X-GlcU is a widely used chromogenic substrate for β-glucuronidase (GUS). It yields a dark blue precipitate at the site of enzymatic activity. X-GlcU is routinely used to detect GUS expression in transformed plant cells and tissues. X-GlcU can also be used to detect E. coli contamination in food and water.


• Chromogenic substrate
• Cell permeant
• Useful to detect GUS expression in transformed plant cells and tissues

Additional Information About Glycosidase Enzymes
Glycosidase enzymes exhibit very high selectivity for hydrolysis of their preferred sugars. For example, β-galactosidase rapidly hydrolyzes β-D-galactopyranosides but usually does not hydrolyze either the anomeric α-D-galactopyranosides or the isomeric β-D-glucopyranosides. Endogenous glycosidase activity is frequently used to characterize strains of microorganisms and to selectively label organelles of mammalian cells; defects in glycosidase activity are characteristic of several diseases.

In addition, glycosidases are important reporter gene markers. Specifically, lacZ, which encodes β-galactosidase, is extensively used as a reporter gene in animals and yeast, whereas the β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene is a popular reporter gene in plants. Glycosidase substrates are also used in conjunction with glycosidase-conjugated secondary detection reagents in immunohistochemical techniques and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). See all of our Molecular Probes® fluorogenic and chromogenic glycosidase substrates.

For Research Use Only. Not for human or animal therapeutic or diagnostic use.