Studies on enzyme action. XI.-Hydrolysis of raffinose by acids and enzymes

In a previous communication of this series (vol. 74, p. 191), it is pointed out that the various glucosides are hydrolysed by acids at very different rates, the relative values being approximately of the order shown in the following table:-α -Methylglucoside....100β -Methylglucoside....180α -Methylglucoside....540β -Methylglucoside....880 Salicin (a β -glucoside)....600 Milk-sugar (α β -galactoside)....720 Maltose (anα -glucoside)....740 Cane-sugar, it is to be remembered, is hydrolysed at a rate vastly more rapid-at least 1000 times as rapidly as maltose, in fact. These differences, taking into account the peculiar specific behaviour of enzymes as hydrolytic agents, raise questions of interest from the chemical side and they are of no slight significance perhaps also from a biological point of view.