Purification and characterization of a beta-glucuronidase from Aspergillus niger

Carbohydr Res. 2001 Jun 22;333(1):27-39. doi: 10.1016/s0008-6215(01)00114-8.

Abstract

A beta-glucuronidase from Pectinex Ultra SP-L, a commercial pectolytic enzyme preparation from Aspergillus niger, was purified 170-fold by ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. Apparent M(r) of the purified enzyme, estimated by denaturing gel electrophoresis and size-exclusion chromatography, were 68,000 and 71,000, respectively, indicating that the enzyme is a monomeric protein. It released uronic acids not only from p-nitrophenyl beta-glucosiduronic acid (PNP-GlcA) but also from acidic galactooligosaccharides carrying either beta-D-glucosyluronic or 4-O-methyl-beta-D-glucosyluronic residues at the nonreducing termini through beta-(1-->6)-glycosidic linkages. The enzyme exhibited a maximal activity toward these substrates at pH 3.0. A regioisomer, 3-O-beta-glucosyluronic acid-galactose, was unsusceptible to the enzyme. The enzyme did act on a polymer substrate, releasing uronic acid from the carbohydrate portion of a radish arabinogalactan-protein modified by treatment with fungal alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase. The enzyme produced acidic oligosaccharides by transglycosylation, catalyzing the transfer of uronic acid residues of PNP-GlcA and 6-O-beta-glucosyluronic acid-galactose to certain exogenous acceptor sugars such as Gal, N-acetylgalactosamine, Glc, and xylose.

MeSH terms

  • Aspergillus niger / enzymology*
  • Carbohydrate Conformation
  • Chromatography, Gel
  • Chromatography, Ion Exchange
  • Glucuronidase / chemistry
  • Glucuronidase / isolation & purification*
  • Glucuronidase / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molecular Weight
  • Oligosaccharides / chemistry
  • Oligosaccharides / metabolism
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Uronic Acids / metabolism

Substances

  • Oligosaccharides
  • Uronic Acids
  • Glucuronidase