Arginine decarboxylase (ADC, EC 4.1.1.19) is a key enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of free polyamines in most plants and is associated with plant stress physiology.
Arginine decarboxylase catalyzes the conversion of the substrate arginine to agmatine. The product agmatine is derivatized using a derivatizing agent, and the derivative exhibits a maximum absorption peak at 254 nm. ADC enzyme activity is determined by measuring the change in absorbance at 254 nm.