Marques_2014_Luminescence_29_378

In this paper, a coupled bioluminescent assay, relying on the coupling of the enzymes acetylcholinesterase, S-acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase and firefly luciferase, for the detection and quantitation of organophosphorus pesticides, is presented. Using malathion as a model organophosphorus pesticide, the assay was optimized through statistical experimental design methodology, namely Plackett-Burman and central composite designs. The optimized method requires only 20 muL of sample. The linear range for the assay was 2.5-15 muM of malathion, with limits of detection and quantitation of 1.5 and 5.0 muM, respectively. This simple, fast and robust method allows samples to be analyzed at room temperature and without any pretreatment.