The enzyme amygdalin β-glucosidase () characterised from Prunus serotina hydrolyses the cyanogenic glycoside, amygdalin, to prunasin and D-glucose. Prunasin can similarly be further metabolised to give mandelonitrile and a second unit of glucose by the enzyme prunasin beta-glucosidase.
The reaction in Penicillium aurantiogriseum can be completely inhibited by the action of glucono-δ-lactone at 1 mM concentration.
This enzyme is a hydrolase, specifically a glycosidase that hydrolyses O- and S-glycosyl compounds. The systematic name of this enzyme class is amygdalin beta-D-glucohydrolase. Other names in common use include amygdalase, amygdalinase, amygdalin hydrolase, and amygdalin glucosidase.
References