The β-glucosidase in the gut contents of the snail Achatina achatina

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The enzyme .beta.-glucosidase (.beta.-D-glucoside glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.21) from the gut contents of active A. achatina exists in 2 molecular forms, .beta.-glucosidase C MW .apprx. 82,000) and D (MW .apprx. 41,000). Only the lower MW species was found in the gut contents of aestivating snails or in extracts from their digestive glands and washed gut walls. On re-activation of some aestivating snails, .beta.-glucosidase C re-appeared in the gut contents. Addition of ATP and Mg2+ to the isolated gut contents or to extracts from washed gut walls led to the formation of higher MW forms of the enzyme, .beta.-glucosidase A (MW .apprx. 329,000) and .beta.-glucosidase B (MW .apprx. 165,000). All these forms of the enzyme have similar pH optima (pH 5.0-5.6). The Km and heat stability of the enzyme increased with increasing molecular complexity.