beta-Fucosidase, beta-glucosidase and beta-galactosidase activities associated in bovine liver

1. beta-D-Fucosidase, beta-D-glucosidase and beta-D-galactosidase activities from bovine liver are associated in a single peak in isoelectric focusing. The isoelectric point is 4.35 for all these activities, suggesting that they are catalyzed by the same enzyme. 2. This enzyme shows the optimal pH in the range 4.5-6.5 for all the above mentioned activities. 3. The Km and Vmax are 0.26 mM and 31 mU mg-1, 0.10 mM and 24 mU mg-1, and 0.30 mM and 20 mM mg-1 for the p-nitrophenyl-fucoside, -glucoside and -galactoside, respectively. The glucoside derivative is the best substrate, with a Vmax/Km value of 0.24 ml . mg-1 . min-1. 4. The Lineweaver-Burk profiles are convex upward in most cases, suggesting a substrate-activation model, and the presence of more than one binding site in the enzyme. 5. The Ki for all the activities were determined with D-fucose, glucose and galactose as inhibitors. D-Fucose is the strongest inhibitor. The inhibition is competitive in all cases.