Α-Galactosidase

α-Galactosidase 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.