beta-Hexosaminidase isozymes in human colonic carcinoma

Isoelectric focusing of crude extracts demonstrated that human colonic carcinomas contained a higher proportion of beta-hexosaminidase B than beta-hexosaminidase A, while normal human colonic mucosa contained a higher proportion of the A form of the enzyme. Studies of the isolated isozymes showed that beta-hexosaminidase B was more stable to heat and more active at low pH than beta-hexosaminidase A. Kinetic studies revealed that the A and B forms of beta-hexosaminidase had essentially the same Km and Vmax for p-nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide.