J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 261, Issue 24, 11045-11048, Aug, 1986
Re-examination of the products of the action of galactose oxidase. Evidence for the conversion of raffinose to 6''-carboxyraffinose
FM Kelleher and VP Bhavanandan
Galactose oxidase is a fungal enzyme which is known to oxidize the C-6
hydroxymethyl of galactose to an aldehyde group. When the products of a
galactose oxidase-catalase treatment of raffinose were examined by gel
filtration and ion exchange chromatography, we found that, in addition to
the expected 6''-aldehydoraffinose, two other components were present. Of
these two components, the major one was retained on a column of AG 1-X8
(formate), gave a positive carbazole reaction for uronic acid, and on paper
chromatograms had a mobility identical with that of 6''-carboxyraffinose.
The infrared spectrum of the compound showed a carbonyl absorbance at 1725
cm-1 and was distinguishable from the spectra of raffinose and
6''-aldehydoraffinose. These data showed that raffinose was partly
converted to 6''-carboxyraffinose when treated with galactose oxidase and
catalase. The conversion of [3H]raffinose to [3H]6''-carboxyraffinose
increased gradually with time of oxidation from 22% at 6 h to 68% at 96 h.
Results of other experiments provided evidence that this was an enzymic
conversion and depended on the presence of galactose oxidase. The
activities responsible for the formation of aldehyde and uronic acid could
not be separated by affinity chromatography, gel electrophoresis, or ion
exchange chromatography, indicating that the same enzyme is responsible for
both activities. Treatment of galactose, melibiose, and stachyose with
galactose oxidase and catalase also resulted in the formation of the
corresponding uronic acids. These studies indicate that galactose oxidase
not only converts the C-6 hydroxymethyl group of galactose to an aldehyde
group, but also catalyzes further oxidation to the carboxyl group.