Properties of acidβ‐galactosidase from fowl spermatozoa

Abstract

1. Two forms, I and II, of β‐galactosidase [EC 3.2.1.23] from fowl spermatozoa were separated by Blue‐Sepharose CL‐6B chromatography. 2. The two forms of the enzyme yielded different pI values (4.1 and 4.7 for form I and 5.3 for form II). 3. Their gel filtration patterns were also different: form I resolved into two peaks with M_r about 65,000 and 80,000, whereas form II resolved into a single peak with an M_r of about 65,000. 4. Both forms had similar optimum pH, pH stability, thermal stability and K_m values. 5. Differences between the characteristics of β‐galactosidase forms from spermatozoa and from seminal plasma suggest that the β‐galactosidases investigated in this study are spermatozoa‐specific.