Purification and properties of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase from the mollusc Helicella ericetorum Müller.

1. A beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase was purified 330-fold from the digestive gland of the terrestrial mollusc Helicella ericetorum Müller. 2. Its pH optimum is 4.5 for both beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase and beta-N-acetylgalactosaminidase activities in two buffer solutions; it is fully stable at 37 degrees C for 2h in the pH range 3.8--4.6 and shows one isoelectric point (pH 4.83). 3. The estimated mol.wt. is between 120,000 and 145,000. 4. The enzyme shows an endo-beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase activity on natural substrates such as ovalbumin, ovomucoid, chondroitin 4-sulphate, chitin and hyaluronic acid. 5. Two forms of the enzyme were separated by preparative polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. 6. Km and Vmax. for p-nitrophenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside and p-nitrophenyl 2-acetamide-2-deoxy-beta-D-galactopyranoside are 0.43 mM, 30.1 micronmol of p-nitrophenol/min per mg and 0.19 mM, 8.6 micronmol of p-nitrophenol/min per mg respectively. 7. It is inhibited by Hg2+, Fe3+, acetate, some lactones, N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine and mannose. 8. Mixed-substrates analysis and Ki values for competitive inhibitors indicated that beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase and beta-N-acetylgalactosaminidase activities are catalysed by the enzyme at the same active site.