4-Nitrophenyl-α-D-maltopyranoside (CAS 17400-77-0)

4-Nitrophenyl-α-D-maltopyranoside, also known as 4-Nitrophenyl 4-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-alpha-D-galactopyranoside or pNP-Gal-Glc, serves as a synthetic substrate extensively employed in diverse biochemical and physiological investigations. Particularly, this compound is utilized to explore the activity of enzymes such as glycosidases and glycosyltransferases. These enzymes play pivotal roles in various biological processes, including cell signaling, cell adhesion, and immune response. Through the utilization of 4-Nitrophenyl-α-D-maltopyranoside as a substrate, researchers gain insights into the activity and specificity of these enzymes. When subjected to hydrolysis by glycosidases, 4-Nitrophenyl-α-D-maltopyranoside liberates p-nitrophenol alongside the corresponding sugar. The rate of hydrolysis directly correlates to the enzyme′s activity. In the case of glycosyltransferases, these enzymes employ 4-Nitrophenyl-α-D-maltopyranoside as a donor substrate, facilitating the transfer of the galactose or glucose moiety to an acceptor molecule.