A method for quantitatively determining creatine kinase and a reagent therefor

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a reagent for quantitatively determining creatine kinase with improved storability in liquid form as well as a method for quantitatively determining creatine kinase with stable measurements. Disclosed are a method for quantitatively determining creatine kinase, which comprises activating creatine kinase in a sample in an aqueous medium in coexistence with a trivalent phosphorus compound and a sulfhydryl-containing compound and then determining creatine kinase activity; a method for stabilizing a sulfhydryl-containing compound, which comprises allowing a trivalent phosphorus compound to coexist with a sulfhydryl-containing compound; and a reagent for quantitatively determining creatine kinase, which comprises a trivalent phosphorus compound, a sulfhydryl-containing compound, and a reaction substrate for creatine kinase.

Description: The present invention relates to a method for quantitatively determining creatine kinase. The present invention further relates to a method for stabilizing a sulfhydryl-containing compound, and also to a reagent for quantitatively determining creatine kinase which comprises a stabilized sulfhydryl-containing compound. Creatine kinase is present in muscular tissues of the whole body and in the brain. The measurement of creatine kinase activity is an essential item in routine measurement in the field of clinical examination for diagnosis of muscular diseases, neural diseases, brain diseases and cardiac diseases. Creatine kinase [EC 2. 7. 3. 2] is an enzyme catalysing the following reaction (I) where CK is creatine kinase, CP is creatine phosphate, ADP is adenosine diphosphate, C is creatine, and ATP is adenosine triphosphate. Various methods have been proposed for quantitative determination of creatine kinase. One of the methods involves quantitatively determining the activity of creatine kinase in the reaction (I) to the left by measuring the formed creatine phosphate or adenosine diphosphate (referred to hereinafter as ADP) in a wide variety of methods. To measure creatine phosphate, a method of measuring inorganic phosphoric acid resulting from its hydrolysis is known. To measure ADP, there are known methods in which pyruvic acid kinase is allowed to act on ADP in the presence of phosphoenol pyruvic acid. The resulting pyruvic acid is then reacted with 2,4-dinitropenylhydrazine, followed by measuring the resulting hydrazone. Alternatively, lactate dehydrogenase may act on the above pyruvic acid in the presence of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) [referred to hereinafter as NAD(P)H] to form nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) [referred to hereinafter as NAD(P)] which is then measured. Another method involves quantitatively determining the activity of creatine kinase in the reaction (I) to the right by measuring the formed creatine or adenosine triphosphate (referred to hereinafter as ATP). Creatine may be measured by reacting it with e.g. a pigment. To measure ATP, the methods known in the art involve using luciferase (Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 105,199/82), or allowing phosphoglycerate kinase and glyceraldehydephosphate dehydrogenase to act on ATP in the presence of 3-phospho-D-glyceric acid and NAD(P)H and then measuring the resulting NAD(P) (Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 34,119/84). Alternatively hexokinase or glucokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase may be allowed to act on ATP in the presence of glucose and NAD(P) and the resulting NAD(P)H measured [Recommended method for the determination of creatine kinase in human serum, "Rinsho Kagaku" (Clinical Chemistry, 19(2), 184 (1990) (referred to hereinafter as "recommend method")]. Because most creatine kinase in serum is known to be present in inactive form, the enzyme should be activated prior to the accurate quantitative determination of its activity. To activate creatine kinase in inactive form, it is known to preincubate creatine kinase in the presence of an activator in an aqueous medium. Examples of activators are sulfhydryl-containing compounds such as N-acetylcysteine, dithiothreitol, reduced glutathione, mercaptoethanol, etc. However, a reagent composition for quantitative determination of creatine kinase, containing a sulfhydryl-containing compound added as the activator for creatine kinase, has poor stability in an aqueous medium. The measured activity of creatine kinase using a reagent dissolved in an aqueous medium drops gradually in the storage of the reagent with a prolonged period of time. Therefore it is difficult to realize a reagent dissolved in an aqueous medium for practical measurement. This poor storability results mainly from the fact that the sulfhydryl-containing compound particularly N-acetylcysteine added as an activator for creatine kinase is gradually oxidized to form a disulfide compound. Disulfide compounds, particularly N-acetylcystine, are known to inhibit creatine kinase activity [Clinical Chemistry, 22(5), 650, (1976)]. To improve the stability of N-acetylcysteine, it has been disclosed that a sulfhydryl-containing compound excluding N-acetylcysteine is allowed to coexist with N-acetylcysteine (Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 38,600/93). However, even if this method is used, the composition is not stable for a long period of time. This is mainly because the coexisting sulfhydryl-containing compound itself has poor storability. Chin and Wold (Analytical Biochemistry 214, 128-134 (1993)] have reviewed the use of tributylphosphine to reduce disulfides in the determination of the location of Cys residues and in the characterization of free Cys (SH) and crosslinked Cys (S-S) in proteins. Conventional methods for quantitatively determining creatine kinase by activating creatine kinase in a sample with a sulfhydryl-containing compound suffer from the disadvantages that creatine kinase activity is inhibited with even a trace of an oxide formed from a sulfhydryl-containing compound such as N-acetylcysteine, and that some sulfhydryl-containing compounds excluding N-acetylcysteine activate not only creatine kinase but other kinase in the sample to cause an error in quantitative determination. Hence, there is demand for development of a better method for quantitatively determining creatine kinase. Recently, a large number of reagents dissolved in an aqueous medium for clinical examination, i.e. not using a lyophilized reagent, have been developed and are commercially available. The object of the present invention is to provide a method for quantitatively determining creatine kinase with less error in measurements and also a reagent composition for quantitatively determining creatine kinase which has excellent storability. As a result of their extensive study, the present inventors have found that creatine kinase can be quantitatively determined stable by addition of a trivalent phosphorus compound in the method for quantitatively determining creatine kinase activated by a sulfhydryl-containing compound. The inventors have found also that the coexistence of a trivalent phosphorus compound with a reagent for quantitatively determining creatine kinase comprising a sulfhydryl-containing compound leads to stabilization of the sulfhydryl-containing compound and prevents a drop of measured creatine kinase activity when using a stored reagent. The present invention therefore provides a method for quantitatively determining creatine kinase in a sample which comprises: bringing the sample into contact with an aqueous medium comprising a sulfhydryl-containing compound and a trivalent phosphorus compound selected from a substituted or unsubstituted phosphine or a substituted or unsubstituted diphosphane under conditions to activate the creatine kinase; and determining the activated creatine kinase activity. The creatine kinase can be activated by adding the sample to the said aqueous medium and pre-incubating the resulting aqueous medium at from 10 to 50°C for from 1 to 15 minutes. After: a substrate for creatine kinase is added to the pre-incubated aqueous medium; the aqueous medium thus formed is incubated at from 10 to 50 °C for from 1 to 15 minutes; and the activity of the creatine kinase is determined by measuring the concentration of the product formed from the substrate. The present invention also provides (i) a method for activating creatine kinase in an aqueous medium, which comprises: allowing a sulfhydryl-containing compound and a trivalent phosphorus compound selected from a substituted or unsubstituted phosphine or a substituted or unsubstituted diphosphane to exist in the medium. (ii) a method for stabilizing a sulfhydryl-containing compound in an aqueous medium, which comprises: mixing said compound with a trivalent phosphorus compound selected from a substituted or unsubstituted phosphine or a substituted or unsubstituted diphosphane; (iii)use of a trivalent phosphorus compound selected from a substituted or unsubstituted phosphine or a substituted or unsubstituted diphosphane, for stabilizing a sulfhydryl-containing compound in an aqueous medium. (iv) a reagent for quantitatively determining creatine kinase, which comprises a trivalent phosphorus compound selected from a substituted or unsubstituted phosphine or a substituted or unsubstituted diphosphane, and a sulfhydryl-containing compound; (v) a kit for quantitatively determining creatine kinase comprising a reagent according to (iv) above, which further comprises a reaction substrate for creatine kinase; and (vi) a kit for quantitatively determining creatine kinase comprising a reagent according to (iv) above and a reaction substrate for creatine kinase. The present invention thus permits the stabilization of the sulfhydryl-containing compound and provides a reagent for measurement of creatine kinase, which is excellent in storability even in an aqueous medium for a prolonged period of time. Further, there is provided a method for quantitatively determining creatine kinase with improved stability in measurements. According to the present invention, a sulfhydryl-containing compound in an aqueous medium can be stabilized by allowing a trivalent phosphorus compound to coexist with the sulfhydryl-containing compound. The trivalent phosphorus compound used in the present invention is a substituted or unsubstituted phosphine or a substituted or unsubstituted diphosphane. Unsubstituted phosphine means PH 3 (phosphine). The substituted phosphine may have 1 to 3, same or different substituents which, for example, can be selected from substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group, substituted or unsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted carbamoyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstituted sulfo, etc. The substituted phosphines substituted with 1, 2, and 3 substituents are referred to as primary, secondary, and tertiary phosphines, respectively. Unsubstituted diphosphane means P 2 H 4 (diphosphane). The substituted diphosphane may have 1 to 4, same or different substituents which, for example, can be selected from substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group, substituted or unsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted carbamoyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstituted sulfo, etc. The alkyl moiety in the substituted or unsubstituted alkyl may be linear or branched alkyl having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Examples are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, neopentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, etc. The substituted alkyl may have 1 to 3, same or different substituents which, for example, can be selected from aryl, aromatic heterocyclic group, alkoxy, acyl, amino, hydroxy, carboxy, sulfo, phospho, cyano, halogen, etc. The aryl in the substituted alkyl includes, for example, phenyl, naphthyl, etc. The aromatic heterocyclic group includes, for example, pyridyl, pyrimidyl, naphthyridinyl, furyl, thienyl, pyrazolinyl, imidazolyl, benzofuryl, dibenzofuryl, etc. The alkyl moiety in the alkoxy has the same meaning as described above. The acyl may be linear or branched alkanoyls having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which include, for example, formyl, acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, isobutyryl, valeryl, isovaleryl, pivaloyl, etc., and aroyls which include, for example, benzoyl, naphthoyl, furoyl, thenoyl, nicotinoyl, etc. The halogen represents fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine. The aryl moiety in the substituted or unsubstituted aryl has the same meaning as described above. The substituted aryl may have 1 to 5, same or different substituents which, for example, can be selected from alkyl, alkoxy, acyl, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, amino, sulfo, phospho, halogen, etc. The alkyl, alkoxy, acyl, and halogen have the same meanings as described above, and the alkyl moiety in the alkoxycarbonyl has the same meaning as described above. The aromatic heterocyclic group moiety in the substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group has the same meaning as described above. The substituted aromatic heterocyclic group may have 1 to 3, same or different substituents which are the same as substituents in the above substituted aryl. The substituted amino or substituted carbamoyl may have 1 or 2, same or different substituents which, for example, can be selected from substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group, acyl, alkoxycarbonyl, etc. The substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group, acyl, alkoxycarbonyl have the same meanings as described above. The alkoxy moiety in the substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy has the same meaning as described above. The substituted alkoxy may have 1 to 2, same or different substituents which, for example, can be selected from amino, hydroxy, sulfo, phospho, cyano, halogen, etc. The halogen has same meaning described above. The substituted sulpho may have a substituent which can be selected from substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group, etc. The substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group have the same meanings described above. The phosphine used in the invention may be : (i) a primary phosphine e.g. methylphosphine, ethylphosphine, propylphosphine, isobutylphosphine, phenylphosphine, 2-naphthylphosphine, 2-benzofuranylphosphine, 2-phosphinoethylamine, 4-(phosphinomethyl)imidazole, 1,2,4-butanetriyltris(phosphine), (phenylsulfonyl)phosphine, carbamoylphosphine, etc; (ii) a secondary phosphine e.g. dimethylphosphine, diethylphosphine, diisopropylphosphine, diisoamylphosphine, diphenylphosphine, 3,3'-phosphinediyldipropionic acid, 4-(phosphinomethyl)imidazole, 4,4'-phosphinediyldibenzoic acid, etc; or (iii) a tertiary phosphine e.g. trimethylphosphine, triethylphosphine, tri-n-butylphosphine, tri-n-hexylphosphine, triphenylphosphine, methyldiphenylphosphine, dimethylphenylphosphine, phosphinetriyltridimethylamine, phosphinetriyltridiethylamine, tris(2-methylphenyl)phosphine, tris(3-methylphenyl)phosphine, tris(4-methylphenyl)phosphine, tris(4-methoxyphenyl)phosphine, phosphinetriyltriacetic acid, 3,3',3"-phosphinetriyltripropionic acid, 4,4',4"-phosphinetriyltribenzoic acid, tris(hydroxymethyl) phosphine, 2,2',2"-phosphinetriyltriethylcyanide, ethyl(phenyl) propylphosphine, acetyldiethylphosphine, etc. The phosphines cited herein are easily available as commercial products from Tokyo Kasei Kogyo K.K., Pierce Co., Ltd., etc. The sulfhydryl-containing compound is an activator for creatine kinase. Any sulfhydryl-containing compound that activates creatine kinase can be used in the present invention. Examples of sulfhydryl-containing compound include, for example, amino acids or peptides such as N-acetylcysteine, cysteine, reduced glutathione, etc. ; alcohols such as dithiothreitol, dithioerythritol, mercaptoethanol, thioglycerol, etc. ; carboxylic acids such as thioglycolic acid, etc.; saccharides such as thioglucose, etc.; thiouronium salts such as 2-aminoethylisothiouronium bromide, etc. N-acetylcysteine is particularly preferred. Two or more kinds of these sulfhydryl-containing compounds may be used in combination. The aqueous medium may be a buffer, a physiological saline-containing liquid, etc., among which a buffer is preferable. Any buffer may be used which does not inhibit creatine kinase activation and creatine kinase activity. Examples are Tris-HCl buffer, imidazole-acetate buffer, phosphate buffer, citrate buffer, malate buffer, oxalate buffer, phthalate buffer, glycine buffer, acetate buffer, succinate buffer, borate buffer, carbonate buffer, Good's buffer, etc. To stabilize the sulfhydryl-containing compound in an aqueous medium, a trivalent phosphorus compound is added in an amount of preferably 0.005 to 5 mM, preferably 0.01 to 2 mM, relative to 1 mM sulfhydryl-containing compound. The said reagent for quantitatively determining creatine kinase according to the present invention comprises the trivalent phosphorus compound, the sulfhydryl-containing compound and optimally a reaction substrate for creatine kinase. The reagent may further contain a reaction substrate for other enzyme, an enzyme, a coenzyme, an activator, a preservative, a stabilizer, a surface active agent, a coloring agent, etc. The reaction substrate for creatine kinase is selected from creatine phosphate and ADP, or creatine and ATP, depending on the direction of the reaction. The substrate for other enzyme includes, for example, 3-phospho-D-glyceric acid, glucose, phosphoenolpyruvic acid, luciferin, etc. The enzyme includes, for example, hexokinase, glucokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, diaphorase, superoxide dismutase, pyruvate kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, luciferase, etc. The coenzyme includes, for example, NAD(P), NAD(P)H, etc. The activator includes, for example, magnesium salts such as magnesium acetate, magnesium sulfate, etc. The preservative includes, for example, conventional ones such as sodium azide. The stabilizer includes, for example, metallic chelate agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (referred to hereinafter to EDTA), etc. and other general stabilizers e.g. poly saccharides such as soluble starch and derivatives thereof, proteins such as albumin, globulin, etc., water-soluble high-molecular compounds such as polyethylene glycol, etc. Mention may also be made of hydroxylamines and salts thereof, and aldehyde scavengers and salts thereof, reported as stabilizers for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 59,566/95), as well as adenosine-5'-phosphate (referred to hereinafter as AMP) and P 1 ,P 5 -diadenosine-5'-pentaphosphoric acid (referred to hereinafter as AP 5 A) to inhibit the effect of other enzymes such as adenylate kinase, etc. in a sample. The surface active agent includes, for example, Triton X-100, etc. The coloring agent includes, for example, 2,4-dinitrophenylhyd razine, etc. The reagent for quantifying creatine kinase according to the present invention can be used in a so-called "one-reagent" system, but it can also be divided into a "two-reagents" system if necessary for the convenience of an automatic analyzer, etc. That is, the reagent for quantitatively determining creatine kinase may be in the form of a kit compri&ing: (1) a reagent comprising a trivalent phosphorus compound and a sulfhydryl-containing compound and (2) a reagent comprising a reaction substrate for creatine kinase. Each reagent in the kit may preferably further comprise an aqueous medium. The aqueous medium may be a buffer, a physiological saline-containing liquid, etc. A buffer is preferable. Any buffer may be used insofar as it does not inhibit creatine kinase activation and creatine kinase activity. Examples are Tris-HCl buffer, imidazole-acetate buffer, phosphate buffer, citrate buffer, malate buffer, oxalate buffer, phthalate buffer, glycine buffer, acetate buffer, succinate buffer, borate buffer, carbonate buffer, Good's buffer, etc. Imidazole-acetate buffer is preferred. The concentration of the buffer is preferably 1 mM to 2 M, more preferably 10 to 200 mM. The concentration of the trivalent phosphorus compound is preferably 0.01 to 500 mM, more preferably 0.05 to 250 mM, most preferably 0.1 to 150 mM. The concentration of the sulfhydryl-containing compound is preferably 0.1 to 100 mM, more preferably 0.5 to 50 mM, most preferably 1 to 30 mM. If the recommended method is adopted for measurement of creatine kinase, the reagent is preferably in the form of a kit comprising: (1) a reagent (referred to hereinafter as first reagent) comprising a buffer, a trivalent phosphorus compound, a sulfhydryl-containing compound, hexokinase or glucokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, NAD(P), glucose, ADP and optionally an activator, a preservative, a stabilizer, a buffer, etc. and (2) a reagent (referred to hereinafter as second reagent) comprising creatine phosphate, and optionally a stabilizer, etc. An example of the first reagent is a reagent comprising a trivalent phosphorus compound at preferably 0.01 to 500 mM, more preferably 0.05 to 250 mM, most preferably 0. 1 to 150 mM, a sulfhydryl-containing compound at preferably 0.1 to 100 mM, more preferably 0.5 to 50 mM, most preferably 1 to 30 mM, hexokinase (or glucokinase) at preferably 0.1 to 40 U/ml, more preferably 0.2 to 20 U/ml, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase at preferably 0.1 to 40 U/ml, more preferably 0.2 to 20 U/ml, ADP at preferably 0.1 to 20 mM, more preferably 0.2 to 10 mM, NAD(P) at preferably 0.05 to 20 mM, more preferably 0.1 to 10 mM, glucose at preferably 1 to 200 mM, more preferably 2 to 100 mM, magnesium salts at 0.5 to 30 mM, more preferably 2 to 15 mM, AMP at preferably 0.2 to 20 mM, more preferably 0.5 to 15 mM, AP 5 A at preferably 1 to 100µM, more preferably 2 to 50 µM, EDTA at preferably 0.1 to 20 mM, more preferably 0.2 to 10 mM, sodium azide at preferably 0.5 to 50 mM, more preferably 1 to 30 mM, and an imidazole-acetate buffer at preferably 1 mM to 2 M, more preferably 10 to 200 mM. An example of the second reagent is a reagent comprising creatine phosphate. The concentration of the creatine phosphorate is preferably 15 to 1000 mM, more preferably 30 to 700 mM. The first reagent is used preferably in an amount of 1 to 20 parts by volume based on 1 part by volume of the second reagent. The reagent of the present invention can contain additives not exemplified, such as an activator, a preservative, a stabilizer, a buffer, an enzyme, a coloring agent, a surface active agent. Although a part or the whole of the ingredients in the reagent of the present invention may be provided in lyophilized form and dissolved for reconstitution, it is preferably provided as a liquid reagent. The method for quantitatively determining creatine kinase in a sample according to the present invention is carried out by subjecting the creatine kinase in the sample to coexist with a trivalent phosphorus compound and a sulfhydryl-containing compound in an aqueous medium to thereby activating the creatine kinase; and then determing the activated creatine kinase activity. Any sample can be used insofar as it contains creatine kinase. The samples may be plasma, serum, etc. as well as extracts from the brain, muscle, heart, etc. The extracts may be extracted in water, saline, said buffers, etc. Thus, the creatine-kinase containing sample can be plasma, serum or brain, muscle or heast extracts comprising water, saline or a buffer. The step of activating creatine kinase in a sample is carried out by adding the sample containing creatine kinase to an aqueous medium comprising the sulfhydryl-containing compound, the trivalent phosphorus compound, and optionally other activator, preservative, stabilizer, etc. and preincubating the resulting aqueous medium at 10 to 50°C for 1 to 15 minutes, preferably at 25 to 40°C for 3 to 6 minutes. After the creatine kinase in the sample is activated by the preincubation, a reagent containing a substrate for creatine kinase is added to the aqueous medium it and the aqueous medium thus formed is incubated at 10 to 50 °C for 1 to 15 minutes, preferably at 25 to 40°C for 3 to 6 minutes. The activity of the creatine kinase can be determined by measuring the concentration of the product formed from the substrate. Although the concentration of the product can be directly determined in any method known to the art, it is alternatively possible to convert the product in a method known to the art into another compound and determine its concentration in a method known to the art. To determine creatine kinase, it is preferable to use the above-mentioned recommended method. It is sensitive, reproducibile, applicabile to an automatic analyzer and a large number of samples can be handlet. Hereinafter, the recommended method is described in detail. The principle of this method is shown in the following reaction scheme (II): where HK is hexokinase, G6PDH is glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, G is glucose, G6P is glucose-6-phosphate, and 6PGA is 6-phosphogluconic acid. Creatine kinase in a sample is activated by adding the sample to a reagent comprising a sulfhydryl-containing compound, a trivalent phosphorus compound, hexokinase (or glucokinase), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, ADP, NAD(P), glucose, imidazole-acetate buffer, and optionally the aforesaid activator, preservative, stabilizer, etc. and then preincubating it at 10 to 50 °C for 1 to 15 minutes, preferably at 25 to 40°C for 3 to 6 minutes. After the creatine kinase in the sample is activated by the preincubation, a reagent comprising creatine phosphate as a substrate for creatine kinase is added to it and the sample is incubated at 10 to 50°C for 1 to 15 minutes, preferably at 25 to 40°C for 3 to 6 minutes. The activity of the creatine kinase is determined by optically measuring the product of NAD(P)H at 340 nm. Alternatively, the NAD(P)H can be measured after reacting it with another compound, for example, with a tetrazolium salt. Also NAD(P)H can be measured by reacting it with another compound to produce hydrogen peroxide (Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 248,399/88), or hydrogen peroxide may be formed from the reaction of NAD(P)H catalizing by diaphorase [EC 1. 6. 99.1 or 2] or superoxide dismutase [EC 1. 15. 1. 1] (Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 128,799/89). The hexokinase used includes, for example, those derived from yeast, genetically recombined yeast, Bacillus, etc. Glucokinase with higher specificity for glucose than hexokinase can also be used. Any glucokinase can be used irrespective of the source from which it was derived. Further, any glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase can be used as well, irrespective of the source from which it was derived. EXAMPLES The present invention is specifically described by reference to the following examples which are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Example 1 A reagent solution containing the following ingredients was prepared. Reagent I solution: Imidazole-acetate buffer (pH 6.6) 115 mM EDTA 2.3 mM Magnesium acetate 11.5 mM N-acetylcysteine 23 mM ADP 2.3 mM AMP 5.8 mM AP 5 A 11.5 µM Carboxymethoxylamine hydrochloride 10 mM Glucose 23 mM NADP 2.3 mM Hexokinase 3.45 U/ml Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase 1.725 U/ml Reagent II solution: Creatine phosphate 345 mM The phosphorus compound in Table 1 was added at the indicated concentration to Reagent I solution immediately after prepared, and it was stored at 10 °C for 6 months (stored reagent). After 6 months, a reagent with the same composition was prepared (fresh reagent), and both the stored and fresh reagents were used for determination of creatine kinase activity in standard serum according to the method of "Rinsho Kagaku" (Clinical Chemistry), 19(2) , 184, (1990), as follows: 50µl standard serum was added to 2.25 ml Reagent I solution, and the mixture was preincubated at 37°C for 5 minutes, and then 0.75 ml Reagent II solution was added to it in a reaction cell kept at 37°C in a spectrophotometer. Two minutes thereafter, the reaction solution was monitored with time over 3 minutes for its absorbance at 340 nm. Creatine kinase activity was estimated in a usual manner using the molecular extinction coefficient of NADPH from the change with time in absorbance. The results are shown in Table 1. The residual reagent activity of the stored reagent is expressed in a relative value, assuming that the reagent activity of the fresh reagent is 100 %. Phosphorus Compounds Concentration (%) Residual Reagent Activity (%) None 52.0 Triphenylphosphine 1 87.5 Tris(2-methylphenyl)phosphine 1 91.0 Tris(3-methylphenyl)phosphine 1 90.4 Tris(4-methylphenyl)phosphine 1 88.9 Tris(4-methoxylphenyl)phosphine 1 87.5 4,4',4"-phosphinetriyltribenzoic acid 10 96.1 Tri-n-butylphosphine 1 84.0 Tri-n-hexylphosphine 1 84.6 Tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine 10 97.9 3,3',3"-phosphinetriyltripropionic acid 10 98.0 2,2',2"-phosphinetriyltriethylcyanide 10 97.3 Phosphinetriyltridimethylamine 10 95.0 Phosphinetriyltridiethylamine 10 94.3 Example 2 Reagent Kit A containing the following ingredients was prepared. Reagent I solution: Imidazole-acetate buffer (pH 6.6) 115 mM EDTA 2.3 mM Magnesium acetate 11.5 mM N-acetylcysteine 23 mM ADP 2. 3 mM AMP 5.8 mM AP 5 A 11.5 µM Carboxymethoxylamine hydrochloride 10 mM Glucose 23 mM NADP 2.3 mM Hexokinase 3.45 U/ml Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase 1.725 U/ml Dithiothreitol 10 mM 3,3'3"-phosphinetriyltripropionic acid 10 mM Reagent II solution: Creatine phosphate 345 mM Example 3 Reagent Kit A prepared in Example 2 was stored at 10°C for 6 months. For comparison, a reagent kit (referred to Reagent Kit B) containing the same ingredients as in Reagent Kit A but not containing 3,3',3"-phosphinetriyltripropionic acid was prepared and stored in a similar manner. After storage, Reagent Kits A and B were used for determination of residual reagent activity in the same manner as in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 2. Reagent Kit Residual Reagent Activity (%) Reagent Kit B 76.5 Reagent Kit A 99.6

Claims: A method for quantitatively determining creatine kinase in a sample which comprises: bringing the sample into contact with an aqueous medium comprising a sulfhydryl-containing compound and a trivalent phosphorus compound selected from a substituted or unsubstituted phosphine or a substituted or unsubstituted diphosphane under conditions to activate the creatine kinase; and determining the activated creatine kinase activity. A method according to claim 1, wherein the creatine kinase is activated by adding the sample to the said aqueous medium and pre-incubating the resulting aqueous medium at from 10 to 50°C for from 1 to 15 minutes. A method according to claim 2, wherein a substrate for creatine kinase is added to the pre-incubated aqueous medium; the aqueous medium thus formed is incubated at from 10 to 50 °C for from 1 to 15 minutes; and the activity of the creatine kinase is determined by measuring the concentration of the product formed from the substrate. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the creatine kinase-containing sample is plasma, serum, or brain, muscle or heart extracts comprising water, saline or a buffer. A method for activating creatine kinase in an aqueous medium, which comprises: allowing a sulfhydryl-containing compound and a trivalent phosphorus compound selected from a substituted or unsubstituted phosphine or a substituted or unsubstituted diphosphane to exist in the medium. A method for stabilizing a sulfhydryl-containing compound in an aqueous medium, which comprises: mixing said compound with a trivalent phosphorus compound selected from a substituted or unsubstituted phosphine or a substituted or unsubstituted diphosphane A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sulfhydryl-containing compound is selected from amino acids, peptides, alcohols, carboxylic acids, saccharides and thiouronium salts. A method according to claim 7, wherein the sulfhydryl-containing compound is selected from N-acetylcysteine, cysteine, reduced glutathione, dithiothreitol, dithioerythritol, 2-mercaptoethanol, thioglycerol, thioglycolic acid, thioglucose and 2-aminoisothiouronium bromide. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the trivalent phosphorus compound is selected from methylphosphine, ethylphosphine, propylphosphine, isobutylphosphine, phenylphosphine, 2-naphtylphosphine, 2-benzofuranylphosphine, 2-phosphinoethylamine, 4-(phosphinomethyl)imidazole, 1,2,4-butanetriyltris(phosphine), (phenylsulfonyl)phosphine, carbamoylphosphine, dimethylphosphine, diethylphosphine, diisopropylphosphine, diisoamylphosphine, diphenylphosphine, 3,3'-phosphinediyldipropionic acid, 4-(phosphinomethyl)imidazole, 4,4'-phosphinediyldibenzoic acid, trimethylphosphine, triethylphosphine, tri-n-butylphosphine, tri-n-hexylphosphine, triphenylphosphine, methyldiphenylphosphine, dimethylphenylphosphine, phosphinetriyltridimethylamine, phosphinetriyltridiethylamine, tris(2-methylphenyl)phosphine, tris(3-methylphenyl)phosphine, tris(4-methylphenyl)phosphine, tris(4-methoxyphenyl)phosphine, phosphinetriyltriacetic acid, 3,3',3"-phosphinetriyltripropionic acid, 4,4',4"-phosphinetriyltribenzoic acid, tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine, 2,2',2"-phosphinetriyltriethylcyanide, ethyl(phenyl) propylphosphine and acetyldiethylphosphine. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aqueous medium is a buffer. Use of a trivalent phosphorus compound selected from a substituted or unsubstituted phosphine or a substituted or unsubstituted diphosphane, for stabilizing a sulfhydryl-containing compound in an aqueous medium. A reagent for quantitatively determining creatine kinase, which comprises a trivalent phosphorus compound selected from a substituted or unsubstituted phosphine or a substituted or unsubstituted diphosphane, and a sulfhydryl-containing compound. A reagent according to claim 12, wherein the sulfhydryl-containing compound is selected from amino acids, peptides, alcohols, carboxylic acids, saccharides, and thiouronium salts. A reagent according to of claim 13, wherein the sulfhydryl-containing compound is selected from N-acetylcysteine, cysteine, reduced glutathione, dithiothreitol, dithioerythritol, mercaptoethanol, thioglycerol, thioglyolic acid, thioglucose and 2-aminoethylisothiouronium bromide. A reagent according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the trivalent phosphorus compound is selected from methylphosphine, ethylphosphine, propylphosphine, isobutylphosphine, phenylphosphine, 2-naphtylphosphine, 2-benzofuranylphosphine, 2-phosphinoethylamine, 4-(phosphinomethyl)imidazole, 1,2,4-butanetriyltris(phosphine), (phenylsulfonyl)phosphine, carbamoylphosphine, dimethylphosphine, diethylphosphine, diisopropylphosphine, diisoamylphosphine, diphenylphosphine, 3,3'-phosphinediyldipropionic acid, 4-(phosphinomethyl)imidazole, 4, 4'-phosphinediyldibenzoic acid, trimethylphosphine, triethylphosphine, tri-n-butylphosphine, tri-n-hexylphosphine, triphenylphosphine, methyldiphenylphosphine, dimethylphenylphosphine, phosphinetriyltridimethylamine, phosphinetriyltridiethylamine, tris(2-methylphenyl)phosphine, tris(3-methylphenyl)phosphine, tris(4-methylphenyl)phosphine, tris(4-methoxyphenyl)phosphine, phosphinetriyltriacetic acid, 3,3',3"-phosphinetriyltripropionic acid, 4,4',4"-phosphinetriyltribenzoic acid, tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine, 2,2',2"-phosphinetriyltriethylcyanide, ethyl(phenyl) propylphosphine and acetyldiethylphosphine. A reagent according to any one of claims 12 to 15 which further comprises a buffer. A reagent according to any one of claims 12 to 16 which further comprises a reaction substrate for creatine kinase. A kit for quantitatively determining creatine kinase, comprising a reagent according to claim 17. A kit for quantitively determining creatine kinase, comprising a reagent according to any one of claims 12 to 16 and a reaction substrate for creatine kinase.

Inventors: AOYAMA NORIHITO, SAKAKIBARA MINAKO, AOYAMA, NORIHITO, SAKAKIBARA, MINAKO
Applicants: KYOWA MEDEX CO LTD, KYOWA MEDEX CO., LTD.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: C12Q1
IPC codes: C12Q1