ONPG (β-galactosidase) Test: Principle, Procedure and Results

O-Nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside (ONPG) is structurally similar to lactose (i.e. O-Nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside is an analog of lactose), except that orthonitrophenyl has been substituted for glucose.

On hydrolysis, through the action of the enzyme β-galactosidase, ONPG cleaves into two residues, galactose and o-nitrophenol. It is colorless compound: O-nitrophenol is yellow, providing visual evidence of hydrolysis.

Lactose fermenting bacteria posses both lactose permease and β-galactosidase, two enzymes required for the production of acid in the lactose fermentation test. The permease is required for the lactose molecule to penetrate the bacterial cell where the β-galactosidase can cleave the galactoside bond, producing glucose and galactose.

Non-lactose fermenting bacteria are devoid of both enzymes and are incapable of producing acid from lactose.

Some bacterial species appear to be non-lactose fermenters because they lack permease, but do possess β-galactosidase and give a positive ONPG test. So-called late lactose fermenters may be delayed in their production of acid from lactose because of sluggish permease activity. In these instances, a positive test may provide rapid identification of delayed lactose fermentation.

ONPG test results vs. lactose fermentation:  

1. Lactose fermenter (ONPG Positive): E.coli, Klebsiella spp, Enterobacter spp produce β-galactosidase and permease
2. Late lactose fermenter (ONPG Positive): Citrobacter spp, Arizona spp produce only β-galactosidase so they slowly ferment lactose.
3. Non-lactose fermenter (ONPG Negative): Salmonella spp; Shigella spp; Proteus spp; Providencia spp and Morganella spp do not produce β-galactosidase so can not ferment lactose.

Media and Reagents

1. Sodium phosphate buffer, 1 M, pH 7.0
2. O-Nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside, 0.75 M
3. Physiologic saline
4. Toulene

Quality control

1. Positive control: Escherichia coli
2. Negative control: Proteus vulgaris

Procedure

Bacteria grown in a medium containing lactose (to induce the production of the galactosidase enzyme), such as Kligler iron agar (KIA) or Triple Sugar Iron (TSI) agar, produces optimal results in this test.

Note: β-galactosidase  enzyme (inducible enzyme)  is made ONLY in the presence of the lactose substrate

1. A loopful of bacterial growth is emulsified in 0.05mL of physiologic saline to produce a heavy suspension
2. One drop of toluene is added to the suspension and vigorously mixed for a few seconds to release the enzyme for bacterial cells.
3. An equal quantity of buffered ONPG solution is added to the suspension.
4. The mixture is placed in a 37^oC water bath

When Using ONPG Tablets

1. A loopful of bacterial suspension is added directly to the ONPG substrate resulting from adding 1mL of distilled water to a tablet in a test tube.
2. This suspension is also placed in a 37^oC water bath

Results and Interpretations

The rate of hydrolysis of ONPG to o-nitrophenol may be rapid for some organisms; producing a visible yellow color reaction within 5 to 10 minutes.

Most tests are positive within 1 hour; however, reactions should not be interpreted as negative before 24 hours of incubation.

The yellow color is usually distinct and indicates that the organism has produced o-nitrophenol from the ONPG substrate through the action of β-galactosidase

References

1. Winn, W. C., & Koneman, E. W. (2006). Koneman’s Color Atlas and Textbook of Diagnostic Microbiology (Color Atlas & Textbook of Diagnostic Microbiology). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
2. LaPage, S. P., Efstratiou, A., & Hill, L. R. (1973). The ortho-nitrophenol (ONPG) test and acid from lactose in Gram-negative genera. Journal of clinical pathology, 26(11), 821–825. https://doi.org/10.1136/jcp.26.11.821 
3. BUELOW P. (1964). THE ONPG TEST IN DIAGNOSTIC BACTERIOLOGY. METHODOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS. Acta pathologica et microbiologica Scandinavica, 60, 376–386. https://doi.org/10.1111/apm.1964.60.3.376