Description
General description
β-Glucuronidase Type H-2 from Helix pomatia is a crude solution of enzymes derived from the Roman snail. Many β-glucuronidases derived from mollusks also contain sulfatase activity.
Application
β-Glucuronidase from Helix pomatia has been used:
in the treatment of heparinized plasma sample for the hydrolysis of glucuronic acid-conjugated metabolites
in the pre-treatment of plasma sample for the determination of 1′-hydroxymidazolam (1′-OHMDZ)
for the treatment of bile samples from rainbow trouts for the hydrolysis of glucuronate and sulfate metabolites
in treating the cells from the sporulation media for the complete digestion of the cell walls of asci
β-glucuronidase was used in enzymic hydrolysis of tissue homogenates for liquid chromatography-electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry (LC/MSn) analysis, to study the structures of degradation products of baicalin. It is used as a reporter gene in GUS assays to monitor gene expression.
New Technical Article Comparing Performance of Different Enzymes
Learn more
about recent application data generated by Sigma R&D to optimize hydrolysis for different drug classes using enzymes from different sources and the use of a chromatographicaly purified enzyme to reduce the effect of esterase activity resulting in conversion of 6-MAM to Morphine
Biochem/physiol Actions
β-glucuronidase (β-GIc) is an exoglycosidase that catalyzes the breakdown of complex carbohydrates. In humans it converts conjugated bilirubin into the unconjugated form, making bilirubin suitable for reabsorption.
Used for the hydrolysis of glucuronide conjugates in urinary metabolite analysis
Physical form
Aqueous solution in ~1.0 M ammonium sulfate with 3 mM sodium azide as preservative.
Analysis Note
Many β-glucuronidases derived from mollusks also contain sulfatase activity.
Other Notes
One Sigma or modified Fishman unit will liberate 1.0 μg of phenolphthalein from phenolphthalein glucuronide per hr at 37 °C at pH 5.0 (30 min assay).
Sulfatase Unit Definition: One unit of sulfatase will hydrolyze 1.0 μmole p-nitrocatechol sulfate per hr at pH 5.0 at 37 °C.
