X-α-Gal & X-Gluc & MUG

Bithionol is an anti-parasitic compound used for oncology research and molecular biology research. It induces apoptosis in cancerous cells occurs through activating proteolytic caspases. These caspases inactivate PARP-1(Poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1) which triggers an intrinsic pathway for apoptosis. Intrinsic apoptotic pathways result in compromising mitochondria and in this case by decreasing transmembrane potential. Reactive oxygen species then accumulate and rupture the mitochondria, releasing cytochrome c an apoptotic inducer.

Bithionol has been used to better understand enzyme allosteric regulation and the mechanism of soluble adenylyl cyclase inhibition, a bicarbonate sensor. Bithionol has been shown to occupy the bicarbonate binding site on soluble adenylyl cyclase. It has also been utilized in research to elucidate the role of mitochondrial potassium channels in preventing ischemia reperfusion injuries in mice.

4-Methylumbelliferyl beta-D-glucuronide (MUG) is a fluorogenic substrate for beta-glucuronidase (GUS). Upon cleavage, MUG yields blue fluorescence seen under UV light.

This substrate is commonly used for the detection of Escherichia coli through its ability to detect activity of beta-glucuronidase, which is encoded by uidA. GUS activity is tested in minimal medium o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (MMO)-MUG.

It is ideal for plant molecular study as a way to examine gene expression under various promoters. And while it works well for measuring activity in plant lysate and leaf disks, it can also work in whole plant assays.

X-Gluc is a chromogenic substrate for beta-glucuronidase (GUS) which is encoded by the gusA (uid A) gene, a widely used reporter gene. Glucuronidase cleaves X-Gluc to produce colorless glucuronic acid and an intense blue precipitate. X-Gluc is often used in GUS staining of plant cells and tissue and in infections caused by E. coli.

X-α-Gal is a chromogenic substrate for α-galactosidase, yielding a blue precipitate. X-α-Gal is used for detecting two-hybrid interactions directly on the culture media. This substrate eliminates the need for β-galactosidase liquid and filter-lift assays in two-hybrid analysis.
Used for species differentiation within the family Enterobacteriaceae and differentiation of Bifidobacteria species from Lactobacilli species.