A simple and sensitive assay for 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid

A simple, rapid, and sensitive method for the quantitative determination of 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), the immediate precursor of ethylene in plant tissues, is described. The assay is based on the liberation of ethylene from ACC with NaOCl in the presence of Hg2+; ethylene is assayed by gas chromatography. The yield is normally 80% and can be determined by internal standards. The method is quite specific and can detect as little as 5 pmol of ACC.