3-NITROPHENYL-BETA-D-GALACTOPYRANOSIDE CAS:3150-25-2

Detection of beta-galactosidase activity: ONPG is often used to determine the presence and activity of beta-galactosidase in various biological samples, such as bacterial cultures or cell lysates. The production of o-nitrophenol, which has a yellow color, can be easily measured using a spectrophotometer.

Gene expression studies: ONPG is commonly used in molecular biology research to study gene expression. By fusing the promoter of a gene of interest with the gene encoding beta-galactosidase, researchers can measure the activity of this promoter by adding ONPG and quantifying the resulting o-nitrophenol production. This method, known as a beta-galactosidase reporter assay, provides information about the transcriptional activity of a gene.

Bacterial identification: Some bacteria produce beta-galactosidase, while others do not. ONPG can be used in combination with other biochemical tests to identify bacterial species based on their ability to hydrolyze ONPG. This method is commonly used in clinical diagnostics and microbiology laboratories.

Screening for enzyme inhibitors or activators: ONPG can be used to screen for compounds that modulate the activity of beta-galactosidase. By measuring the enzyme activity in the presence of different compounds, researchers can identify potential inhibitors or activators that can be further investigated for their therapeutic potential.