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P-nitrophenyl butyrate also kown as 4-nitrophenyl butyrate, is a probe for lipase activity. It is hydrolyzed by lipase in the water ambient condition, giving rise to p-nitrophenol and butyric acid. P-nitrophenol actually occurs in the anionic form, p-nitrophenolate, giving a yellowish coloration and absorbing light at 410 nm in an alkaline buffer such as Tris-HCl pH 7.5.

4-Nitrophenyl butyrate is a substrate for esterase, and lipase enzyme. Hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl butyrate by these enzymes releases the chromophore, 4-nitrophenolate which is spectrophotometrically analysed at 415 nm.

A probe for lipase activity.

ChEBI: A butyrate ester resulting from the formal condensation of the hydroxy group of 4-nitrophenol with the carboxy group of butyric acid.

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