The enzymic degradation of laminarin. 1. The distribution of laminarinase among micro-organisms

Abstract

P-Glucans occur in micro-organisms and higher plants as structural constituents of cell walls, as reserve materials and as extracellular substances of uncertain significance.Laninarin is such a reserve polysaccharide in many Phaeophyceae and it can be regarded as a mannitol-containing fl-D-glucan in which the main polymeric linkage is fl-(1-+3).Enzymes hydrolysing fi-D-(1-+3)-glucans have been termed laminarinases by previous workers, since laminarin was used as the test substrate (Chesters, Apinis & Turner, 1956).Reese & Mandels (1959) suggested fl-D-(1 -3)-glucanase as a more general