Methods for the detection of amino acid decarboxylases

A method for detecting the presence of an amino acid decarboxylase, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting a putative amino acid decarboxylase-containing composition with a synthetic substrate to create a reaction product, wherein said synthetic substrate comprises phenylalanine conjugated to a tag which produces a reference signal, wherein said tag is cleaved from said synthetic substrate in the presence of an amino acid decarboxylase resulting in a cleavage product which produces a cleavage signal which is different from said reference signal;
• and (b) observing said reaction product or a reaction signal produced by said reaction product and comparing said reaction product or reaction signal with said cleavage product, said cleavage signal and said reference signal;
• wherein a reaction product about the same size as said cleavage product, a reaction signal about the same emission wavelength as said cleavage signal or a reaction signal about the same color as said cleavage signal indicates the presence of an amino acid decarboxylase.