A new technique for detecting oxytocinase activity in electrophoresis gels.

A sensitive staining method for the detection of oxytocinase (EC 3.4.11.3) activity in electrophoresis gels has been described. The method is based on the enzymatic release of p-nitroaniline (PNA) from two specific synthetic oxytocinase substrates, S-benzyl-L-cysteine-p-nitroanilide (BCN) and L-leucine-p-nitroanilide (LN), respectively. The PNA is then diazotized with sodium nitrite and subsequently coupled to a chromogen, N-(1-naphthyl)-ethylenediamine dihydrochloride (NED) to produce a deep pink/magenta colored azo-dye at the site of oxytocinase activity.