Measuring dimethylallyl diphosphate available for isoprene synthesis.

Dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMADP) is a central metabolite in isoprenoid metabolism, but it is difficult to measure. Three different methods for measuring DMADP are compared, and a new method based on the conversion of DMADP to isoprene using recombinant isoprene synthase is introduced. Mass spectrometry is reliable but does not distinguish between DMADP and isopentenyl diphosphate.