Product Information

English Name: Nitrocefin
CAS Number: 41906-86-9
Molecular Formula: C₂₁H₁₆N₄O₈S₂
Molecular Weight: 516.51
Purity: ≥95%
Brand: ShanghaiBBL
Appearance: Orange powder
Solubility: DMSO (30 mg/ml), DMF (30 mg/ml)
Storage: Store at -20°C, protected from light, under an inert atmosphere.

Mechanism of Action

Nitrocefin is a chromogenic cephalosporin compound primarily used to detect the activity of β-lactamases produced by bacteria resistant to β-lactam antibiotics. Its mechanism of action is as follows:
-Colorimetric reaction: The amide bond in the β-lactam ring of nitrocefin can be hydrolyzed by β-lactamases, resulting in a color change from yellow (UV absorbance range, ~380 nm) to red (visible light range, ~500 nm), which can be observed visually.
-Scope of application: Almost all β-lactamases can hydrolyze nitrocefin, making it useful for detecting β-lactamases produced by both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Applications
Microbiological testing: Nitrocefin is widely used in clinical microbiological testing to rapidly determine whether bacteria produce β-lactamases and thus determine bacterial resistance to β-lactam antibiotics.
Research uses: In bacterial enzymology research, nitrocefin can be used for isoelectric focusing analysis and spectroscopic detection of β-lactamase activity in extracts. It can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of β-lactamase-resistant antibiotics in development.

Nitrocefin is an important chromogenic substrate widely used to detect β-lactamase activity, helping to quickly determine bacterial resistance to β-lactam antibiotics. Its chromogenic properties make it valuable in microbial detection and research.