Enzymic hydrolysis of sphingolipids: Hydrolysis of ceramide glucoside by an enzyme from ox brain.

Ceramide glucoside (1-O-glucosido-2-N-acyl-sphingosine) was hydrolysed to ceramide (N-acyl-sphingosine) and glucose by beta-glucosidase from ox brain. The reaction was stimulated by the non-ionic detergent, Triton X-100, or by the anionic detergents, cholate or taurocholate. It was not reversible, had optimum pH5.

Enzymic hydrolysis of sphingolipids: Hydrolysis of ceramide lactoside by an enzyme from rat brain.

Ceramide lactoside [1-O-(galactosido-4-beta-glucosido)-2-N-acyl-sphingosine] was hydrolysed to ceramide glucoside and galactose by beta-galactosidase of rat brain. The reaction was not reversible, required cholate or taurocholate, had optimum pH5.0 and K(m) 2.