An assay for thiaminase I in complex biological samples

An alternative method for measuring thiaminase I activity in complex samples is described. This assay is based on the selective consumption of the highly chromophoric 4-nitrothiophenolate by thiaminase I, resulting in a large decrease in absorbance at 411 nm. This new assay is simple and sensitive, and it requires only readily available chemicals and a visible region spectrophotometer. In addition, the assay is optimized for high-throughput analysis in a 96-well format with complex biological samples.