ACETONE AS AN EFFICIENT METABOLIC ACCELERATOR FOR BETA-GLUCOSIDASE CATALYSIS

The effect of acetone on beta-glucosidase mediated hydrolysis of p-nit rophenyl-beta-glucopyranoside was investigated. Acetone acts on the ca talysis of glucosidase promotingly yielding increased amounts of hydro lytic products, p-nitrophenol and glucose. No promotion could be detec ted in the reaction mixtures incubated with acetone only or with boile d enzyme sample plus acetone. 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropyridene-alpha-D-gluc ofuranose fed as a putative acetone/glucose condensate inhibited the a cetone promoted glucosidase action. The results explain the promotive effects of acetone on glucosidase activity which are referred to aceto ne contributed release of bound precarthamine from the floral tissues of dyer's saffron (Carthamus tinctorius L.).