A nucleotide triphosphate (NTP) participates in a phosphorylation reaction, wherein a phosphate group is transferred from the NTP to a substrate by a kinase. Provision in a kinase reaction of a NTP whose gamma phosphate is conjugated to an electroactive label results in the transfer of the gamma phosphate-electroactive label conjugate from the NTP to the substrate. The electroactive label is an organic moiety such as a quinone or a nitroheterocycle, or is a metallocene such as a ferrocene or a cobaltocene. Upon transfer of the gamma phosphate-electroactive label conjugate to an electrode-bound substrate by a kinase, the phosphorylation event is detected electrochemically by cyclic voltammetry. Phosphorylation can also be detected by mass spectrometry of a substrate carrying the electroactive label-conjugated gamma phosphate. NTP comprising the gamma phosphate-electroactive label conjugate is used in methods of detecting the presence of a kinase in a sample, screening candidate compounds that modulate kinase activity, and in methods of diagnosing a disease associated with a kinase.