An HPLC Method to Detect Heme Oxygenase Activity

This unit presents a method to calculate heme oxygenase enzymatic activity from the formation of bilirubin equivalents [biliverdin-Ix alpha (BV) and bilirubin-IX alpha (BR)]. The BV and BR generated in the reaction are separated by reversed-phase HPLC and detected using visible absorbance spectroscopy. Since both metabolites of heme degradation are directly quantifiable, the assay eliminates the requirement for biliverdin reductase supplementation.