A convenient preparation of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase from commercial bovine serum albumin.

A simple procedure for the preparation of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.52), free from other glycosidases, from commercial bovine serum albumin is described. It has been fractionated into three peaks on a DEAE-cellulose column. The Km and V values for 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-N-acetylglucosaminide (4MU-gluNAc), 4-methvlumbelliferyl-beta-D-N-acetylgalactosaminide (4MU-galNAc), p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-N-acetylglucosaminide, and p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-N-acetylgalactosaminide for each was established. The inhibition by several structural analogues on 4MU-gluNAc and 4MU-galNAc hydrolysis by the enzyme present in peak 1 was investigated.