Which enzyme is most specific for β-D-glucose?

The enzyme that is most specific for β-D-glucose is glucose oxidase. This enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of glucose, specifically recognizing the β-anomer of D-glucose, which is significant in various biochemical processes and assays. Glucose oxidase is often utilized in diagnostic applications, such as blood glucose monitoring and in clinical chemistry, due to its ability to selectively oxidize glucose, leading to measurable products that can indicate glucose concentration.

In biochemical contexts, selectivity is crucial for accurate measurements and assessments, and glucose oxidase's fundamental ability to act predominantly on β-D-glucose underscores its specificity. This property makes it invaluable in clinical assays aimed at detecting glucose levels in biological fluids. Other enzymes mentioned have broader substrate specificities or are involved in different biochemical pathways that do not align as closely with β-D-glucose as glucose oxidase does.