beta-Galactosidase from Escherichia coli (C15-1198-293)

General description

β-Galactosidase is a tetramer consisting of four equal subunits of 135,000 Da each. It is a sulfhydryl containing enzyme, with 19 cysteine residues per subunit.

Application

β-Galactosidase is conjugated to an antibody that specifically recognizes a target molecule (enzyme immunoassay or EIA). β-Galactosidase is also used as a reporter enzyme to monitor the level of gene expression of a promoter.

Biochem/physiol Actions

β-galactosidase cleaves lactose into its monosaccharide components, glucose and galactose. It also catalyses the transglycosylation of glucose into allolactose, the inducer of β-galactosidase, in a feedback loop.

β-galactosidase cleaves lactose into its monosaccharide components, glucose and galactose. It also catalyses the transglycosylation of glucose into allolactose, the inducer of β-galactosidase, in a feedback loop.

Physical properties

Tetramer molecular weight 465 kDa (subunits 116.3 kDa each)

Unit Definition

One unit will hydrolyze 1.0 μmole of o-nitrophenyl β-D-galactoside to o-nitrophenol and D-galactose per min at pH 7.3 at 37 °C.

Physical form

Partially purified; contains Tris buffer salts, magnesium chloride, DL-dithiothreitol and 2-mercaptoethanol