2001 Volume 49 Issue 7 Pages 795-798
The ginsenoside-β-glucosidase that hydrolyzes the β-(1→2)-glucoside of the ginsenoside Rg3 sugar moiety to ginsenoside Rh2 was isolated from the ginseng root, and the enzyme was purified and characterized. The enzyme was purified to one spot in SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and its molecular weight was about 59 kDa. The optimum temperature of the ginsenoside-β-glucosidase was 60 °C, and the optimum pH was 5.0. Ca2+ ion had positive effect on ginsenoside-β-glucosidase, while Cu2+ had negative effect on it. The ginsenoside-β-glucosidase may be a special β-glucosidase that is different from the original exocellulase such as β-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21).