The degradation of Eucheuma spinosum and Eucheuma cottonii carrageenans by ι-carrageenases and κ-carrageenases from marine bacteria

Abstract

Seven marine bacteria, which degraded carrageenan from Eucheuma spinosum, a hybrid ι–κ-carrageenan, were isolated and the specificity of the bacterial carrageenases synthesized was determined. An enzyme preparation having only ι-carrageenase activity was obtained from one bacterium. Preparations with only κ-carrageenase activity were obtained from two bacteria; four bacteria synthesized both κ- and ι-carrageenases. 13C nuclear magnetic resonsance spectroscopic procedures were used to identify the products of enzymic hydrolysis of κ-carrageenan (Eucheuma cottonii) and ι-carrageenan (E. spinosum).