4-Methylumbelliferyl alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity for diagnosis of Sanfilippo B disease.

Conditions for assay of alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity in human cultured fibroblasts, cultured amniotic fluid cells, leucocytes, serum, plasma and chorionic villi were studied using the fluorogenic substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside. The substrate was found to have advantage both in terms of sensitivity and ease of use over previously-used colorimetric substrates for assay of the enzyme in these tissues, and for diagnosis of Sanfilippo B disease and identification of carriers. It should have particular application in first trimester prenatal diagnosis using chorionic villus biopsies.