Purification and properties of a β-hexosidase from Sporobolomyces singularis

Abstract

A β-hexosidase has been isolated from Sporobolomyces singularis by conventional techniques involving ammonium sulfate precipitation and chromatography on columns of Sephadex G-200 and DEAE-Sephadex A-50. Electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel was used as the final preparative step. The sedimentation coefficient (s°20,w) of the enzyme was 7.6 and its molecular weight was in the range 140 000–145 000. Although the β-hexosidase performed the functions of a β-D-galactoside galactohydrolase (β-galactosidase), it also catalyzed the hydrolytic function normally performed by a β-D-glucoside glucohydrolase; both these functions appear to reside in the same molecule.