an intermediate in a hydrolysis reactions provided herein. The chemiluminescence generated in the presence of a reagent, such as lucigenin, by virtue of reaction of the lucigenin or other such reagent with the superoxide anion or other reactive metabolite is herein referred to as augmented chemiluminescence. Thus, amplified chemiluminescence as used herein refers to the amplification of the chemiluminescence as a result of chemical reaction between one or more enhancers or augmenters and one or more metabolites or intermediates produced in the reaction, for example, superoxide aniion (radical) and an augmenter such as lucigenin. Superoxide anion and superoxide anion radical are used interchangeably. As used herein, stoichiometric production of H 2 O 2 refers to H 2 O 2 produced in the hydrolysis reaction of the indolyl ester at the time at which substantially all intermediates in the production of H 2 O 2 are converted to H 2 O 2 or at a time when the amount of H 2 O 2 is indicative of enzyme concentration. The reactions herein should be measured prior to such time, since they do not rely on H 2 O 2 production. As used herein, luminescence refers to the detectable EM radiation, generally, UV, IR or visible EM radiation that is produced when the excited product of an exoergic chemical process reverts to its ground state with the emission of light. Chemiluminescence is luminescence that results from a chemical reaction. Bioluminescence is chemiluminescence that results from a chemical reaction using biological molecules as substrates and/or enzymes. As used herein, a chemiluminescent moiety is a molecule or compound that produces light in a chemical reaction under appropriate conditions. As used herein, a reactive metabolite refers to any species, other than H 2 O 2 , that may be present in the hydrolysis reaction between the ester and enzyme. Such species include, but are not limited to intermediates, superoxide anion, and radical species. As used herein, an analyte is any substance that is analyzed or assayed in the reaction of interest. As used herein, indolyl is used interchangeably with indoxyl. Similarly thioindolyl is used interchangeably with thioindoxyl. It is also used interchangeably with benzo[b]thiophene or benzo[b]thiophenyl. As used herein, a ligand refers to any compound, such as biotin, that binds reversibly and non-covalently to an anti-ligand, such as a specific binding protein, including avidin or strepavidin. Such ligands include growth factors, antibodies or fragments thereof, hormones, vitamins, and other types of proteins. An anti-ligand is a molecule that binds to such ligands. The assays The assays provided herein are based on the discovery that an intermediate product of the hydrolysis reaction between an indoxyl ester, thioindoxyl ester (benzo[b]thiophene ester) or benzo[b]furan ester and an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis produces chemiluminescence, which can be directly measured, or can be amplified by enhancing the signal or augmenting the signal. The resulting assays provide benefits compared to prior assays in that they provide:( 1 ) elimination of the secondary incubation during which Oj dismutates to H 2 O 2 , and (2) the substantially immediate or simultaneous addition of a chemiluminescence augmenting reagent to the hydrolysis reaction. In particular, these assays also provide: (1 ) versatility since the assays may be measured using (a) indoxyl-chemiluminescence, (b) peroxidase-catalyzed "enhanced" indoxyl-chemiluminescence without H 2 O 2 (2)/isoluminol, and/or (c) amplified chemiluminescence without altering the pH of the reaction or measuring or relying on H 2 O 2 ; (2) the substantially immediate or simultaneous addition of a chemiluminescence amplifying reagent to the hydrolysis reaction, (3) shorter incubation (less than 15 minutes), and (4) higher sensitivity (see Examples) compared to the methods based on H 2 O 2 determination. Without being bound by any theory, it appears that the superoxide anion (O 2 ) or other intermediate, but not H 2 O 2 , is involved in the chemiluminescence generated in the instant assays, since, as demonstrated in the EXAMPLES, superoxide disumutase quenches the chemiluminescence. The chemiluminescence can be produced from the reaction of the esters, or using superoxide anion or other reactive intermediate or reactive metabolite. Thus, any chemiluminescence-amplifying reagent that reacts with superoxide anion (O 2 ) or reacts catalytically with an intermediate or reactive metabolite or superoxide anion to enhance or augment the chemiluminescence can be used in the instant assays. In contrast, the prior chemiluminescence indoxyl- based assays (see, e.g.. EP 0 476 930 A1 ) rely on dismutation to H 2 O 2 . Components of the assays Specimens and substrates 1. Indoxyl, thioindoxyl (benzo[b]thiophene), and benzo[b]furan ester substrates Substrates The preferred esters are 3-O-indoxyl esters, 3-O-benzo[b]furan and 3-O- thioindoxyl esters. The more preferred 3-O_-indoxyl, 3-O-benzo[b]furan and 3-O-thioindoxyl esters for use herein have the formula: in which: X is S, O or, preferably, NR a , where R a is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, aryloxy, hydroxl, carboxy, carboxy lower alkoxy, arylkoxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl lower alkoxy, nitro, acyl, or lower acylamino groups, in which the lower alkyl groups contain from 1 to about 6 carbons, preferably 1 -3 carbons, and the aryl groups preferably contain from about 4 to 7 members, preferably 5 or 6 members; R b is any acyloxy group or amide group linked to an amino group that can be hydrolyzed by an en¬ zyme of interest, R a is hydrogen or the acyl group of R b , and is preferably hydrogen. When R a is an acyl group, then it is preferably hydrolyzable by the same enzyme that hydrolyze R b , otherwise, an additional enzymes may be required. R a is preferably either hydrogen or the acyl group of R b . R b can also be of the formula (O-A-B) in which A is an amino acid, peptide residue, and B is a nitrogen protective group. R b is selected such that it is hydrolyzed by the enzyme of interest. Thus, R b is virtually any such group, such as phosphate, acetate, galacto- pyranoside, sulfate, glucuronate, glucopyranoside, fructopyranoside, manno- pyranoside or any of the groups set forth for R a . Preferred acyl groups include, but are not limited to: phosphate, acetate, galactopyranosides, sulfate, glucuronate, gluopyranosides, fructopyranosides and mannopyranoside. Preferred acyl groups are also those derived from inorganic acids or simple organic acids. In such instances in which the acyl group is preferably derived from phosphoric acid, phosphonic acid, sulfuric acid, sulfonic acid or carbonic acid. R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 , which are the same or different, are selected independently from hydrogen and small electrophilic moieties, which include halides, haloalkyl, alkylamino, hydroxyl, alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, amino, arylalkoxy, aralkoxycarbonylalkoxy, nitro, acylamino, and the like, in which the alkyl groups are preferably lower alkyl containing from 1 to 6 carbons, more preferably contain from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and aryl groups preferably contain from 3-1 6, more preferably 3-10, more preferably 4-7, carbons. In particular, R\ R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are selected from among cyano, amino, amino substituted with 1 or 2 methyl or ethyl groups, trihalomethyl, preferably trifluoromethyl, hydroxyl, halide, methyl, ethyl, methoxy and ethoxy. R\ R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are preferably hydrogen or halogen, and if halogen, are preferably Br or CL In general it is preferred that at least one of R\ R 2 , R 3 and R 4 is hydrogen. It is more preferred that at least two or three of R\ R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are hydrogen and one or two are haiide. If two halides are present, then it is preferred that one is Cl and the other Br; if one is present then it is preferably Br or CL The more preferred compounds are 3-O_-indoxyl esters and 4-, 5- or 6-substituted 3-θHndoxyl esters most preferred. In compounds in which only one of R\ R 2 , R 3 and R 4 is not hydrogen, then it is preferably Br at the 5-position or Cl at the 6-position. Other preferred indolyl compounds are described, for example in U.S. Patent No. 4,278,763 (see, also GB 1 ,128,371 ). Indoxyl, thioindoxyl (benzo[b]thiophene) substrates, include, but are not limited to: indoxyl acetate, N-methyl indoxyl acetate; indoxyl- ?- D-glucoside, indoxyl phosphate, N-methyl indoxyl acetate, N-methyl indoxyl myristate, 3-indoxyl phosphate and 3-indoxyl sulfate, and substituted derivatives thereof, including the corresponding thioindoxyl ester and benzo[b]furanyl ester. Among the preferred indoxyl esters are: 3-indoxyl phosphate, 6- chloro-3-indoxyl phosphate; 6-chloro-3-indoxyl- ?-D-galactopyranoside; 5- bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate (BCIP) (see, e.g.. Leary et a . (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 80:4045); 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl galactoside (X-Gal); several other "X-glycosides" that are similar to X-gal (see, e.g.. Wolf et aL. (1 966) Lab. Invest. 15:1 132); 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate for phosphatase; 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl galactoside (X-gal) for galactosidase; 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl sulfate for sulfatase; 3-indoxyl phosphate; 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indoxyl acetate for an acetate esterase; and 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-/?-D-glycopyranoside for N- acetylglycosaminidase. Other suitable indolyl substrates include indoxyl- amino esters, thioindolyl-amino esters, benzo[b]furan-amino esters or peptide-derivatives thereof. The indoxyl substrates, such as those for the phosphatases, sulfatases, galactosidases and some glycosidase enzymes, are known and commercially available, or may be synthesized by routine methods [see, e.g., U.S. Patent Nos. 5.31 6.906 and 5,206,139]. Thioindoxyl esters (benzo[b]thiophene ester) and benzo[b]furan esters are also known [see, e.g.. U.S. Patent No. 4,278,763]. 2. Enzymes Any enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of an indoxyl ester, preferably 3-O-indoxyl esters may be used herein. These enzymes may be identified empirically by selecting an indoxyl ester and testing selected enzymes for the ability to hydrolyze the ester. In particular, any esterase may be used as long as it hydrolyzes the indoxyl ester of interest. Such enzymes include, but are not limited to alkaline phosphatases, sulfatases, proteases and galactosidases. In particular, such enzymes include bacterial or intestinal alkaline phosphatase, / 5-galactosidase, ?-glucuronidase, N- acetylcglucoseaminidase. These enzymes are well known and may be iso¬ lated from readily available bacterial or tissue culture sources or may be purchased commercially. 3. Chemiluminescence amplifying reagents Chemiluminescence amplifying reagents intended for use herein are any such reagent that reacts with superoxide anion (O 2 ) or an intermediate, such as a reactive metabolite or intermediate, other than, or in addition to, H 2 0 2 , generated in the hydrolysis reaction between the indoxyl ester and enzyme of interest. These reagents include, but are not limited to horseradish peroxidase, lucigenin (dimethyl diacridinium nitrate) added at the pH of the instant reactions (pH between about 7 and 1 1 ) without adjusting the pH of the reaction, which primarily and/or specifically detects superoxide anion (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,294,541 ), an intermediate or reactive metabolite, and other such reagents. Other such reagents are any that react with the superoxide anion (0 2 ) or any reagent, such as horseradish peroxi¬ dase, that reacts with an intermediate that is generated in the hydro¬ lysis reaction. These reagents react with or catalyze the reaction of an intermediate, and thereby enhance or augment the chemiluminescence. Suit¬ able chemiluminescence amplifying reagents are known to those of skill in the art or can be identified empirically by testing a known reagent for the ability to generate chemiluminescence in the assays herein in which the reagent is added simultaneously or sequentially with the enzyme of interest or after the enzyme. Such reagents also can be identified by assays, such as those herein, that demonstrate the ability of the reagent to react with the superoxide anion (O 2 ) or or intermediates or other reactive metabolites [see, e.g.. EXAMPLES]. Horseradish peroxidase or lucigenin, which is added without adjusting the pH of the hydrolysis reaction, are presently preferred. As shown herein, addition of lucigenin to the hydrolysis reaction, without adjusting the pH, augments the chemiluminescent signal. This augmentation, however, is quenched by addition of superoxide disumutase (SOD), which converts or dismutates superoxide anion to H 2 O 2 . This demonstrates that lucigenin is augmenting chemiluminescence produced in the reaction, but that the chemi¬ luminescence is not produced by virtue of reaction of the lucigenin with H 2 O 2 . In contrast, as shown in the Examples, assays conducted according to the prior assays (see, e.g.. EP 0 476 930 A1 ) are based on measurement of H 2 O 2 . Such chemiluminescence is not quenched by addition of SOD. Similarly in the prior assays, addition of SOD to reactions in which lucigenin is added after stoichiometric H 2 O 2 production would not be expected to quench chemiluminescence. Other suitable reagents include, but are not limited to: 7-dimethyl- amino-naphthalene-1 ,2-dicarbonic acid hydrazide and cypridina luciferin ana- logs, including 2-methyl-6-(p-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dihyroimidazo[1 ,2-σ]- pyrazin-3-one, 2-methyl-6-phenyl]-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1 ,2-σ] pyrazin-3-one, 2-methyl-6-(p-{2-[sodium 3-carboxylato-4-(6-hydroxy-3-xanthenon-9-yl)] phenylthioureylene]ethyleneoxy}phenyl)-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1 ,2-σ]pyrazin-3- one and metal chelates. Applications of the Assays The assays herein have uses in human clinical, veterinary, and agricul¬ tural diagnostics, in the food industry in sterility and contamination testing of foods and beverages, and many other applications. The assays herein can be used in any method in which the activity of an enzyme that hydrolyzes an indoxyl, thioindoxyl (benzo[b]thiophene) or benzo[b]furan ester. The methods herein can be applied to any application in which indoxyl esters and derivatives thereof have been used as substrates in spectrophoto- metric assays. For example, the conversion of indoxyls and substituted indoxyls into the corresponding indigo dye forms the basis for cytochemical staining methods for the localization of cellular enzymes [Holt et aL. (1958) Pro. Roy. Soc. B 148:4811: indoxyls and derivatives have been used in the production of tissue stains to identify alkaline phosphatase activity [see, e.g., Cotson et aL (1958) Proc. Roy. Soc. B. 148:5061; bromo-chloro-indoxyl phosphate has been used as a substrate for determining the specificity of monoclonal antibodies to protein mixtures in alkaline-phosphatase-conjugated anti-immunoglobulin in immunoblots [Ely et aJL ( 1 986) Methods Enzvmol. 1 21 :4971: bromo-chloro-indoxyl phosphate has been used for visualizing biotin-labeled DNA probes hybridized to DNA or RNA immobilized onto nitrocellulose [see, e.g., Leary et aL (1 983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80:40451: and numerous other assays. Other chromogenic applications of the conversion of indoxyl compounds to indigo dye have included: an indigogenic reaction for alkaline and acid phosphatase histochemical demonstration in disk electrophoresis (see, Epstein et aL. (1967) Am. J. Gin. Pathol. 48:530); the comparison of simultaneous azo-dye coupling methods and an indigogenic reaction for alkaline phosphatase in polyacrylamide disc gels [Savage et |iL(1972) Stain Technol. 47:771: protein blotting principles and applications [Gershoni et aL (1 983) Anal. Biochem. 1 31 : 11: a method for staining proteins transferred to nitrocellulose sheets [Wojtkowiak et aL. (1983) Anal. Biochem. 129:4861: visualization of antigenic proteins on Western blots [D.A. Knecht, R.L. Dimond in Anal. Biochem. 1 984, 1 36(1 ), 180]; a method for detection of alkaline phosphatase-conjugated anti-antibody on Western blots [Blake et U (1984) Anal. Biochem. 136: 1751: in solid phase immunoassays [Valkirs et aL. (1 985) Clin. Chem. 31: 1427]; in ELISA-spot assays [Franci et aL (1988) J. Immunol. Methods 107:2391: and numerous other applications. All of the preceding references rely exclusively on the spectral properties of bromo-chloro-indoxyl phosphate as a colorimetric substrate. For application in the methods herein, instead of monitoring the enzyme- catalyzed hydrolysis of the indoxyl ester to the indigo dye, however, the enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis is monitored by detecting chemiluminescence of intermediates or reactive metabolites produced in the hydrolysis reaction as described herein. The following applications of the methods herein are intended to be exemplary. Numerous other applications in which enzymes that react with indoxyl esters or compounds that can be labeled with such enzymes are known to those of skill in this art. Any application in which an enzyme that reacts with an indoxyl ester is a reactant, product or can be otherwise coupled, via an additional reaction or reactions may be practiced with the methods provided herein. 1. Human, veterinary and agricultural diagnostics using ligand binding assays The methods herein may be used in ligand binding assays for diagnostics. The ligand or the anti-ligand is labeled directly or indirectly with an enzyme such as, but not limited to, alkaline phosphatase (AP), β-D- galactosidase, sulfatase or ?-D-glucuronidase. After appropriate incubation and separation, the appropriate substrate is added and the activity of the enzyme is measured by methods herein. The concentration of the unknown sample is determined from a standard dose-response curve. Examples of ligand binding assay include immunoassays, protein binding assays, and nucleic acid hybridization assays. (a) Immunoassays employing labeled antigen or labeled antibody Enzyme labels are used in numerous immunoassays. For example, a number of heterogeneous immunoassays employing alkaline phosphatase have been reported [see, e.g., Bronstein et aL ( 1 989) Clin. Chem. 35: 1441 - 1446 and Schaap et a (1989) Clin. Chem. 35:1863-18641. Homogeneous assays employing / ^-galactosidase are also well known [see, e.g.. U.S. Patent No. 4,708,929]. Other immunoassays for identifying antigens of interest include: methods for diagnosing the presence of abnormal epithelial tissue using monoclonal antibodies to the A6B4 cell surface protein [see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,320,942]; methods for detecting fetal fibronectin [see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,281 ,522]. These reactions use a reagent, such as a biotin-conjugated goat anti-human immunoglobulin-specific antibody and alkaline phosphatase-conjugated rabbit anti-biotin specific antibody (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,322,769). A substrate, such as 5-bromo-4-chloro-3- indolyl phosphate can be used in the methods herein and the activity or the alkaline phosphatase can be determined [see, e.g.. Examples]. (b) Receptor assays employing labeled ligand or labeled receptor Assays for receptors that use enzyme-labeled analytes are known. For example, a steroid is labeled with alkaline phosphatase and the appropriate receptor is used as an anti-ligand. After incubation and separation, substrate is added and chemiluminescence is measured (see, e.g.. Hamilton et a ( 1987) Chapter 2, pages 22-48 in Immunoassav A Practical Guide. Chan et aL, Eds, Academic Press, Inc. New York). (c) Protein binding assays employing a labeled ligand or labeled anti-ligand Protein binding assays (see, e.g., Hamilton et aL (1987) Chapter 2, pages 22-48 in Immunoassav A Practical Guide. Chan et aL, eds, Academic Press, Inc. New York) may be practiced with the methods herein. Such assays include, but are not limited to (i) assays that use serum binding proteins, such as, but not limited to, thyroxine-binding globulin, transcortin, intrinsic factor (the gastric mucosa vitamin B 12 transport protein, and sex hormone-binding globulin; and (ii) assays involving cell surface and tissue receptors. The ligands for the binding proteins or receptors, or the binding proteins or receptors (i.e. the anti-ligand) are labeled with an appropriate enzyme, such as alkaline phosphatase, which can then be determined as described herein. (d) Nucleic acid hybridization assays Nucleic acids (i.e. DNA, RNA or analogs thereof) can be labeled with enzymes, such as alkaline phosphatase, that react with indoxyl esters. Also, nucleic acids and analogs thereof may be labeled with biotin, which binds to avidin or strepavidin conjugated with alkaline phosphatase. The labeled nucleic acids, which may be used as probes, may then be identified and quantified (see, e.g.. Bronstein et a ( 1989) Clin. Chem. 35(9): 1 856-1 857, in which an oligonucleotide probe is labeled with alkaline phosphatase or with a ligand, such as biotin that binds to avidin or to streptavidin conjugated with alkaline phosphatase; see, also see, e.g., U.S. Patent Nos. 5,316,906 and 5,274,087). Following hybridization, alkaline phosphatase is determined by the methods herein. Also, expression of /5-galactosidase is a marker detected in plaque assays (see, e.g.. U.S. Patent Nos. 5,281 ,522 and 5,273,901 ). A substrate, such as 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-D-galactopyranoside can be used in the methods herein and used to detect and/or quantify β- galactosidase. 2. Environmental Applications and for chemical assays The assays herein may be used to measure environmental compounds such as parathion, toluene, sulfamethazine, melathion and heptachlor using alkaline phosphatase labeled antigen or antibody (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,266,700). Enzyme immunoassays have also been used to measure atrazine in water samples [see, Sherry et aL (1993) Chemosphere 226:2173- 2184]. 3. Pharmaceutical and toxicological applications The assays may be used in drug design by assessing the effect of a drug on an enzyme such as alkaline phosphatase. For example, compounds, such as levamisole analogs, that inhibit particular forms of alkaline phosphatase [i.e. kidney, liver, tumor or placental forms of alkaline phosphatase; see, e.g.. Biochemicals, Organic Compounds for Research and Diagnostic Reagents, SIGMA Chemical Company 1 994 catalog], can be identified by the assays herein. The assays may be used to screen for microbes and microbial contamination. The assays may be used to determine the purity of genetically engineered or produced enzymes, such as /5-D-galactosidase. Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility tests can be performed on a suspension of a pure culture isolate. Substrates and other reagents for these pure culture tests are known to those of skill in the art [see, e.g.. European Patent Application EP 091 ,837 A; Snyder et aJL (1985) "Rapid Characterization of Microorganisms by Induced Substrate Fluorescence: A Review" Biotechnology Progress 1 :226-230; Snyder, et aL "Pattern Recognition Analysis on In Vivo Enzyme Substrate Fluorescence Velocities in Microorganism Detection and Identification" AppL Environ. Microbiol. 5J_:969-977]. For microbial identification, a culture suspension is added to solutions, each containing a different substrate, and incubated at an appropriate temperature. Multiple enzyme tests may be formatted into a panel of tests. Depending upon the type of microorganism, certain substrates will be cleaved by specific enzymes produced by the microorganism. For example, coliform bacteria produce the enzyme ^-galactosidase; and JΞ. coli bacteria produce the enzyme jff-glucuronidase. Recognition of the specific enzymes that a particular microorganism produces permits identification of the pure culture isolate. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns can be obtained by measuring a reduction in the amount of enzyme produced by a pure culture isolate in the presence of certain antimicrobial compounds. Reduction in the amount of enzyme produced by the pure culture isolate is directly related to the susceptibility of that microorganism to the antimicrobial. E,. cpji /^-galactosidase is inhibited by silver nitrate, p-chloro- mercuribenzoate and dimethylbenzylalkylammonium chloride [see, e.g., Toyobo Enzymes (catalog) Toyobo Co. LTD.]. The methods herein may be used in assays that monitor yS-galactosidase inhibition, thereby detecting the presence of such inhibitors or toxicoiogical compounds. 4. DNA Sequencing Chemiluminescence DNA sequencing may be performed using the dideoxy method (see, e.g.. Martin et a (1 991 ) Improved Chemiluminescent DNA Seouencino Biotechnigues 1 1 :1 10-1 1 3). DNA sequencing reactions may also be detected by chemiluminescence using nylon membrane and hybridization of probes that are either labelled with alkaline phosphatase or a ligand, such as biotin to which streptavidin-alkaiine phosphatase conjugate is then added. After washing, the activity of alkaline phosphatase is measured by the methods herein. 5. Reporter Gene Assays Reporter gene assays have numerous applications in which levels of expression of a gene operatively linked to an inducible promoter are measured. The most commonly described reporter gene assays use chlor- amphenicol acetyl transferase, /9-galactosidase, luciferase, ?-glucuronidase and secreted alkaline phosphatase (Alam, et al. (1990) Anal. Biochem. 188:245-254). Of interest herein are those assays in which an enzyme, such as 5-galactosidase or alkaline phosphatase is expressed. The methods herein are used to detect and/or quantify such enzymes. 6. Diagnosis of Periodontal Diseases Chemiluminescence assays for alkaline phosphatase in the diagnosis of human periodontal disease using aryl dioxetane phosphate are known, (see e.g. , Ian et a_L (1993) Luminescence and Chemiluminescence Proceedings of the V/lth International Symposium on Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence, Banff, March 1993, Szalay et aL ed.). Increased alkaline phosphatase activity is correlated with periodontal disease. Accordingly, the methods herein may be used to measure alkaline phosphatase activity in saliva, gingival cervicular fluid and other fluids or tissues in the mouth. 7. Clinical Chemistry Diagnostics Increased levels of alkaline phosphatase are associated with liver and bone diseases (see, e.g.. Cohn et aJL (1966) Blood Chemistry in a Textbook of Clinical Pathology, 7th Edition, S.E. Miller, Ed., Williams & Wikins, Baltimore, MD, page 316). Serum alkaline phosphatase activity may reach about ten to twelve and up to 25 times the upper limit of normal in hepatic obstruction and in Paget's Disease. A moderate increase in serum alkaline phosphatase occurs in osteomalacia, rickets, congestive heart failure and Fanconi's Syndrome, hyperthyroidism, intestinal disease and intra-abdominal bacterial infections. Accordingly, serum may be sampled and tested for alkaline phosphatase according to the methods herein. 8. Food, Beverage and Sterility Testing The methods herein may be used to test analytes in food and beverages. For example, vitamin B 12 or antibiotics using a vitamin B 12 or antibiotic-specific alkaline phosphatase-labelled antigen or antibody in an immunoassay. Alkaline phosphatase and other bacterial enzymes (see, discussion above) may been used as a marker to check for sterility or degree of contamination, for example, in medical supplies and food. Bacteria produce enzymes such as 5-galactosidase that can be quantified by the methods herein. As discussed above, coliform bacteria produce the enzyme β- galactosidase; and E^. coj] bacteria produce the enzyme glucuronidase. 9. Detection of leukocytes The methods herein may be used to detect leukocyte-specific proteases and thereby detect leukocytes in body fluids. Detection of leukocytes in body fluids has important applications, such as in the assessment of kidney or renal damage. These methods may be practiced using the thioinoxyl substrates [see, e.g.. U.S. Patent No. 4, 278,763]. Kits and diagnostic systems The assay systems herein may be provided in kit form that is useful for detecting the enzyme, cofactor, substrate, product, intermediate or reactive metabolite in a sample, such as a food, body fluid or tissue. All kits also include instructions for performing the assays. In particular, kits for performing the chemiluminescence assays herein are also provided. In particular, kits for measuring enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of indoxyl esters are provided. These kits contain a first reagent containing the indoxyl ester; and a second reagent, containing a chemiluminescence amplifying reagent, such as horseradish peroxidase (but do not contain horseradish peroxidase and luminol/isoluminol), lucigenin added without adjusting the pH, or other such reagent. The kits may also include suitable ancillary reagents, such as the appropriate buffers, such as diethanolamine and borate buffer, at a pH appropriate for the reaction, typically between about 7 and about 1 1 or slightly higher, preferably 7 to 1 1 or 7 to 10.5 or 7.5 to 10, depending upon the enzyme. The kits may also include suitable ancillary supplies, such as microtiter plates, vials, labeled ligand or labeled anti-ligand, calibrator solutions, controls, wash solutions, solid-phase supports and the like. The packages discussed herein in relation to diagnostic systems are those customarily utilized in diagnostic systems. Such packages include glass and plastic, such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polycarbonate, bottles and vials, plastic and plastic-foil laminated envelopes and the like. The packages may also include containers appropriate for use in autoanalyzers. The packages typically include instructions for performing the assays. Practice of the assays The diagnostic tests provided herein include assays for enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of indoxyl esters. The enzymes may be used as labels in various immunoassays and DNA hybridization assays or in DNA sequencing reactions. The enzymes may be present in sampled body fluids and, thus, be used to detect and/or quantify the enzyme, such as alkaline phosphatase, which may be indicative of disease. In practicing the assays herein, the test sample and indoxyl ester, which is selected for its ability to be hydrolyzed by the enzyme that is of interest and that may be present in the test sample, are mixed. Chemiluminescence is measured thereafter, typically immediately or within a few minutes (1 to about 1 5 minutes or preferably 1 to about 5 or 10 minutes) . Alternatively, if amplif cation of the chemiluminescent signal is desired, a chemiluminescence-amplifying reagent, such as horseradish peroxidase or lucigenin, can be added to the reaction mixture. The chemiluminescence-amplifying reagent, can be added simultaneously with addition of the test sample or other reagent, or within a short period thereafter, typically less than one minute up to an hour, preferably between about 1 and 1 5 minutes. The time at which a chemiluminescence-amplifying reagent is added is preferably less than 10 minutes, can be less than about five minutes, less than about one minute or even simultaneously with one or more reagents. It can be added, particularly if the reagent is a peroxidase, up to one to two hours after commencement of the hydrolysis reaction. Chemiluminescence is measured immediately thereafter. The chemilumines¬ cence-amplifying reagent is any such reagent that reacts with the superoxide anion (O or with another reactive metabolite (other than H 2 O 2 ) produced in the hydrolysis reaction, thereby increasing the chemiluminescence signal generated in the reaction. The following examples are included for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. EXAMPLE 1 ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE-MEDIATED CHEMILUMINESCENCE OF INDOXYL PHOSPHATE ESTERS A. Materials (1) Substrate solution (a) 3.5 mM 3-indoxyl phosphate, di-p-toluidine salt (DCL, Canada) in 0.1 M diethanolamine buffer containing 2 mM MgCI 2 , pH 10. (b) 3.5 mM 3-indoxyl phosphate, di-(2-amino-2-methyl-1 ,3- propanediol salt (JBL, CA) in 0.1 M diethanolamine buffer containing 2 mM MgCI 2 , pH 10. (c) 3.5 mM 5 bromo-4-chloro-3 indoxyl phosphate, mono-(p- toluidinium) salt (JBL, CA) in 0.1 M diethanolamine buffer containing 2 mM MgCI 2 , ph 10. (d) 3.5 mM 6-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate, p-toluidine salt (Research Organics INC, OH)) in 0.1 M diethanolamine buffer containing 2 mM MgCI 2 , pH 10. (2) Enzymes (a) Alkaline phosphatase (AP), (Biozyme Laboratories International, CA) (b) Superoxide dismutase (Biozyme Laboratories International, CA) B. Method (1 ) 10 / L of the sample solution (blank and alkaline phosphatase) was added to plastic tubes. (2) 50 μL of each of the above substrate solution was injected using the AccuLyte luminometer (LTI, IL) into the sample tubes. (3) Chemiluminescence was measured using the AccuLyte luminometer for 1 80 seconds. C. Results Relative Light Units (RLU) Substrate solution Blank Alkaline Phosphatase (6.25x10 15 moles) (a) 10,381 283,479 (b) 14,998 145,643 (c) 10,140 32,299 (d) 1 1 ,543 22,356 D. Discussion The above results demonstrate that enzymatically catalyzed hydrolysis of the indoxyl esters produces chemiluminescence. EXAMPLE 2 EFFECT OF SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE (SOD) A. Materials (1 ) Substrate solution 3.5 mM 3-indoxyl phosphate, di-p-toluidine salt (DCL, Canada) in 0.1 M diethanolamine buffer containing 2 mM MgCI 2 , pH 10. (2) Enzymes (a) Alkaline phosphatase (AP), (Biozyme Laboratories International, CA) (b) Superoxide dismutase (SOD; Biozyme Laboratories International, CA). B. Method (1 ) Pipet 10 μL of blank and 6.5 x 10 15 moles alkaline phosphatase solution into plastic tubes. (2) Pipet 10 μL of 58 mU of SOD or zero mU (blank) of SOD. (3) Inject 50 μL of 3.5 mM 3-indoxyl phosphate, toluidine salt into the AccuLyte luminometer. (4) Measure chemiluminescence for 180 seconds using the AccuLyte luminometer. C. Results Blank AP * Blank AP * (-)no SOD {-) SOD ( + )SOD ( + )SOD SOD None (0) None (0) 58 mU 58 mU RLU * 1 1 ,130 254,222 10,415 10,140 1 6.25x10 '15 moles AP * RLU = relative light units D. Discussion These results demonstrate that chemiluminescence is quenched by the addition of SOD, which converts the superoxide anion into H 2 O 2 , thereby suggesting that the superoxide anion is involved in the production of chemiluminescence from the indoxyl intermediate or other reactive metabolite. EXAMPLE 3 PEROXIDASE-CATALYZED CHEMILUMINESCENCE OF 3-INDOXYL PHOSPHATE Materials (1 ) Alkaline phosphatase (AP) solutions, 8.6 x 10 "15 mol/10 / L, 8.6 x 10 "17 mol/10 / vL, and 8.6 x 10 *18 mol/10 /vL, in 0.1 M diethanolamine buffer containing 2 mM magnesium chloride (MgCI 2 ), pH 10.0, were prepared. (2) Substrate solution was prepared by adding 10 μL of horseradish peroxidse (HRP; 2.5 units in 0.1 M Tris, pH 7.8, containing 0.05% bovine serum albumin) to 100 μL of 3.5 mM 3-indoxyl phosphate, di-p-toludine salt (in 0.1 M diethanolamine buffer, containing 2 mM MgCI 2 , pH 10.0). Methods The alkaline phosphatase solution (10 μL) was introduced into a plastic tube. Substrate solution (20 μL) was added and chemiluminescence was measured in an OPTOCOMP1 (MGM) Luminometer for 20 second intervals for 20 intervals. Results INTERVAL BLANK RLU 8.6 X 10- 15 8.6 X 10- 17 8.6 X 10- 18 mol AP RLU mol AP RLU mol AP RLU 1 1078 232859 2419 1359 2 983 343331 2932 1265 3 964 345951 3854 1300 4 955 342039 4849 1353 5 952 329859 5843 1364 6 955 313922 6719 1407 7 945 296669 7377 1402 8 925 280091 7850 1440 9 934 264388 8238 1448 10 918 249550 8506 1447 11 925 235630 8684 1467 12 917 222530 8776 1464 13 891 209959 8717 1452 14 910 197605 8876 1430 15 898 187537 8855 1466 16 929 179204 8825 1458 17 906 172108 8787 1447 INTERVAL BLANK RLU 8.6 X 10 15 8.6 X 10- 17 8.6 X 10- 18 mol AP RLU mol AP RLU mol AP RLU 18 888 166390 8834 1447 19 894 160628 8784 1445 20 891 1 55792 8731 1439 EXAMPLE 4 EFFECT OF SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE ON PEROXIDASE-CATALYZED INDOXYL CHEMILUMINESCENCE ENHANCEMENT Materials Substrate solution containing 3-indoxyl phosphate toluidine salt (2.3 mM) in diethanolamine buffer (70 mM; MgCI 2 (2.0 mM); pH 10.0). Methods Substrate solution was added to 10 /A of alkaline phosphatase (8.6 x 10 '15 mol) sample, and incubated for one minute at room temperature. Horseradish peroxidase (25 μ\, 0.03 units, in 0.1 M Tris-HCI, pH 8.0) was added and chemiluminescence was measured for 1 second in an Optocomp I (MGM) luminometer either in the presence ( + ) or absence (-) of added superoxide dismutase (85 units). Results AP concentration Superoxide Relative light units (RLU) (mol/10 L) Dismutase (85 units) 0 - 917 8.6x10 "15 - 1 .3 x 10 5 0 + 452 8.6x10 15 + 1214 The results demonstrate that superoxide dismutase quenches the chemiluminescence generating reaction, again indicating that H 2 O 2 is not the product that is involved in the chemiluminescent-generating reaction observed herein. EXAMPLE 5 PEROXIDASE-CATALYZED ENHANCEMENT OF AP-MEDIATED INDOXYL- CHEMILUMINESCENCE AND COMPARISON WITH PEROXI- DASE/ISOLUMINOL/H 2 O 2 GENERATED CHEMILUMINESCENCE The method provided herein, in which enzyme is determined by measuring chemiluminescence generated by the enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of indoxyl esters and enhanced by horseradish peroxidase (HRP), is compared with a method (see, e.g., EP 0 476 930 A1 ) in which enzyme is determined by measuring the amount of H 2 O 2 formed in the hydrolysis reaction using chemiluminesence systems, such as HRP/isoluminol or microperoxidase/isoluminol. Addition of SOD to the peroxidase/isoluminol- generated chemiluminescence (EXAMPLE 6) has no effect; whereas addition of SOD to the reactions run in accord with the methods herein, substantially quenches chemiluminescence (see, e.g.. Examples 2 and 10). A. Materials (1 ) Substrate reagents (a) 3.5 mM 3-indoxyl phosphate, di-(2-amino-2-methyl-1 ,3- propanediol salt (JBL, CA)) and 5 U/mL HRP in 0.1 M diethanolamine buffer containing 2 mM MgCI 2 , pH 10. (b) 3.5 mM 3-indoxyl phosphate, di-(2-amino-2-methyl-1 -,3- propanediol salt (JBL, CA)) and 5 U/mL HRP in 0.1 M diethanolamine buffer containing 2 mM MgCI 2 and 0.25 mM isoluminol, pH 10. (2) Enzymes AP was prepared in 0.1 M diethanolamine + 2mM MgCI 2 buffer, pH 10.0. B. Method (a) 10 μL of the sample solutions (blank and alkaline phosphatase) were added to plastic tubes. (b) 50 μL of each of the above substrate solutions was injected by the AccuLyte luminometer (LTI, ID into the sample tubes. (c) The sample tubes were incubated for one or fifteen minutes at room temperature. (d) Chemiluminescence was measured using the AccuLyte luminometer for 5 seconds. C. Results Relative Light Units (RLU) Blank 100 pg AP Blank 100 pg AP Substrate a b One minute 1 144 492,048 131 9 1 .3x10 6 incubation Fifteen minutes 1459 331 ,330 1 188 474,404 incubation D. Discussion The results show the differences between the HRP enhanced (no isoluminol) and the HRP/isoluminol/H 2 O 2 -generated chemiluminescence. The chemuliminescence produced from H 2 O 2 by HRP/isoluminol/H 2 O 2 -genearated one minute incubation exhibits a greater signal to noise ratio than the instant method, and chemiluminescence kinetics are different. There is a 32.7% reduction in signal using the HRP enhanced system compared to 63.5% using the HRP/isoluminol/H 2 O 2 . In addition, as demonstrated above, SOD, which converts the superoxide anion to H 2 O 2 quenches the chemiluminescence produced in the reactions measured by the instant method; whereas, the chemiluminescence measured using peroxidase/iso- luminol apparently is not quenched by SOD (see, e.g.. Example 6). Thus, the instant methods detect an intermediate product. EXAMPLE 6 SOD DOES NOT QUENCH PEROXIDASE/ISOLUMINOL/H 2 O 2 -GENERATED CHEMILUMINESCENCE A. Materials (a) 3.5 mM 3-indoxyl phosphate, di-(2-amino-2-methyl-1 , 3- propanediol salt (JBL, CA)) 0.1 M diethanolamine buffer containing 2 mM MgCI 2 , pH 10. (b) 0.38 mM 5 bromo-4 -chloro-3 indoxyl phosphate, mono-(p- toluidinium) salt (JBL, CA)) in 0.1 M tris buffer containing 100 mM MgCI 2 (pH 9.5) and 0.1 % bovine serum albumin. (c)0.12 mM isoluminol and 0.5 μM microperoxidase in 0.1 M Tris containing 100 mM MgCI 2 and 0.1 % BSA pH 9.6. B. Method ( 1 ) Pipet 10 / L L of blank and alkaline phosphatase solution into plastic tubes. (2) Pipet 10 /Λ of 58 mU of SOD or zero mU (blank) of SOD to appropriate tubes. (3) Add 100 μL of substrate solution (b, see materials). (4) Incubate for one hour at 37° C. (5) Inject 500 μL of the chemiluminescence reagent (see c above) into the AccuLyte luminometer. (6) Measure chemiluminescence for 6 seconds interval from 1 5-21 seconds after the addition of 500 μL of (c) above (step #5) using the AccuLyte luminometer. C. Results Blank 100 pg AP Blank 100 pg AP SOD None (0) None (0) 58 mU 58 mU RLU 102,913 1 .4x10 7 95,998 1 .65x10 7 D. Discussion The addition of SOD does not quench chemiluminescence, indicating that this system is based on determination of hydrogen peroxide. EXAMPLE 7 CHEMILUMINESCENCE USING OTHER REAGENTS Materials (1 ) Alkaline phosphatase (AP) solution, 8.6 x 10 '15 mol/10 L in 0.1 M diethanolamine buffer containing 2 mM magnesium chloride (MgCI 2 ), pH 10.0, was prepared. (2) Substrate solutions: I. 2.3 mM 3-indoxyl phosphate, di-p-toludine salt in 70 mM diethanolamine buffer, pH 10.0, containing 2 mM MgCI 2 and 1 .3 mM lucigenin. II. 2.3 mM 3-indoxyl phosphate, di-p-toludine salt in 70 mM diethanolamine buffer, pH 10.0, containing 2 mM MgCI 2 and 1 .3 mM luminol. III. 2.3 mM 3-indoxyl phosphate, di-p-toludine salt in 70 mM diethanolamine buffer, pH 10.0, containing 2 mM MgCI 2 and 1 .3 mM 2- methyl-6-(p-{2-[sodium 3-carboxylato-4-(6-hydroxy-3-xanthenon-9-yl)phenyl- thioureylene]ethyleneoxy}phenyl)-3,7-dihyroimidazo[1 ,2-σ] pyrazin-3-one. IV. 2.3 mM 3-indoxyl phosphate, di-p-toludine salt in 70 mM diethanolamine buffer, pH 10.0, containing 2 mM MgCI 2 and 1 .3 mM 2-(methyl-6-phenyl)-3,7-dihyroimidazo[1 ,2-a] pyrazin-3-one. V. 2.3 mM 3-indoxyl phosphate, di-p-toludine salt in 70 mM diethanolamine buffer, pH 10.0, containing 2 mM MgCI 2 and 1 .3 mM 7- dimethyiamino-naphthalene-1 ,2-dicarbonic acid hydrazide. Methods The alkaline phosphatase solution (10 μL) was introduced into a plastic tube. Substrate solution (10 μL) was added and chemiluminescence was measured in an OPTOCOMP1 (MGM) Luminometer for 6 seconds for 10 intervals. Results SUBSTRATE AP CONCENTRATION INTERVAL RELATIVE LIGHT UNITS (RLU) Blank 1 1374 Blank 2 1285 Blank 3 1239 Blank 4 1202 Blank 5 1187 Blank 6 1163 8.6 x 10- 15 mol 1 9.8 x 10 6 8.6 x 10 15 mol 2 11.7 x 10 6 8.6 x 10- 15 mol 3 12.3x 10 6 8.6 x 10 "15 mol 4 12.6 x 10 6 8.6 x 10 "15 mol 5 12.6 x 10 6 8.6 x 10 15 mol 6 12.6 x 10 6 Blank 1 670 Blank 2 526 Blank 3 455 Blank 4 421 Blank 5 380 Blank 6 367 8.6 x 10- 15 mol 1 1526 8.6 x 10- 15 mol 2 12059 8.6 x 10 15 mol 3 9210 8.6 x 10 15 mol 4 8183 8.6 x 10 "15 mol 5 8511 8.6 x 10 "15 mol 6 8583 SUBSTRATE AP CONCENTRATION INTERVAL RELATIVE LIGHT UNITS (RLU) III Blank 1 1498 III Blank 2 1389 III Blank 3 1370 III Blank 4 1339 III Blank 5 1323 III Blank 6 1335 III Blank 1 10327 III 8.6 x 10- 15 mol 2 24731 III 8.6 x 10 "15 mol 3 22402 III 8.6 x 10 5 mol 4 22598 III 8.6 x 10- 15 mol 5 22699 III 8.6 x 10 15 mol 6 22258 IV Blank 1 15209 IV Blank 2 15879 IV Blank 3 16569 IV Blank 4 17198 IV Blank 5 17618 IV Blank 6 18024 IV 8.6 x 10- 15 mol 1 103119 IV 8.6 x 10 15 mol 2 373120 IV 8.6 x 10- ,5 mol 3 268622 IV 8.6 x 10 "15 mol 4 259158 IV 8.6 x 10 15 mol 5 257963 IV 8.6 x 10 '15 mol 6 254675 V Blank 1 500 V Blank 2 410 V Blank 3 361 SUBSTRATE AP CONCENTRATION INTERVAL RELATIVE LIGHT UNITS (RLU) V Blank 4 338 V Blank 5 313 V Blank 6 293 V 8.6 x 10- 15 mol 1 1618 V 8.6 x 10- 15 mol 2 7063 V 8.6 x 10- 15 mol 3 4430 V 8.6 x 10- 15 mol 4 4054 V 8.6 x 10 '15 mol 5 4075 V 8.6 x 10- 15 mol 6 4104 EXAMPLE 8 LUCIGENIN-AUGMENTED CHEMILUMINESCENCE Materials (1 ) Alkaline phosphatase (AP) solutions, 8.6 x 10 "15 mol/10 L, 8.6 x 10 "17 mol/10 L, and 8.6 x 10 "18 mol/10 L, in 0.1 M diethanolamine buffer containing 2 mM magnesium chloride (MgCI 2 ), pH 10.0, were prepared. (2) Substrate solution 2.3 mM 3-indoxyl phosphate, di-p-toludine salt in 70 mM diethanolamine buffer, pH 10.0, containing 2 mM MgCI 2 and 1.3 mM lucigenin. Methods The alkaline phosphatase solution (10 μL) was introduced into a plastic tube. Substrate solution (10 μL) was added and chemiluminescence was measured in an OPTOCOMP1 (MGM) Luminometer for 20 second intervals for 20 intervals. Results RELATIVE LIGHT UNITS INTERVALS BLANK 8.6 x 10 15 8.6 x 10 "17 8.6 x 10 18 (20 seconds) mol AP mol AP mol AP 1 1608 2.061 x 10 +7 107992 5972 2 1591 2.4092 x 10 +7 281509 10189 3 1611 2.4525 x 10 +7 412776 15918 4 1609 2.4201 x 10 +7 489377 20684 5 1607 2.3439 x 10 +7 531514 23830 6 1603 2.2398 x 10 +7 554319 25947 7 1579 2.1175 x 10 +7 567414 26842 8 1570 1.9814 x 10 +7 574907 27451 9 1546 1.8295 x 10 +7 580116 27562. 10 1535 1.6813 x 10 +7 583030 27389 11 1547 1.54 x 10 +7 586353 27261 12 1535 1.41 x 10 +7 588084 26835 13 1521 1.29 x 10 +7 589354 26382 14 1515 1.19 x 10 +7 590844 25976 15 1464 1.10 x 10 +7 591703 25512 16 1476 1.03 x 10 +7 592857 25092 17 1440 .96 x 10 +7 593530 24687 18 1438 .90 x 10 +7 592865 24145 19 1425 .85 x 10 +7 593054 24000 20 1420 .81 x 10 +7 592819 23437 EXAMPLE 9 EFFECT OF SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE ON INDOXYL-LUCIGENIN GENERATED CHEMILUMINESCENCE Materials Substrate solution containing 3-indoxyl phosphate toluidine salt (2.3 mM) lucigenin (1 .3 mM) in diethanolamine buffer (70 mM; MgCI 2 (2.0 mM); pH 10.0). Methods Substrate solution was added to 10 L of alkaline phosphatase (8.6 x 10 '15 mol) sample, and incubated for one minute at room temperature. After the minute incubation either nothing (-) was added or 85 units of superoxide dismutase ( + ) was added, and chemiluminescence was measured for 1 sec in the Optocomp I (MGM) luminometer. Results AP concentration Superoxide Relative light units (RLU) (mol/10 /yL) Dismutase (85 units) 0 - 1457 8.6x10 15 - 1 .1 x 10 6 0 + 1824 8.6x10 '15 + 6371 The results demonstrate that superoxide dismutase quenches the chemiluminescence generating reaction, thereby, suggesting that superoxide anion, not H 2 0 2 , is involved in the chemiluminescence that is observed in these reactions. EXAMPLE 10 EFFECT OF SOD ON LUCIGENIN-AMPLIFIED CHEMILUMINESCENCE A. Materials 3.5 mM 3-indoxyl phosphate, di-(2-amino-2-methyl-1 , 3-propanediol salt (JBL, CA)) 0.1 M diethanolamine buffer containing 2 mM MgCI 2 , pH 10. B. Method (1 ) Pipet 10 μL of blank and alkaline phosphatase solution into plastic tubes. (2) Pipet 10 μL of 58 mU of SOD (prepared in the buffer used for AP or for the blank) or zero mU (blank) of SOD to appropriate tubes. (3) Add 50 μL of 3.5 mM 3-indoxyl phosphate, di-(2-amino-2-methyl- 1 ,3-propanediol salt (JBL, CA)) in 0.1 M diethanolamine buffer containing 1 .25 mM lucigenin and 2 mM MgCI 2 , pH 10. (4) Incubate for one minute and measure chemiluminescence for 1 second using the AccuLyte luminometer. C. Results Blank 100 pg AP Blank 100 pg AP SOD None (0) None (0) 58 mU 58 mU RLU 1836 2.0x10 6 1 ,550 86,931 D. Discussion The above experiment demonstrates that approximately 96% of chemiluminescence is quenched. Thus, addition of SOD substantially quenches chemiluminescence, indicating that in the methods herein, H 2 O 2 is not quantitated. EXAMPLE 1 1 TWO-STEP ASSAY IN WHICH THE HYDROLYSIS REACTION PROCEEDS BEFORE ADDITION OF ANY AMPLIFYING REAGENT AND EFFECT OF INCREASING ENZYME CONCENTRATION A. Method (1 ) Pipet 10 L of blank and alkaline phosphatase solution into plastic tubes. (2) Add 35 μL of 3.5 mM 3-indoxyl phosphate, di-(2-amino-2-methyl)- 1 ,3-propanediol salt (JBL, CA) 0.1 M diethanolamine buffer containing 2 mM MgCI 2 , pH 10. (3) Incubate for two minutes at room temperature. (4) Inject 50 μL of 0.5 mM lucigenin in 0.1 M 2-amino-2-methyl- propanol (AMP) buffer into the mixture. (5) Measure chemiluminescence for one second, using the AccuLyte luminometer. B. Results AP (pg/10 μL) RLU (1 sec) 0 332 1 4,239 10 308,336 100 1 .4 x 10 6 EXAMPLE 12 COMPARISON OF THE LUCIGENIN-INDOXYL CHEMILUMINESCENCE SYSTEM (METHOD 1 ) AND TWO-STEP LUCIGENIN-INDOXYL SYSTEM BASED ON DETECTION OF H 2 0 2 BY CHEMILUMINESCENCE (METHOD 2) MATERIALS A. Reagents ( 1 ) 3.5 mM 3-indoxyl phoshate, di-(2-amino-2-methyl)-1 ,3- propanediol salt (JBL, CA) and 1 .25 mM lucigenin in 70 mM diethanolamine buffer containing 2 mM MgC 1 2 , pH 10. (2) 0.38 mM 5 bromo-4-chloro-3 indoxyl phosphate, mono-(p- toluidinium) salt (JBL, CA) in 0. 1 M Tris buffer containing 100 mM MgC1 2 (pH 9.5). and 0.1 % BSA (see, EP 0 476 930 A1 ). (3) 6x10 "4 % lucigenin in 0.1 M KOH and 1 x10 3 M Triton X-100 (see, Tsuji et aL . in Proc. J. International Symposium on Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence. Cambridge, 1 990, Page 1 1 9). (1 ) Method 1 (method described herein) (a) Pipet 10 μL of blank and alkaline phosphatase (prepared in 0.1 M DEA buffer containing 2 mm MgCI 2 , pH 10) into plastic tubes. (b) add 25 μL of the reagent (1 ) and incubate for 4 minutes at 37° C. (c) Measure chemiluminescence using the AccuLyte luminometer for 1 second. (2) Method 2 (prior art method) (a) Pipet 10 μL of blank and alkaline phosphatase (prepared in the 0.1 M Tris buffer containing 0.1 % BSA and 100 mM MgCI 2 , pH 9.5 (see, EP 0 476 930 A1 ) into plastic tubes. (b) Add 100 L of the substrate solution (reagent (2)) and incubate for one hour at 37° C. (c) Inject 500 μL of reagent (3) using the AccuLyte luminometer. (d) Measure chemiluminescence using the AccuLyte luminometer for 10 second interval from 1 5-25 seconds (Tsuji et aL in Proc. J. International Symposium on Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence. Cambridge, 1990, Page 1 19). B. RESULTS AP Method (1 ) S/N Method (2) S/N * (RLU) (RLU) Blank (0) 2429 1 1 .9x10 6 1 100 pg AP 6.1 x10 6 2,51 1 3.3x10 7 17.4 l O pg AP 534,405 220 3.6x10 6 1 .9 1 1 p pgg 4488,, 119999 1 199..88 2.0x10 6t 1 .1 0.1 pg 4,586 1 .9 1 .8x10 6t 0.95 " S/N = signal/noise 1 signal = background C. DISCUSSION The methods of the prior art [see, e.g., EP 0 476 930 A1 ; and Tsuji et al. in Proc. J. International Symposium on Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence, Cambridge, 1990, Page 1 19] measure H 2 O 2 and, thus, employ lucigenin at relatively high pH. The instant method, method 1 , detects approximately 0.1 pg of alkaline phosphatase; whereas, method 2, which measures H 2 O 2 detects about 10 pg. Thus, method 1 is about 100-fold more sensitive than method (2), which is based on H 2 O 2 . EXAMPLE 13 COMPARISON OF THE DETECTION LIMIT OF METHOD (1 ) AND METHOD (2) A. Materials (1 ) 3.5 mM 3-indoxyl phosphate, di-(2-amino-2-methyl)-1 ,3- propanediol salt (JBL, CA) and 1 .25 mM lucigenin in 70 mM diethanolamine buffer containing 2 mM MgCI 2 , pH 10. (2) 0.38 mM 5-bromo-4 -chloro-3-indoxyl phosphate, mono-(p- toluidinium) salt (JBL, CA) in 0.1 M tris buffer containing 100 mM MgCI 2 and 0.1 % bovine serum albumin (pH 9.5) [ see, EP 0 476 930 A1 ]. (3) 0.12 mM isoluminol and 0.5μM microperoxidase in 10 mM Tris containing 100 mM MgCI 2 , pH 9.5. B. Methods Method (1) (a) Pipet 10 μL of blank and alkaline phosphatase solution into plastic tubes. (b) Add 50 μL of reagent (1 ). (c) Incubate for three minutes at room temperature. (d) Measure chemiluminescence for one second using the AccuLyte luminometer. Method (2) (a) Pipet 10 μL of blank and alkaline phosphatase solution into plastic tubes. (b) Add 50 μL of reagent (2). (c) Incubate for one hour at 37° C. (d) Inject 500 μL of the chemiluminescence reagent (3) into the AccuLyte luminometer and measure chemiluminescence for 6 second intervals from 1 5-21 seconds after addition of reagent (3) using the AccuLyte luminometer. C. Results * Method (1 ) Method (2) Incubation time: 3 minute at room temp One hour at 37 °C Detection limit: 0.15 pg 1 .0 pg * Determinations were performed in ten replicates Detection limit is defined as the quantity of alkaline phosphatase determined that is two standard deviations above the blank value. D. Discussion The detection limit achieved using the method herein (method (1 )) is approximately seven times better than that achieved using method (2) (see, EP 0 476 930). This increase is achieved despite the combined effect of temperature (37° C) and longer incubation (one hour) of method (2). Thus, the instant methods, in addition to providing greater sensitivity, (a) require much shorter (1 /20th) incubation times; (b) doe not require 37° C; and (d) are simpler (one-step). The two-step methods provided herein provide even higher sensitivity. EXAMPLE 14 COMPARISON OF THE LUCIGENIN-INDOXYL CHEMILUMINESCENCE SYSTEMS IN WHICH INTERMEDIATES OR REACTIVE METABOLITES ARE DETERMINED WITH LUCIGENIN-INDOXYL SYSTEMS IN WHICH H 2 O 2 IS DETERMINED The method provided herein, in which enzyme is determined by measuring chemiluminescence generated by the enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of indoxyl esters and augmented by lucigenin, is compared with a method in which enzyme is determined by measuring the amount of H 2 O 2 formed in the hydrolysis reaction using chemiluminesence systems in which lucigenin is used under conditions (see, Maeda, et aL (1990) "Chemiluminescent Assay of Alkaline Phosphatase Using Ascorbic Acid 2-Phosphate as Substrate and its Application to Chemiluminescent Enzyme Immunoassays," Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence. pp. 1 1 9-122). under which is reacts with H 2 O 2 . A. Materials (1 ) Reagents (a) 3-lndoxyl phosphate (2.5 mM), di-(2-amino-2-methyl)-1 , 3-propanediol salt (JBL, CA) and 1 .25 mM lucigenin in 70 mM diethanolamine buffer containing 2 mM MgCI 2 , pH 10. (b) 5-Bromo-4-chloro-3 indoxyl phosphate (0.1 9 mM), mono-(p-toluidinium) salt (JBL, CA) in 0.01 M Tris buffer containing 100 mM MgCI 2 (pH 9.5). (c) Lucigenin (6x10 "4 %) in 0.1 M KOH and 1 x10 "3 M Triton X-100 [see, Tsuji et a_L ( 1990) in Proc. J. International Symposium on Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence, Cambridge, Page 1 1 9]. B. Methods (1 ) lucigenin-augmented chemiluminescence (a) Pipet 10 μL of blank and alkaline phosphatase into plastic tubes. (b) Add 50 μL of the reagent a. (c) Incubate for two minutes inside the luminometer. (e) Measure chemiluminescence using the AccuLyte luminometer for 1 second. (2) H 2 O 2 based chemiluminescence assay (a) Pipet 10 μL of blank and alkaline phosphatase (prepared in the 0.1 M Tris buffer containing 0.1 % BSA and 100 mM MgCI 2 (pH 9.5) into plastic tubes. (b) Add 200 μl of the substrate solution (reagent b). (c) Inject 500 μL of reagent (3) into the AccuLyte luminometer. (d) Incubate for two minutes inside the luminometer. (e) Measure chemiluminescence using the AccuLyte luminometer for 1 second. C. Results Method (1 ) Method (2) RLU S/N RLU S/N Blank (0) 2275 1 1.5x10 6 1 100 pg AP 2.45x10 6 1076.9 1 .3x10 7 8.7 10 pg AP 165,916 72.9 1 .4x10 6 0 1 pg 4241 1 .86 1 .2x10 6 0.8 Note:S/N = s ignal/noise D. Discussion The sensitivity achieved using the two systems is remarkably different. When 1 pg of alkaline phosphatase was added, the S/N in method (1 ) was 1 .8; whereas, when 100 pg was added the S/N in method (2) was 8.7, indicating that method (1 ) has higher sensistivity. EXAMPLE 15 ASSAY FOR PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN Materials: (1 ) Immuno enzymometric assay for prostrate specific antigen (AIA- PACK PA catalog no. 020263 TOSOH). The AIA-PACK PA is a two-site immunoenzymmometric assay in which mouse anti-prostate-specific antigen (abbreviated PSA or PA) is immobilized on paramagnetic particles and the second antibody, which is anti-human PA monoclonal antibody, is conjugated to intestinal alkaline phosphatase. (2) Substrate 2.3 mM 3-indolyl phosphate di-p-toluidine salt (Diagnostic Chemical Labs (DCL), Canada) and 1 .3 mM lucigenin in 70 mM diethanolamine buffer containing 2.0 mM magnesium chloride, pH 10.0. Methods The alkaline phosphatase-conjugated antibody and the coated paramagnetic beads were introduced into plastic tubes. 100 μL of the diluent solution (provided with the kit) was added, and the resulting mixture was vortexed. PSA calibrator solution (20 μl; provided in the kit) or BIO- RAD Lyphocheck Immunoassay controls, levels 1 , 2, and 3 (20 μl; obtained from Bio-Rad, CA, lot#s 92001 , 92002, 92003, respectively) were added. The tubes were incubated for 20 minutes, the beads were washed four times with 0.5 ml wash solution (provided in the kit) and then two times with distilled water. Substrate solution (100 μL) was then added and the resulting mixture was incubated for 4 minutes. Chemiluminescence was measured in a Berthold luminometer, Model #952. The chemiluminescent output was measured for 1 second. Results The data from the calibrators was used to generate a standard dose- response curve. The concentrations of the BIO-RAD lyphochek controls were then determined from this standard dose-response curve. As shown in the following Table, the results obtained using the methods herein accurately determined the concentrations of the PSA in the Bio-Rad Lyphochek controls. Samples Relative light Concentration Reported units (RLU) ' ratio (ng/ml) ** concentration range (ng/ml) *** Standards 1 1 276 0.0 - 2 " " 8995 5.200 ~ 3" " 29372 25.800 — 4 90555 51 .600 - Samples Relative light Concentration Reported units (RLU) ' ratio (ng/ml) ** concentration range (ng/ml)" * BIO-RAD 1 3499 1 .409 0.8-1 .5 2 4540 2.057 2.8-4.0 3 34594 28.474 22.1 -32.1 * Mean value from two samples * * determined from standard curve generated using the standards * * * as reported in the Bio-Rad package insert provided with the Lyphocheck controls (lot no. 92001 , level 1 ; 92002, level 2; and 92003, level 3) » » * * dilutions of 51 .6 ng/ml standard using sample standard 1 for dilution EXAMPLE 16 ASSAY FOR 7-GALACTOSIDASE Materials: / 5-galactosidase (Boehringer Mannheim, Germany). AMPSO buffer [3-(1 ,1 -dimethyl-2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-2-hydroxy- propanesulfonic acid; SIGMA Chemical Company]. Substrate solution is 1 .6 mM 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-O-indolyl-/9-D- galactopyranoside (Diagnositic Chemicals LTD, Canada) and 1 .3 mM lucigenin in 0.1 M AMPSO buffer, pH 8.9. Methods /5-galactosidase (10 μL of varying concentrations) in 0.1 M AMPSO buffer and 0.1 % TRITON X-100, pH 8.9 was mixed with 100 l of substrate solution. The resulting mixture was incubated for 3 minutes at room temperature. Chemiluminescence was immediately measured in an MGM OPTOCOMP I tube luminometer. The chemiluminescent output was measured for 1 second. Results Concentration Relative light units Enzyme (mol/ 10 μl) (RLU) 0 284 9 x ισ 13 481 342 9 x 10 "15 4559 Since modifications will be apparent to those of skill in this art, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A method for determining enzyme activity in a sample, comprising: (a) combining the sample with an indoxyl ester, thioindoxyl ester (benzo[b]thiophene ester) or benzo[b]furan ester; and (b) measuring the resulting chemiluminescence, wherein the enzyme is one that catalyzes hydrolysis of an indoxyl ester, thioindoxyl ester (benzo[b]thiophene ester) or benzo[b]furan ester; and the ester is hydrolyzed in the presence of the enzyme. 2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample and ester are incubated for about 1 or more minutes up to about 1 hour prior to measuring the chemiluminescence. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the ester is an indoxyl ester. 4. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the resulting chemilum- inescence is amplified by adding a chemiluminescence amplifying reagent that reacts with or catalytically reacts with superoxide anion or another reactive metabolite or intermediate produced in the reaction to enhance or augment the chemiluminescence produced in the hydrolysis reaction. 5. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the amplifying reagent is lucigenin, which is added without adjusting the pH of the reaction, or a peroxidase. 6. The method of any of claims 1 -5, wherein the reagent is horseradish peroxidase. 7. A method for determining enzyme activity in a sample, comprising: (a) combining an indoxyl ester, thioindoxyl ester (benzo[b]thiophene ester) or benzo[b]furan ester with horseradish peroxidase to produce a substrate solution; and (b) adding the sample to the substrate solution; and (c) measuring the resulting chemiluminescence, wherein: the enzyme is one that catalyzes hydrolysis of an indoxyl ester, thioindoxyl ester (benzo[b]thiophene ester) or benzo[b]furan ester. 8. A method for determining enzyme activity in a sample, comprising: (a) combining an indoxyl ester, thioindoxyl ester (benzo[b]thiophene ester) or benzo[b]furan ester with lucigenin to produce a substrate solution; (b) adding the sample to the substrate solution; and (c) measuring the resulting chemiluminescence, wherein: the resulting chemiluminescence is quenched by addition of SOD; and the enzyme is one that catalyzes hydrolysis of an indoxyl ester. 9. A method for determining enzyme activity in a sample, comprising: (a) combining the sample with an indoxyl ester, thioindoxyl ester (benzo[b]thiophene ester) or benzo[b]furan ester; (b) adding a peroxidase to the ester, either simultaneously with step (a), subsequent to step (a), or prior to adding the sample to the ester; and (c) measuring the resulting chemiluminescence, wherein: the enzyme is one that catalyzes hydrolysis of an indoxyl ester, thioindoxyl ester (benzo[b]thiophene ester) or benzo[b]furan ester. 10. The method of any of claims 4, 5 or 8, wherein the chemiluminescence amplifying reagent is added less than ten minutes after the sample is combined with an ester. 1 1 . The method of claim 10, wherein the chemiluminescence amplifying reagent is added less than ten minutes after the sample is combined with the ester. 12. The method of claim 4, wherein the chemiluminescence amplifying reagent is a reagent that reacts with the superoxide anion (O 2 ) or with another reactive intermediate product that is generated in the hydrolysis reaction between the ester and enzyme. 13. The method of any of claims 1-12, wherein the indoxyl ester is a 3-O_-indoxyl ester, 3-O_-thioindoxyl ester or 3-O-benzo[b]furan ester that has formula: wherein: X is S, O or NR a ; R a is hydrogen, halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, araloxy, hydroxyl, carboxy, carboxy alkoxy, arlkoxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl alkoxy, nitro, or lower acylamino groups; R b is any acyloxy group or amide group that is hydrolyzed the enzyme; R\ R 2 , R 3 and R 4 , which are the same or different, are selected independently from the group consisting of halides, haloalkyl, alkylamino, hydroxyl, alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, and amino groups; and X S, O or NR a , where R a is hydrogen, halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, aryl, aralkyl, araloxy, hydroxl, carboxy, carboxy lower alkoxy, arylkoxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl lower alkoxy, nitro, or lower acylamino groups. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein X is NR a and R a is hydrogen or an acyl group. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein R a is an acyl group that is hydrolyzed by the enzyme. 16. The method of claim 13, wherein R a is hydrogen. 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the acyl group is selected from the group consisting of phosphate, acetate, galactopyranosides, sulfate, glucuronate, gluopyranosides, fructopyranosides and mannopyranoside or are derived from inorganic acids or organic acids. 18. The method of any of claims 1 3-1 7, wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 is hydrogen. 19. The method of any of claims 1 3-1 7, wherein R\ R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are selected from the group consisting of cyano, amino, amino substituted with 1 or 2 methyl or ethyl groups, trihalomethyl, hydroxyl, halide, methyl, ethyl, methoxy and ethoxy. 20. The method of any of claims 1 3-1 7, wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and halogen. 21. The method of any of claims 13-20, wherein X is NR a . 22. The method of any of claims 1 -21 , wherein the indoxyl esters are 4-, 5- or 6-substituted 3-O_-indoxyl esters. 23. (Amended) A kit, consisting essentially of: (a) a first reagent comprising an indoxyl ester, a thioindoxyl ester (benzo[b]thiophene ester) or a benzo[b]furan ester; and (b) a second reagent, comprising a chemiluminescence amplifying reagent that generates chemiluminescence in the absence of H 2 O 2 by virtue of reaction with superoxide anion (O 2 ) or reaction with an intermediate produced during the enzymatic hydrolysis of the esters. 24. (Amended) A method for determining enzyme activity in a sample, comprising: (a) combining the sample with an indoxyl ester, thioindoxyl ester (benzo[b]thiophene ester) or benzo[b]furan ester; (b) adding a chemiluminescence amplifying reagent to the ester, either simultaneously with step (a), prior to addition of the sample, or subsequent to step (a); and measuring the resulting chemiluminescence, wherein: the chemiluminescence amplifying reagent is a reagent that generates chemiluminescence in the absence of H 2 O 2 ; the enzyme is one that catalyzes hydrolysis of an indoxyl ester, thioindoxyl ester (benzo[b]thiophene ester) or benzo[b]furan ester; and the ester is hydrolyzed in the presence of the enzyme. 25. A method for determining enzyme activity, comprising: (a) combining an indoxyl ester, thioindoxyl ester (benzo[b]thiophene ester) or benzo[b]furan ester with lucigenin or a derivative thereof to produce a substrate solution; (b) adding the enzyme sample to the substrate solution, whereby chemiluminescence is produced by virtue of reaction of the lucigenin and with the superoxide anion; and measuring the resulting chemiluminescence, wherein: the enzyme is one that catalyzes hydrolysis of an indoxyl ester, thioindoxyl ester (benzo[b]thiophene ester) or benzo[b]furan ester, and the pH of the solution is not adjusted prior to or subsequent to addition of the lucigenin or derivative thereof. 26. A method for determination of peroxidase activity or superoxide anion in a sample, comprising: (a) combining the sample with an indoxyl ester, thioindoxyl ester (benzo[b]thiophene ester) or benzo[b]furan ester and an enzyme; and (b) measuring the resulting chemiluminescence, wherein the enzyme is one that catalyzes hydrolysis of an indoxyl ester; and the ester is hydrolyzed in the presence of the enzyme, and thereby determining peroxidase activity or superoxide anion. 27. The method of any of claims 1 -26, wherein the enzyme is a phosphatase, sulfatase, protease, a galactosidase, preferably a β- galactosidase, or a glucuronidase. 28. The method of any of claims 1-17, wherein the reaction is further monitored by detecting a change in the color of the reaction mixture of filtrate thereof.

Inventors: MAHANT VIJAY K, MAHANT, VIJAY, K.
Applicants: MAHANT VIJAY K, MEDILITE DIAGNOSTIKA, MAHANT, VIJAY, K.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: C12Q1
IPC codes: C12Q1