5-Bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-α-D-mannopyranoside is a substrate for α-mannosidase and can be specifically hydrolyzed by α-mannosidase. When the substrate encounters microorganisms with α-mannosidase activity, it is hydrolyzed by the enzyme to release indolyl fragments. These indole fragments oxidize and dimerize in air to form a striking blue substance (indigo), thereby indicating the presence of α-mannosidase.

1. Microbial Chromogenic Identification: X-α-Man is an ideal choice for preparing various chromogenic media. By specifically detecting the α-D-mannosidase activity of target microorganisms, it causes specific microbial colonies to produce blue precipitates, enabling rapid screening and identification from food and water quality to clinical samples. Typical application strains include:

· Bacillus sp. strain GL1

· Streptococcus pneumoniae

· Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron

2. Enzyme Activity Assay: In biochemical experiments, X-α-Man can be used as a highly specific staining substrate for α-D-mannosidase activity determination, detection of enzyme transcription levels, and research in fields such as cell signaling.

3. Microbial Diagnostic Kit Development: With its excellent chromogenic performance and stability, X-α-Man is a key substrate for developing enzymatic diagnostic kits and is widely used in auxiliary diagnosis of pathogenic microbial infections.