The present invention relates to a method for quickly determining cAMP
content or an adenylate cyclase activity in a biological sample
containing non-cyclic adenine nucleotides without the use of radioactive
agents.Particularly, the present invention provides a method of
determining cAMP content or an adenylate cyclase activity in a biological
sample containing non-cyclic adenine nucleotides selected from the group
consisting of cAMP produced by endogenous adenylate cyclase, and AMP,
ATP, ADP and a mixture thereof, which comprises (1) combining a
biological sample with effective amounts of apyrase, adenosine deaminase
and alkaline phosphatase to enzymatically remove non-cyclic adenine
nucleotides other than cAMP, and glucose-6-phosphate in the sample; (2)
enzymatically converting cAMP into AMP; (3) determining an amount of AMP
without the use of radioactive agents, and a kit to carry out the method.