Two radiochemical procedures were explored for the determination of phosphorylase activity in the glycogenolytic direction. In the ‘32P assay method’ the formation of labelled glucose 1-phosphate from glycogen and [32P]Pi is measured by the radio-activity that remains soluble after the precipitation of phosphomolybdate with triethylamine. In the ‘14C assay method’ the formation of labelled glucose 1-phosphate from peripherally 14C-labelled glycogen and P1 is determined from the radioactivity that remains soluble after the precipitation of glycogen with ethanol. The 14C assay method requires more preparative work but less circumspection than does the 32P assay method. Both radiochemical methods can be applied where the classical spectrophotometric assay fails. They have the same accuracy and reproducibility, and allow more samples to be handled in parallel. They are not intended for use with crude tissue extracts.
