Characterization of beta-glucosidase as a peripheral enzyme of lysosomal membranes from mouse liver and purification.

Lysosomal membrane fractions were prepared from lysosomes of mouse liver by freeze-thawing in a hypotonic buffer: 54% of beta-glucosidase [EC 3.2.1.45] in lysosomes was associated with the membrane fractions, whereas 96% of beta-glucuronidase [EC 3.2.1.31] was recovered in the soluble fractions of lysosomes. beta-glucosidase was solubilized by pH 9.5 treatment or by Triton treatment of membranes. The enzyme solubilized with alkali and concentrated with (NH4)2SO4 was rapidly inactivated in a solution of pH 9.5, but could be protected against inactivation by acidic detergent. Gel filtration analysis indicated that beta-glucosidase was in an aggregated form at neutral pH and could be disaggregated by alkali and detergents. The enzyme dissociated with detergents also showed a higher activity than the alkali-treated enzyme. These results suggested that beta-glucosidase is a peripheral enzyme bound to acidic lipids in membranes. beta-Glucosidase was purified to apparent homogeneity by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and chromatographies with Sephacryl S-300, hydroxylapatite and cation exchangers in the presence of detergents. The catalytic activity of the purified enzyme was maximally stimulated by phosphatidylserine and heat-stable protein in the presence of a low concentration of Triton X-100. The stimulation was mainly due to an increase in Vmax.