Galactosyl(α1→4)galactosylceramide: Galactosyl hydrolase activity in normal and Fabry plasma

An α-galactosidase fraction which hydrolyzes galactosyl(α1→4)galactosylceramide and 4-methylumbelliferyl-α-galactoside has been isolated from normal human plasma by affinity chromaography. It was partially separated into two enzymatically active proteins by isoelectric focusing or cellulose acetate electrophoresis. The protein fraction obtained by affinity chromatography of Fabry plasma also was divided into two proteins, but only the protein of slower electrophoretic mobility had detectable enzymatic activity. These results indicate that the accumulation of galactosyl(α1→4)galactosylceramide in certain organs in Fabry's disease is due to an alteration of a specific α-galactosidase.