The cytochemical localization of nucleotide pyrophosphatase activity in plant tissues using naphthyl esters of thymidine-5'-phosphate.

A cytochemical method for the localization of nucleotide pyrophosphatase activity in plants employing naphthol AS-BI thymidine 5′-monophosphate and α-naphthyl thymidine 5′-monophosphate as specific substrates is reported. Biochemical evidence for the validity of this method is presented and the synthesis of the naphthol AS-BI ester is described.