[Purification and properties of beta-galactosidase from Alternaria tenius]

beta-Galactosidase from Alternaria tenius was purified to homogeneity from the cultural fluid using acetone precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, adsorption on hydroxylapatite and affinity chromatography on N-(beta-D-galactopyranosyl-thiocarbamoyl)-beta-aminocaproyl-AN-Sepharose 4B. The enzyme homogeneity was demonstrated by ultracentrifugation and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with SDS or without it. The specific activity of the homogeneous enzyme is 160 u. per mg of protein; mol. weight as determined by various methods is 142 000-176 000, pI = 4.6, temperature optimum is 60-65 degrees, pH optima for o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (o-NPG) and lactose are 3.8--4.4 and 3.6--4.8, respectively. The Km values for o-NPG and lactose are 0.21 . 10(-3) and 6.57 . 10-3 M, respectively. The enzyme is a glycoprotein and contains up to 30% of carbohydrates. EDTA and pCMB have no effect on the beta-galactosidase activity. Galactose acts as a competitive inhibitor, while glucose has no inhibiting effect on the enzyme activity.