Purification of jack bean meal beta-D-galactosidase by a new affinity adsorbent

Selenium-mediated differential response of beta-glucosidase and beta-galactosidase of germinating Trigonella foenum-graecum

Beta-glucosidase and beta-galactosidase activity profile tested in different seeds during 24 h germination revealed reasonably high levels of activity in Vigna radiata, Cicer arietinum, and Trigonella foenum-graecum. In all seeds tested, beta-galactosidase activity was, in general, higher than that of beta-glucosidase. T. foenum-graecum seedlings exhibited maximal total and specific activities for both the enzymes during 72 h germination. Se supplementation as Na2SeO3 up to 0.75 ppm was found to be beneficial to growth and revealed selective enhancement of beta-galactosidase activity by 40% at 0.5 ppm Se. The activities of both the enzymes drastically decreased at 1.0 ppm level of Se supplementation. On the contrary, addition of Na2SeO3 in vitro up to 1 ppm to the enzyme extracts did not influence these activities. Hydrolytic rates of beta-glucosidase in both control and Se-supplemented groups were enhanced by 20% with 0.05 M glycerol in the medium and 30% at 0.1 M glycerol. The rates were marginally higher in Se-supplemented seedlings than the controls, irrespective of added glycerol in the medium. In contrast, hydrolysis by beta-galactosidase showed a trend of decrease in Se-supplemented seedlings compared to the control, when glycerol was present in the medium. Addition of Se in vitro in the assay medium showed no difference in the hydrolytic rate by beta-galactosidase when compared to control, while the activity of beta-glucosidase declined by 50%. Se-grown seedlings showed an enhancement of transglucosidation rate by 40% in the presence of 0.1 M glycerol. The study reveals a differential response to Se among the beta-galactosidase and beta-glucosidase of T. foenum-graecum with increase in the levels of beta-galactosidase activity.

Separation and characterization of four enzyme forms of beta-galactosidase from Saccharomyces lactis

beta-Galactosidase from Saccharomyces lactis has been purified to serve as a model for the kinetic behavior of human lactase in adult lactase deficiency. Enzymes from both species are neutral and follow Michaelis-Menten kinetics. beta-Galactosidase of S. lactis is more readily available than the human lactase. An enzyme preparation from S. lactis (Maxilact 40,000), which is used commercially to hydrolyze lactose in milk, has been found to contain four isozymes of beta-galactosidase. Methods have been developed for the separation and purification of each of the four enzymes. The enzymes were found to differ in molecular mass, kinetic behavior, isoelectric point, response to pH, specific volume and sensitivity to metal ions. The four enzymes had apparent molecular masses of 630 kDa, 550 kDa, 41 kDa and 19 kDa. Their specificity constants (kcat/Km) were found to be 42.0, 355.2, 0.38 and 0.48 mM-1 s-1, respectively. The techniques of reiterated ultrafiltration used for the isolation of these isozymes may be applicable to other purification processes.

A comparison of established human lymphoma lines by flow cytometry: quantitation of Ricinus communis agglutinin binding and the effect of specific glycosidases

Two established cell lines of human B-cell lymphomas derived from Burkitt lymphomas and their Epstein-Barr virus-transformed counterparts were analyzed with respect to their ability to bind the beta-galactoside-specific lectin Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA). Native and sialidase- as well as sialidase-beta-galactosidase-treated cells were compared. The method for the quantitative determination of average numbers of binding sites and of apparent affinity constants was flow cytometry with fluorescence-labeled lectin. Although with native cells there was no significant deviation of the values for virus-transformed cells from those for the parent cells, some differences could be detected after glycosidase treatment. The general procedure of the combined application of specific glycosidases and the quantitation of sugar-specific lectin binding is recommended as a general strategy for the differentiation of cells with known or putative differences in biological functions.

Sugar residues on proteins

Glycoproteins have become increasingly important in the structure and function of many different mammalian systems; for example, membrane glycoproteins and glycoprotein hormones. It is, therefore, important to understand their chemistry, which would include an understanding of both the carbohydrate and protein parts of the molecule. Since the chemical characterization of the protein moiety has been extensively examined and the techniques for its characterization are well worked out, only the carbohydrate portion of glycoproteins will be reviewed in this article. The chemical nature of the carbohydrate moiety of glycoproteins will be examined. First, the types of monosaccharides present in animal systems, especially those in the mammalian systems, will be described. Next, various types of simple and complex carbohydrate chains will be discussed to establish the diversity, size, and number of chains present in the carbohydrate units in different glycoproteins. Then, the type of linkages of the carbohydrate to the protein will be examined to determine if the primary sequence of protein is important in determining the size and type of carbohydrate chains present in glycoproteins. Finally, the current methods of structural elucidation such as monosaccharide sequence, intersugar bonds, and anomeric linkages in the carbohydrate moiety of glycoproteins will be reviewed. These methods include the techniques of periodate oxidation, methylation, partial acid hydrolysis, and specific glycosidase digestion of glycoproteins, as well as the latest techniques using micromethods of carbohydrate quantitation and characterization involving gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The function of the carbohydrate in glycoproteins will also be considered. First, hormone glycoproteins will be discussed in their relationship to the immunological and biological function of the glycoprotein when the carbohydrate is sequentially removed. Next, the function of the carbohydrate in the turnover of glycoproteins will be discussed. These topics will be considered in order to develop an understanding of a specific function(s) of the carbohydrate in glycoproteins.