Acid glycosidases from hen oviduct and egg albumen

Activities of seven acid glycosidases: beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (beta-HEX), alpha- and beta-galactosidase (alpha- and beta-GAL), alpha- and beta-mannosidase (alpha- and beta-MAN), alpha-glucosidase and alpha-fucosidase in magnum region of hen (Gallus gallus domesticus) oviduct, and four acid glycosidases: beta-HEX, beta-GAL, alpha- and beta-MAN in egg albumen, were investigated. beta-HEX from magnum and egg albumen hydrolysed 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-N-acetylhexosamine-6-sulphate (4-MeUmbGlcNAc-6-SO(4)) like mammalian beta-HEX form A. Multiple forms of magnum and egg albumen beta-HEX, beta-GAL, alpha- and beta-MAN were separated by strong anion exchange chromatography and chromatofocusing method. Chromatofocusing of the magnum resulted in the appearance of multiple forms for beta-HEX with pI of 6.18, 5.43, 5.55, 5.34, 5.27 and 5.16, for beta-GAL with pI of 4.98, 4.84, 4.77, 4.64 and 4.68-4.63, for alpha-MAN with pI of >or=7.4, 6.75, 6.62 and 6.26, and for beta-MAN two forms with pI of 6.37 and 5.77. Chromatofocusing of egg albumen yields multiple forms for beta-HEX with pI of 6.24, 6.08, 5.55 and 5.35, for beta-GAL two forms with pI of 5.10 and 4.86-4.80 for alpha-MAN multiple forms with pI of >or=7.4, 6.80, 6.60 and 6.30, and for beta-MAN forms with pI of 6.30 and 5.77. In conclusion, this study was the first to show beta-HEX activity against 4-MeUmbGlcNAc-6-SO(4) in the magnum and albumen of bird eggs, corresponding to beta-HEX A activity in mammals. Main multiple forms of beta-HEX, beta-GAL, alpha- and beta-MAN occurring in the magnum were revealed in the egg albumen. Comparison with a cock of the same breed showed that hen egg magnum and albumen has the same multiple forms of the enzymes that are found in the epididymides and seminal plasma of the cock.