A rapid method for detection of N-acetylglucosaminidase-type chitinase activity in crossed immunoelectrophoresis and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels using 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminide as substrate.

A method for the detection of N-acetylglucosaminidase (GlcNAcase) activity has been developed by using 4-methyl-umbelliferyl-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminide (4-MU-GlcNAc) as substrate in crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) gels. Visualization of the reaction with a 366 nm ultra-violet light is possible in approximately 30 min. The method is fast and sensitive in comparison with previous methods. The same band as in SDS-PAGE, showing both GlcNAcase and chitinase activity, was found in the present study; we therefore conclude that this method is also useful in a GlcNAcase-type chitinase assay.