χ‐Carrageenase from Pseudomonas carrageenovora

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 13C nuclear magnetic resonance. These results are consistent with the product of limit digest being neocarrabiose 4‐O‐sulphate.