Universal chromogenic substrates for lipases and esterases

Chromogenic mono- and diacyl-glycerol analogues were prepared and tested as substrates against lipases and esterases in a microtiter plate setup. Thirty-three enzyme samples were analyzed for activity at 100, 10, and 1 mugmL(-1). The reaction rates observed were visualized by RGB-color coding of activities, and analyzed by cluster analysis. The C8-, C10-, and C12-monoesters of the nitrophenol-derived diol 13 reacted very strongly across all enzyme samples tested, and appear as universal substrates for these enzymes. Such universal chromogenic probes may be used to detect even dilute lipases and esterases in crude cultures. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.