χ‐Carrageenase from <i>Pseudomonas carrageenovora</i>

Abstract

A χ‐carrageenase was isolated from the cell‐free medium of cultured Pseudomonas carrageenovora . From dodecylsulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a single protein (identified as the χ‐carrageenase) was detected in the medium. Activity against nominal carrageenan types and inspection of the products indicate the enzyme to be a χ‐carrageenase. Purification is described here by ammonium sulphate precipitation and subsequent CM‐Sepharose CL‐6B ion‐exchange chromatography. Molecular weight was estimated as 35000 by dodecylsulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Products of degradation were analysed by gel filtration, spectrophotometric assays and 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance. These results are consistent with the product of limit digest being neocarrabiose 4‐ O ‐sulphate.