Α-Galactosidase

α-Galactosidase ( EC 3.2.1.22, α-GAL, α-GAL A; systematic name α-<small>D</small>-galactoside galactohydrolase) is a glycoside hydrolase enzyme that catalyses the following reaction:

It catalyzes many catabolic processes, including cleavage of glycoproteins, glycolipids, and polysaccharides.

The enzyme is encoded by the GLA gene.

Function

This enzyme is a homodimeric glycoprotein that hydrolyses the terminal α-galactosyl moieties from glycolipids and glycoproteins. It predominantly hydrolyzes ceramide trihexoside, and it can catalyze the hydrolysis of melibiose into galactose and glucose.

Reaction mechanism

Applications

α-Galactosidase from Aspergillus niger is the active ingredient in Beano, a dietary supplement for bloating and flatulence.

Recombinant α-galactosidase made by baker's yeast is approved in Europe as a feed additive intended to make poultry food more digestible.

See also

• β-galactosidase
• Migalastat, a drug targeting α-galactosidase

References

External links