title: Metachromatic agar-diffusion methods for detecting staphylococcal nuclease activity.
abstract: Based on the metachromatic property of Toluidine Blue O, three, convenient agar-diffusion methods have been developed that enable detection of the nuclease of Staphylococcus aureus at concentrations as low as 0.005 mug/ml in agar and broth cultures. The interactions of agar and deoxyribonucleic acid with Toluidine Blue O are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004247:DNA; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008722:Methods; D008837:Micrococcus / Q000201:enzymology; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D000362:Agar; D004247:DNA; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases