Beta-N-Acetylglucosaminidase has been purified from an acetone extract of Aspergillus niger. The protein has a Mr = 149,000. It contains neither Mn2+, Zn2+, nor cysteine and exhibits no cation requirement for activity. Isoelectric focusing separates two isozymes; the major isoenzyme has a pI = 4.4. Both isozymes exhibit beta-N-acetylgalactosaminidase and beta-glucosidase, as well as glucosaminidase activity. The mechanism of action of this enzyme has been studied in detail using a variety of substrate structure/activity and kinetic experiments. Rate data plotted versus pH depends on the following ionization constants, respectively: for pKm, 2.95; for log Kcat, 7.6; and for log kcat/Km, 2.95 and 8.25. The kcat value of H2O/D2O for p-nitrophenyl-beta-N-acetylglucosaminide hydrolysis is 1.27 at pH 4.6 and 1.00 at pH 7.0. The rho value for the hydrolysis of para-substituted phenylglucosaminides is +0.36; rho for the hydrolysis of fluoro-substituted N-acetyl derivatives is -1.41. Two sulfur-containing substrate analogues, the 1-thioglucosaminide, and the N-thioacetyl derivative, exhibit either no or little substrate activity. The hydrolysis of the 2,4-dinitrophenyl-glucosaminide is not biphasic as indicated by stopped flow kinetic studies. These several results are interpreted to show that: 1) enzymatic nucleophilic catalysis is not employed by beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase; 2) the glycosidic oxygen is protonated very early in the reaction, perhaps even in the Michaelis complex; 3) the acetamido oxygen provides anchimeric assistance to hydrolysis via charge stabilization of the oxocarbonium ion (or via oxazoline formation); 4) additional charge stabilization is provided by an enzymic anion, perhaps a side chain carboxylate group. The role of the acetamido group is discussed and comparisons are made between lysozyme, beta-galactosidase, and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase.