-The extent of the lactose hydrolysis and oligosaccharide formation through transgalactosyl reactions by crude cellular extracts (CCE) containing intracellular β-galactosidase from disrupted Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus 11842, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis DMF 3078 or Streptococcus thermophilus 143 was investigated in lactose-containing buffered solutions or skim milk. Lactose hydrolysis was performed with lactose concentration ranging from 5 to 30% (w/w) at 30, 40, 50 or 60°C and terminated after 120 min. The proteolytic activities of the CCEs in skim milk systems were also assessed. All CCEs produced di-, tri-and tetrasaccharides in addition to monosaccharides as major products of the lactose hydrolysis in buffered lactose solutions. However, only Lb. lactis produced tetrasaccharides at detectable levels in skim milk preparations. The amount and the rate of oligosaccharide formation were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the origin of the enzyme, lactose concentration and temperature. The maximum oligosaccharide production by all CCEs was reached at 50°C in 30% (w/w) lactose solution. St. thermophilus CCE produced significantly higher (P < 0.05) amounts of oligosaccharides than the other two CCE preparations at all lactose concentrations studied. However, Lb. bulgaricus CCE showed better lactose-hydrolyzing ability and higher proteolytic activity than the other two CCEs. The lactose hydrolysis generally proceeded faster at 50-60°C than at 30-40°C as opposed to the proteolytic maxima reached at 40°C.Crude cellular extract / β-galactosidase / thermophilic dairy culture / lactose hydrolysis / transferase reaction / proteolytic activity Résumé -Production d'oligosaccharides et protéolyse lors de l'hydrolyse de lactose par extraits cellulaires bruts de bactéries lactiques. Le degré d'hydrolyse du lactose et la formation d'oligosaccharides par réaction de transgalactosylation sous l'action d'extraits cellulaires bruts (ECB) contenant de la β-galactosidase obtenue par rupture de Lactobacillus delbruekii subsp. bulgaricus 11842, Lactobacillus delbruekii subsp. lactis DMF 3078 et Steptococcus thermophilus 143 ont été étudiés sur des solutions tamponnées de lactose ou sur le lait écrémé. L'hydrolyse du lactose a été effectuée sur des concentrations de 5 à 30 % (masse) à des températures de 30, 40, 50 et 60°C pour une durée totale de 120 min. L'activité protéolytique des ECBs sur les systèmes à base de lait écrémé a également été évaluée. Tous les ECBs ont produit des di-, tri-et tetrasaccharides en plus des monosaccharides comme composants majeurs de l'hydrolyse du lactose contenu dans les solutions tamponnées. Toutefois, seul Lb. lactis a produit des tetrasaccharides à un niveau * Corresponding author: paul.jelen@ualberta.ca 454 T. Vasiljevic, P. Jelen