4-Nitrophenyl palmitate is a colorimetric lipase and esterase substrate.1 Upon enzymatic hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl palmitate, 4-nitrophenol is released which can be quantified by colorimetric detection at 410 nm as a measure of enzyme activity. 4-Nitrophenyl palmitate has been used to characterize the activity of various bacterial and mammalian enzymes, including Burkholderia and porcine pancreatic lipases.
1.Gupta, N., Rathi, P., and Gupta, R.Simplified para-nitrophenyl palmitate assay for lipases and esterasesAnal. Biochem.311(1)98-99(2002)