Detection of β-glucosidase activity in polyacrylamide gels with esculin as substrate

Abstract

β-Glucosidase can be located after nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis by incubating the gel with 0.1% esculin and 0.03% ferric chloride. The esculetin released from esculin by β-glucosidase action reacts with ferric ion to produce a black band, corresponding to the β-glucosidase, against the transparent background.