PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF BETA-N-ACETYLHEXOSAMINIDASE-A FROM PIG BRAIN

1. 1. Adult pig brain β-N-acetylhexosaminidase was separated into four different forms by ion exchange chromatography on diethylaminoethyl-cellulose. 2. 2. Form A was purified 1300-1500 fold by an unusual procedure, the technique of ampholyte displacement, followed by chromatography on concanavalin A Sepharose. 3. 3. The enzyme catalyses the hydrolysis of both β-N-acetylglucosaminides and β-N-acetylgalactosaminides. 4. 4. The kinetic studies support the evidence of the association of both activities to a single protein, and at the same active site. 5. 5. A natural substrate, N,N′-diacetylchitobiose, is also hydrolyzed, but not ovalbumin. 6. 6. This enzyme may be considered as an exoglycosidase. © 1990.