Beta-Xylosidase Activity Assay Kit (Fluorometric) (BN01139)

Beta-Xylosidase (EC 3.2.1.37) is a hydrolytic enzyme responsible for the breakdown of hemicellulose, a primary component of the plant cell wall. Specifically, Beta-Xylosidases remove the terminal Beta-xylose residue from the non-reducing terminus of a polysaccharide chain. As xylan is the principal variety of hemicellulose present in the plant cell wall, the xylosidase activity is the final step in the enzymatic generation of the five carbon reducing sugar, xylose. Individual reducing sugars can be converted to ethanol, which serves as a building block for biofuels. Xylose can also be converted into other value-added chemicals such as Xylitol and Xylonic Acid. Assay Genie's Beta-Xylosidase Activity Assay Kit provides a quick, reliable, and sensitive fluorometric method for the determination of Xylosidase activity. A fluorogenic substrate is incubated with the sample, and in the presence of Beta-Xylosidase activity, the substrate is cleaved, releasing a fluorophore (Ex Em 330/450 nm). The increase in fluorescence is a direct measure of the Beta-Xylosidases activity in the sample. When used according to protocol, activities as low as one µUnit (1 pmol/min) in environmental microbial samples, such as compost, can be detected.

Figure: (a) 4-Methylumbelliferone Standard Curve; (b) Time course using positive control -Xylosidase as described above in Sample Preparation; (c) and (d) Example of determination of β-Xylosidase activity in compost sample. Compost (10 g) was incubated for 48 hr. at room temperature in tap water (10 ml), at which point the resulting broth was clarified by centrifugation. Rates were determined by incubation of given volumes of resultant broth with b-Xylosidase Substrate as described for 2 hours.