title: Fluorescent spot test for detecting carbohydrate-splitting enzymes in meconium.
abstract: I describe a fluorescent spot test for detecting the acidic glycosidases in meconium. Meconium is mixed with various 4-methylumbelliferylglycosides at the appropriate pH. In the presence of carbohydrate-splitting enzymes, 4-methylumbelliferone, a strongly fluorescent compound, is released. The reaction mixture, when spotted on chromatography paper and viewed under ultraviolet light, exhibits a bright fluorescence for specimens containing acidic glycosidases. The technique is applicable to any test that involves production of fluorescent products from non-fluorescent reactants. The procedure was applied to meconium specimens selected because of increased albumin content known to be associated with cystic fibrosis in newborns. The presence of beta-D-fucosidase in meconium was correlated to increased albumin content. Detection of beta-D-fucosidase by the present procedure may be useful as a screening test for cystic fibrosis.
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis; D005453:Fluorescence; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006923:Hymecromone; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008470:Meconium / Q000201:enzymology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014468:Umbelliferones; D000519:alpha-Galactosidase / Q000032:analysis; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases / Q000032:analysis; D005644:alpha-L-Fucosidase / Q000032:analysis; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000032:analysis; D001617:beta-Glucosidase / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D014468:Umbelliferones; D006923:Hymecromone; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases; D001617:beta-Glucosidase; D000519:alpha-Galactosidase; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D005644:alpha-L-Fucosidase