Enzymes That Destroy Blood Group Specificity

An a-L-fucosidase was purified approximately 600-fold from Clostridium perfringens; it is free of other glycosidases present in the crude extract. The fucosidase occurs in multiple “isozymic” forms with molecular weights greater than 200,000. It is an oc-(1 + 2)-specific L-fucosidase with action on oligosaccharides and glycoproteins, but with no action on simple methyl or nitrophenyl fucosides. Action on the H-specific hog submaxillary glycoprotein results in the loss of the serological specificity. The enzyme has a pH optimum of 6.0, with a Km of 0.175 mM and its activity is enhanced by the presence of salts, the most effective being calcium chloride.