Abstract— The pH optima of ten glycosidases have been determined in normal and scrapie‐affected mouse brain. The enzymes α‐mannosidase, α‐glucosidase and β‐glucosidase displayed two peaks of enzyme activity over the pH range examined.
There is a significant increase in the activity of the enzymes α‐mannosidase, β‐glucuronidase, N‐acetyl β‐D‐glucosaminidase, N‐acetyl β‐galactosaminidase, β‐glucosidase (pH 4.1), α‐fucosidase and β‐xylosidase in the brains of mice clinically affected with scrapie, whilst only α‐mannosidase (pH 4.1), β‐glucuronidase, N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucosinidase and N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐gaiactosaminidase are elevated before mice exhibit signs of the disease.