Methods and compositions for detecting nitroaromatic compounds

摘要

Nitroaromatic compounds present in various sample materials may be easily and inexpensively detected in a colorimetric assay according to the present invention. The invention includes a method of detecting nitroaromatic compounds, comprising placing a sample containing a nitroaromatic compound in the presence of a xenobiotic reductase enzyme and observing the formation of a colored product. The invention also includes xenobiotic reductase enzymes, DNA sequences that encode such enzymes and derivatives thereof. The invention also includes compositions and kits for performing the assay.