Nitrotetrazolium Blue Chloride (NBT) is a redox indicator commonly used in biological and biochemical assays. It is a pale yellow powder that turns blue when reduced, making it useful for detecting the presence of certain enzymes and metabolic activity.
NBT reacts with electron carriers and enzymes such as dehydrogenases, which are involved in various cellular processes. When NBT is reduced by these enzymes, it forms a blue formazan precipitate, allowing for visual or spectrophotometric detection.
This reagent is commonly used in assays such as the NBT reduction test, where it is used to assess the respiratory burst activity of immune cells. It can also be used to study enzyme activities and metabolic pathways in research pertaining to oxidative stress, cell viability, and cell differentiation.
NBT has found applications in various fields, including microbiology, immunology, and cell biology. It is versatile, relatively stable, and easy to use, making it a popular choice for many experimental protocols.