Functional genomic analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana glycoside hydrolase family 35

The gene structure, evolutionary patterns, and organ-level expression of the 17 members of Arabidopsis thaliana Glycoside Hydrolase Family 35 (β-galactosidases) are described. Evolutionary relationships between these and β-galactosidase genes from 22 other eukaryotes are determined. After overexpression in Escherichia coli, homogeneous Arabidopsis BGAL4 hydrolyses chromogenic β-d-galactosides and various β-linked galactobiosides and galactotriosides.