Merck, G8885-1ML, β-Glucuronidase from Helix pomatia

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 was used in the measurement of aromatization by a urine technique suitable for the evaluation of aromatase inhibitors in vivo.
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
β-Glucuronidase from Helix pomatia has been used:
to convert isoflavone conjugates to their aglycone forms in urine and soymilk samples for high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) detection
as a component in the protoplasting solution
for the generation of aromatic and phenolic compounds from the plasma and urine samples for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
to hydrolyze glucuronide and sulfate conjugated metabolites in fecal samples

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.