Β-galactosidase

Beta-galactosidase (B-galactosidase), also known as lactase, is encoded by the lacZ gene that is commonly found in the plasmid of the bacterium E. coli. This gene resides within the lac operon, regulated by the lac repressor and CAP. B-galactosidase is an enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of a disaccharide, lactose, into the two monosaccharides, glucose and galactose.

Plays an essential part in blue/white selection technique