5-Bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-glucuronide cyclohexylammonium salt, also known as X-glucuronide, is a chemical compound commonly used in molecular biology and enzymology experiments. It is a chromogenic substrate that is often utilized to detect the activity of the enzyme beta-D-glucuronidase.
The compound consists of an indole group coupled to a glucuronic acid moiety through a glycosidic bond. The bromo and chloro substituents provide stability and enhance the solubility of the compound.
When incubated with a sample containing beta-D-glucuronidase, the enzyme cleaves the glycosidic bond, releasing the indole moiety. This reaction results in the formation of a blue precipitate or color change, allowing for easy visual or spectrophotometric detection of the enzyme activity.
Due to its specificity for beta-D-glucuronidase, X-glucuronide is widely used in molecular biology techniques such as bacterial and yeast transformation assays, reporter gene assays, and histochemical staining. It provides a convenient and sensitive means to detect the presence or expression of beta-D-glucuronidase and is often employed in conjunction with other genetic or biochemical assays.