On the distribution of O-seryl-N-acetylgalactosaminide glycosidase and N-acetyl-β-D-hexasaminidase in vertebrates and invertebrates

Abstract

The enzymes O-seryl-N-acetylgalactosaminide glycosidase and N-acetyl-β-D-hexosaminidase were found in the following invertebrates and vertebrates: Adamsia palliata, Mesostoma ehrenbergi, Bugula avicularia, Lumbricus terrestris, Pagurus prideauxi, Helix pomatia, Ciona intestinalis, Brachidanio albolineatus, Rana esculenta, chicken and ox. They were assayed by their action on neuraminic acid-free ovine submaxillary glycoprotein, which contains an O-seryl-N-acetylgalactosaminide linkage, and on phenyl N-acetyl-B-D-glucosaminide respectively. As previously shown for ox spleeen and Helix pomatia, also the two enzyme proteins present in the homogenates of chick embryo and Lumbricus terrestris eluted from Sephadex columns in two separate peaks.