Responsible for the degradation of GM2 gangliosides, and a variety of other molecules containing terminal N-acetyl hexosamines, in the brain and other tissues. The form B is active against certain oligosaccharides. The form S has no measurable activity.
Specificity
Natural and recombinant Human Beta-hexosaminidase subunit alpha
There are 3 forms of beta-hexosaminidase: hexosaminidase A is a trimer composed of one subunit alpha, one subunit beta chain A and one subunit beta chain B; hexosaminidase B is a tetramer of two subunit beta chains A and two subunit beta chains B; hexosaminidase S is an homodimer of two alpha subunits. The two beta chains are derived from the cleavage of the beta subunit.