Properties of a Free and a Solubilized Form of Bound α,α-Trehalase Purified from Honey Bee Thorax

The free and bound forms of α,α-trehalase (EC 3.2.1.28) of the honey bee thorax were separated and the bound enzyme was solubilized by raising the pH to 8.0 for 10 h. Both enzymes were purified. They were homogeneous as determined by several electrophoretic criteria. It was found that the two enzymes had very similar Km's (each about 0.89 mM), Vm's (53.2 and 54.3 U/mg for free and solubilized, respectively), inhibition characteristics, specificities (both only hydrolyzed α,α-trehalose), pH maxima (each had maxima at about 3.5 and 6.5), molecular weights (65 000), isoelectric points (5.1), reactivities to sulfhydryl reagents, electrophoretic mobilities, activation energies (about 12.8 kcal/mol), and similar stabilities to heat, pH, and urea. Some significant differences between the two enzymes were, however, found: the solubilized α,α-trehalase floated at 70% saturation of ammonium sulfate while the free α,α-trehalase did not; the solubilized α,α-trehalase did not dissociate into subunits as readily as did...