| abstract |
This invention provides a method of detecting enzyme activity on a solid medium. The enzyme substrate has a chromogenic portion comprising a catechol residue, in which a derivitising moiety is linked to the aromatic ring of the catechol via a bond, and an enzyme cleavable group which is attached via an ester or ether linkage to the oxygen atom derived from a hydroxyl group of the catechol residue. If the enzyme substrate contacts an enzyme capable of cleaving the enzyme cleavable groups and the cleaved compound contacts a chelatable metal ion, a substantially non-diffusable coloured precipitate is formed. |