LACTASE ENZYME catalyses the hydrolysis of lactose

(milk sugar) to glucose and galactose. Both of these sugars taste

sweeter than lactose and are more readily-digestible. Despite their

traditional liking for milk, cats are unable to digest large amounts

of lactose. Milk can be treated withthe enzyme to make a lactose-

reduced milk suitable for cats or humans who are lactose intolerant.

Although the production of a special cat milk may seem trivial, an estimated 75% of the world

population are intolerant of lactose in adulthood, so the potential scale of this problem is very

great.
 

Commercially, the milk is treated by injecting enzyme into the carton as UHT milk is packaged,

or by using an immobilised enzyme, an enzyme which has been trapped on an inert material, so

that it can be used repeatedly.
 

In this activity, you immobilise the lactase in calcium alginate beads held within a small column,

over which the milk is passed.

    Practical details