Production of Fucoidan-Degrading Enzymes, Fucoidanase, and Fucoidan Sulfatase by Vibrio sp. N-5.

Abstract

When the fucoidan-utilizing bacterium strain N-5, identified as genus Vibrio, was grown on a synthetic medium containing fucoidan, both fucoidanase and fucoidan sulfatase were detected in the cells. The latter enzyme was produced with a time lag, while fucoidanase appeared rapidly. Both enzymes were induced with the addition of fucoidan as a carbon source. Both enzymes showed approximately the same properties for activity and stability as a function of pH and tem-perature. Intracellular fucoidanase was found in the cells grown on the medium containing 0.3% fucoidan hydrolyzed gagome- and Mozuku-fucoidans, whereas fucoidan sulfatase acted on Gagome-, Mozuku-, and Futomozuku-fucoidans to release sulfate ions.