Beta-galactosidase

Beta-galactosidase (pronunciation: be-ta ga-lac-to-si-dase) is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of beta-galactosides into monosaccharides.

Etymology

The term "Beta-galactosidase" is derived from the Greek words "beta", which is the second letter of the Greek alphabet, and "galactos", which means milk. The suffix "-ase" is used in biochemistry to denote enzymes.

Function

Beta-galactosidase is crucial in organisms for digesting lactose, which is a beta-galactoside. In humans, the production of beta-galactosidase decreases as we age, leading to lactose intolerance in some adults.

In molecular biology, beta-galactosidase is commonly used as a reporter gene to monitor gene expression. The enzyme's activity can be easily measured, making it a useful tool for studying the control of gene expression.

Related Terms

Enzyme: A protein that acts as a biological catalyst.
Beta-galactosides: A type of sugar molecule that beta-galactosidase can break down.
Lactose intolerance: A condition in which the body cannot easily digest lactose, often due to a lack of beta-galactosidase.
Reporter gene: A gene that researchers attach to a regulatory sequence of another gene of interest in bacteria, cell culture, animals or plants.