The β-glucosidases of porcine kidney

Abstract

Some of the properties of a partially purified particle bound and soluble β-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21) from pig kidney were compared. The soluble β-glucosidase (1) hydrolyzed 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-D-glucoside (4-MU-β-D-glucoside) 17α-estradiol 3β-glucoside, 17α-estradiol 17β-glucoside, and salicin, but not glucosylceramide, (2) possessed a broad pH optimum (5.5–7.0), (3) had an isoelectric point of 4.9, and (4) was inhibited by Triton X-100. Several compounds were found to be competitive inhibitors of its hydrolytic activity, gluconolactam and estrone β-glucoside being the most effective. In contrast, a particulate β-glucosidase purified from the same tissue (1) had an acidic pH optimum (5.0), (2) was stimulated by sodium taurocholate and 'Gaucher's factor' for the hydrolysis of both 4-MU-β-glucoside and glucosylceramide, and (3) was capable of catalyzing a transglucosylation reaction employing 4-MU-β-D-glucoside or glucosylceramide as the glucosyl donor, and [l4C]ceramide as acceptor.