Purification and characterization of Aspergillus niger exo-1,4-glucosidase

A specific exo-1,4-glucosidase (1,4-alpha-D-glucan glucohydrooase, EC 3.2.1.3) from Aspergillus niger has been partially purified and subsequently characterized by biochemical, physico-chemical and optical methods. Molecular sieve chromatography yields an enzyme with maximal activity at pH 4.2-4.5 close to its isoelectric point. Reduction and carboxymethylation leads to complete loss of activity and O-acetylation of 3 of the 13 tyrosine residues results in loss of 20 % of the activity. Sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicates that the native enzyme consists of two major components of molecular weights 63 000 and 57 500, respectively. Small amounts of dissociated material of molecular weight 28 000 and 16 000 as well as aggregates of the order of 100 000 are also present to the extent of 2-5% of the total potein. Following reduction and carboxymethylation under forcing conditions, the bands around 60 000 diminish and the 28 000-30 000, 16 000 and aggregate bands are dominant...