Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi,
What is the molecular mass of beta-galactosidase in mice? And what is its role and what tissues is it found in?
Thanks!

Hi,

Did you google 'what is molecular mass of mouse beta-galactosidase'? I did that and found lots of hits. For example: http://www.jbc.org/content/250/19/7752

You can find out the answers to all your questions by spending a little time online searching and reading. And you will learn more that way. If there's something you don't understand we can try and explain it for you.

Sybee

Sybee, thank you for helping us...we still are not sure about what the enzyme does and if it does the same thing in all the tissues, and if it is in all the tissues of the human/mouse?
Clare

Hi Clare!

You are welcome--happy to help.

Beta-galactosidase (b-Gal) is an enzyme that digests a sugar called galactose: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta-galactosidase

You have probably heard of the sugars lactose and glucose, right? Well if you put galactose and glucose together chemically the result is lactose (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactose). That is where the sugar in human milk comes from.

As far as I know b-Gal only digests galactose. So, the enzyme b-GAl would only be synthesized in certain cells in a mouse or in a human. I don't know which cells these would be but it would have to be somewhere in the digestive pathway.

If you have more questions, please let us know. We want you to understand all this stuff because the more you know the better decisions you can make about health, nutrition and medical treatments.

Sybee