ANOMERIZATION AND HYDROLYSIS OF LACTOSE BY BETA-GALACTOSIDASE FROM SACCHAROMYCES-LACTIS

β-Galactosidase from Saccharomyces lactis was found to be able to catalyze both the anomerization of α-lactose and the hydrolysis of β-lactose; the rate of hydrolysis appeared to be four times higher with a 1:1 mixture of α and β lactose than with a freshly prepared solution of α-lactose. The enzyme was also found to be unable to hydrolyze α-lactose. Thus, it appears that β-galactosidase from S. lactis has its hydrolytic activity on lactose adapted only to the naturally more abundant β-lactose. © 1990.