α-Galactosidase ( EC 3.2.1.22, α-GAL, α-GAL A; systematic name α-
D-galactoside galactohydrolase) is a
glycoside hydrolase
In biochemistry, glycoside hydrolases (also called glycosidases or glycosyl hydrolases) are a class of enzymes which catalysis, catalyze the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds in polysaccharide, complex sugars. They are extremely common enzymes, wi ...
enzyme
An enzyme () is a protein that acts as a biological catalyst by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrate (chemistry), substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different mol ...
that catalyses the following reaction:
: Hydrolysis of terminal, non-reducing α-
D-galactose residues in α-
D-galactosides, including galactose oligosaccharides, galactomannans and galactolipids
It catalyzes many catabolic processes, including cleavage of glycoproteins, glycolipids, and polysaccharides.
The enzyme is encoded by the ''
GLA GLA or Gla may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''GLA'' (album), by Scottish alternative rock band Twin Atlantic
* Great Lakes Avengers, a fictional comic hero group
Organisations
* Gangmasters Licensing Authority, a British regulatory body
* Genera ...
'' gene.
Function
This enzyme is a homodimeric glycoprotein that hydrolyses the terminal α-galactosyl moieties from glycolipids and glycoproteins. It predominantly hydrolyzes
ceramide
Ceramides are a family of waxy lipid molecules. A ceramide is composed of sphingosine and a fatty acid joined by an amide bond. Ceramides are found in high concentrations within the cell membrane of Eukaryote, eukaryotic cells, since they are co ...
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
β-Galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23, beta-gal or β-gal; systematic name β-D-galactoside galactohydrolase) is a glycoside hydrolase enzyme that catalyzes hydrolysis of terminal non-reducing β-D-galactose residues in β-D-galactosides. (This enzym ...
*
Migalastat, a drug targeting α-galactosidase
*
Classification of α-galactosidases (according to CAZy)
References
External links
*
*
{{Authority control
EC 3.2.1
Enzymes
Sanofi
Enzymes of known structure
